19 years later, crash survivor is college graduate

In the crash's aftermath, Spencer's image became a powerful symbol of the rescue efforts because of a photograph of him being carried away from the crash site by Lt. Col Dennis Nielsen of the 185th Fighter Wing of the Iowa National Guard.

The photo, snapped by a Sioux City Journal photographer, was used across the world. Five years later, it became the basis for a memorial statue erected at the Spirit of Siouxland Memorial in Chris Larsen Park along the Sioux City waterfront.

Today, Bailey, who graduated this year from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, has no memories of the crash.

Still, he sees it as a "positive learning experience" from which he has grown and says its inspired an interest in writing and discovering new experiences. He says hopes to pursue a career as a writer.


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