Fri Apr 18 09:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Oklahoma City Bombing Survivor Finds Purpose in Service 20 Years Later
**OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 17, 2025** – PJ Allen, the youngest survivor of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, is marking the 30th anniversary of the tragedy by reflecting on his journey and the profound impact it has had on his life. Now 31, Allen, who was just 18 months old when the bomb detonated, credits his survival to the first responders and medical professionals who saved him from the rubble of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building’s daycare center.
Thrown from the second floor by the blast, Allen sustained severe second- and third-degree burns over more than half his body, along with lung and vocal cord damage. Despite the extensive injuries and years of surgeries, Allen persevered, playing baseball and swimming, even attending school. He acknowledges the lasting physical effects – a collapsed lung requiring daily breathing treatments – but maintains an overwhelmingly positive outlook.
Today, Allen works as an avionics technician at Tinker Air Force Base, finding purpose in his service to those in uniform. “Working on planes allows me to help people in service, similar to the people that helped me out that day,” he said. He views his career as a way to give back to the community and the very people who aided him in his survival.
Each April, the memories of the bombing resurface, but Allen focuses on the reasons behind his survival. “Around this time of year, I like to try and make sure I’m still looking for what I need to be doing, for the reason I survived,” he shared. His unwavering spirit and dedication to service stand as a testament to resilience and the enduring power of human connection in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
First Piper 