September 11, 2001 – My Story

You tell your story well.  You experienced the horror and sadness in a distant land, as part of the tip of the spear.   I had an appointment I was rushing to that day, but ran thru a convenient store for lunch - a Yoo Hoo chocolate drink - hey its got milk in it.  Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something odd.  Instead of 3 or 4 people waiting to pay the cashier, they were all behind the counter staring in silence at a radio I could barely hear.  I approached the counter and could tell they were watching a tiny black and white tv.  I asked the cashier what was going on and she gave a strange stare and asked me didn't I know what had happened.  I said no, and she told me planes had flown into the World Trade Center, the buildings had burned and then collapsed.  She said, " they're gone."  I was taken aback but not shocked - I thought she was joking.  I said, "no way."  I was now at the counter and she pointed at the tv and said "look!"  I couldn't see so I came around the counter and joined the crowd.  And they were gone.  I was stunned.  This is impossible I thought. Then the news person started talking about the Pentagon and United Flight 93.   I knew we had been hit by terrorists.  Everyone was sad, mad, shocked.  After my appointment I dropped by my elderly parents' home.  I father was smoking his pipe and staring in the distance - he always did this.  The tv was off.  On December 7th, 1941, my father was an Army combat engineer based at the then-Kaneohe Naval Air Station on the north shore of Oahu - the first place attacked that day - Pearl was struck 3 minutes later.  In his 90+ years he had said 10 words about the war, and he took no questions from the audience.  I said, "Father, have you heard?"  Without looking at me he said, "yes."  End of conversation.  My Mother was in the kitchen.  She lost her first fiancee in the break out village of St. Lo, France in 1944. She did talk, and holding my arm sadly said, "we're at war."  She said Father turned the tv off after a couple of hours, saying that's enough.  I remember 9-11 the same way I remember President Kennedy's death.  I know where I was, what I was doing, what people around me were doing - and what I felt.

Chris, Thanks for posting your experience that day, as well as for your service to our country.  From one Chris to another.  That goes for everyone else who posted here and serve’s in our military as well.  There’s something very special (no pun intended) about the people of SOFREP.  Thanks to BW. 

I have a story, just as everyone else hear does.  I took the day off from work , and woke up early to hit some hurricane swell (from Hurricane Erin).  It was an awesome morning, cool, with crystal clear sky’s, no wind and clean waves just rolling in.  When I got out of the water, I was on my way home and heard some babble on the radio that made absolutely no sense to me?  I stopped and grabbed a couple of slices of pizza, from a nearby pizza stand and that was when I got a call from my wife.  She proceeded to tell me what was going on, as I was staring at a nuclear power plant about a half mile away, and proceeded to get the hell out of dodge, because I had no idea of the possible scale of the attack, and being on the East Coast I didn’t know what would be next?

I listened to the radio on the ride home to information that was being released, then turned on the TV to see the replay of what had happened that morning.  I was in utter shock and terribly saddened by what I saw trying to wrap my head around the hatred that could cause this kind of loss of life, while I was out on the water enjoying my last bit of innocence, unknowingly.  I wasn’t good about following the news that much, or current affairs, politics, etc.  I was a sheep.  I had no reason not to be anything else?  That all changed.  I changed.  I took a lot for granted up until that day, that I never take for granted now or ever will again.  You see the words less and less as time progresses….”Never Forget”.   I don’t.  Carry them on the back window of my truck to try to remind others?   I think some though; have slipped back into that “safe” place, going about their lives as if nothing will ever happen again.  I don’t know how?  I really don’t.  I see our troops sacrifice and pay the ultimate sacrifice, day in and day out.  Lot’s of our SOF as well as regular units losing good folks.  I’ve tried to make it my mission to help support them and their families because I’m proud of them, most of all.  By donating, raising money, volunteering, etc.  They matter to me more than anything.  While I do that, I prepare myself the best I can for whatever may come next.  Being a good citizen, keeping my eye’s open, and being a good neighbor.  We are so blessed to live in a country such as ours…and nothing made that clearer than, how we were awakened on 9/11.

As per my idiom, I get to this party late...

Thank you all for posting your stories, and thank you all for serving in whatever fashion you could.

We were doing intense scenario training at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. I don't recall exactly what the training evolution was that morning, but we were in a "what now" mindset. Webb, the head instructor, was a master of fucking with our heads and keeping us on our toes. So when he had us all muster and take a seat on benches, we were ready for anything and skeptical as hell. He was blunt, he always was. He told us that the United States was under attack, specifically that terrorists were using jets as missiles, flying them into NYC. Yeah... sure... here we go...  We were quite certain this was a training scenario.  But something was definitely different about him that morning.

For many of us, our stomachs dropped when he said "This is not a drill. Those of you in reserve or guard units have one hour to contact your units, get your orders, and report back to the training staff. You will be dismissed from training immediately as needed. The rest of you will continue training right fucking now. This is why we train. Move it!"

With that about a quarter of our class (including me) rushed to make calls.  It took me almost a damn hour just to get the correct number to call.  I'd done 4 years of active sea duty in the USCG - including a lot of the good stuff in the Caribbean in the mid-90's on a patrol boat, but now I was in year 3 of a 4 year inactive reserve contract.  My reserve unit was USCG Group Seattle, supposedly with a Port Security Unit.  Although I hadn't had any correspondence with them in over a year.

It was well over my hour by the time I actually spoke to someone who was authorized to actually give me answers. I was told to "stand by for activation."  That's it.  That's all I got.  I was jacked up and ready to crack skulls, we all were. "Stand by for activation."  

I got back to training with a rekindled fire.  I never was activated, but I sure as hell was motivated.

On 9/11 I was heading from DeKalb, IL to Naperville, IL for hydraulics training at a Parker Hannifin Co. location.

I was heading east on 88 and came to a toll booth when one of the most bizarre things I've ever witnessed happened. The lady in the toll booth was not reaching for my money. She was listening intently to a radio in her booth. I, on the other hand, was listening to the Chili Peppers (cranked up a little) and lowered the volume while I waited for her to take the road tax. After a few seconds I said "Ma'm...."

She turned to me and said "a plane crashed in to a building in New York... It sounds bad..."

I handed her my dollar, took my change, then headed on switching from my CD to WBBM news radio.

As the developments were reported I remember being stunned.

When I got to the training facility they had TV's up and running with the coverage. The second tower had been hit and I watched the announcement that the Pentagon had been hit as well. I remember footage of bodies falling from the towers and people running from the horror covered in soot. Fire Fighters, Police and Rescue Personnel covered in soot. Everybody with a look on their face that said "I don't understand what the hell just happened?"

I joined them in that thought. It was shocking.

One tower fell. Then another. It seemed like seconds in between though it was not. It seemed like the whole event happened within seconds yet in slow motion. I guess buildings like that take a while to fall down.

 The United States of America never will.

God bless our Warriors, our Fire Fighters and our Law Enforcement and those that lost their lives on 9/11.

I will never forget!

Great article, it really stirs up the memories of that day for every American and refocuses us on our beliefs. I had just turned 17 one week earlier, and had just gotten my drivers license so after my parents split that summer, I was the de facto taxi service for my brother and sister.. Football, girls, and cars were the only thing I'd ever thought of in my free time, until we were watching game film of our upcoming opponent and were flipping thru channels while we had the VCR (yea, hard to imagine using a VCR and tapes, having to rewind with a separate machine, our school was in the boonies) rewind the tape, and saw the initial reports. Word spread and the next period, all of the rooms with TV's had the news turned on and the school stopped. We witnessed the second plane slam into the tower live, and I remember trying to process what I had just seen. The mature and intelligent kids in the room did the same, while I can still remember some shit birds acting like it was a fucking movie until they realized how stupid they were and from some choice words. Being only 40 miles from NYC and in the flightpath of hundreds of jets each day transiting from all the major airports, two immediate things we noticed were the empty skies and the billowing clouds of smoke rising from the city. When I got home I tried to answer my brother and sisters questions about what happened and why. I tried my best, but in actuality I didn't have any real answers, noone did. But I did know one thing, our country changed forever and that for the first time the cold hard truth that there was real evil in the world came clearly into view. You have to remember, my parent's generation was too young to have served in Vietnam, so the idea that American boys would be sent off to a "real" war wasn't something anyone had ever discussed with us. War seemed like a thing that was only in grainy footage of old news reels with the Marines raising the flag on Iwo, SEALS in full cammy stalking thru rice paddies, and traitorous hippies screaming at the proud Men in uniforms. It was all suddenly real, and I was a senior in HS. Now, 11 years later, I've lost some close friends and made alot more. But that day was one that made me realize life is a game that you play for keeps, and that some things were bigger than ourselves. The anger that those images etched into my brain will be with me and alot of my generation forever as we use it to remind ourselves of why we fight, that we are Proud to be Americans, and that Islamists are the ones who started it all.

Had hung up my uniform 21 months prior.  Full time grad student.  When the wife called that morning(see Ashter's post below) I can tell you what I was wearing, what I did, but the only important bits are I knew my BDUs were still in the closet. 

Hell, I still have a full set in the closet.

Hello folks,I'm new to the site . Thankfully I stumbled across it this past week.What a breath of fresh air.Finally some truth ! Thank you !!! My 9/11 story...Myself my son who was 3 at the time and my ex wife were flying to Logan airport in Boston from Nantucket Mass.for my sons doctors appointment .We were about half way there that morning when the pilot said we were turning around because a plane had hit the WTC.We were flying in a small twin prop plain so my initial thought was probably one of these little planes what the hell does that have to do with us .When we landed back on the island we saw on a tv in the airport the 2nd plane hit and I thought holy fuck we are being attacked ! who the hell is doing this !? We must have  literally passed the 1ist plane while we were in the air .We were headed to Boston and they were headed to N.Y .It was my probationary year  (1st year) at my fire dept .Myself and another guy I work with waited a couple of days to be officially sent to N.Y .Which never happened .So the 2 of us and a female friend of ours packed our gear and headed down.We got a ride to the site on a flat bed from the Javets center.I remember walking by a tire and piece of landing gear that was in the middle of the road aprox. 1 block away from the site and saying what the fuck this is crazy ! Everything covered in dust .We  1st went to a staging area where we were assigned to a company we were Liberty 1 which was led by an FDNY LT. We were assigned to  search  one the buildings that sustained structural damage but hadn't gone down I don't know which one it was.The Chief that assigned us to the building told us we were looking for victims,bodies or body parts.We had walked up to 5th floor or maybe it was the 10th,15th I don't know it was very surreal .I stopped and looked out a window that overlooked the site and it looked like it could have been a scene out of a Batman movie where Gotham city gets destroyed just unreal.The building ended up being all clear. It had bee searched already by the FEMA USAR  guys.We got to the roof and it was covered with debris ,shredded clothes ,papers ,computer parts a few shoes but nothing whole or intact. We were on the pile for 4 days searching ,looking in void spaces and doing the bucket brigade. We stayed until NYPD and U.S military  started asking anyone who wasn't FDNY or NYPD affiliated to leave.We were actually escorted off the site because we kept ducking this cop after he asked us to leave a couple of times,hard to just walk away from that.We tried several times to get back in. By then security had tightened right up.Our female friend worked as a counselor with the family's  notifying them of DNA matches and she help counsel many FDNY guys over the years.She is a real live walking angel .To all of you that have served and do serve thank you from the bottom of my heart you have my respect .Keep up the good fight .

Shawn

p.s I have some pics. If that's ok here. If so just let me know how to get them to the right person.

I want to thank not only Chris, but everyone who has posted their experiences. They are all special, unique and have meaning not only tho the person that wrote it, but to all of us who share our experiences from that day.

On September 11, 2001, I was not scheduled to work until 3pm. At the time I was a New York State Trooper. I awoke and turned on the morning news like I did everyday. I saw a live shot of 1 WTC  with a smoldering hole. Just then I watched live as flight 175 struck 2 WTC and knew my day would be long and I would be witness to something that would have an impact on life as we now know it. Then one by one I watched live on TV as the towers came down. It was not long before many of us were recalled into work early. Our Mobil Response Team members and K9's trained for cadaver detection went to the site. Our aviation unit constantly flew supplies and personnel into the city. Some of those already working at the time were sent to the city to stage while more of us were called in. You can not imagine the confusion in trying to find out what happened, where were we supposed to report, what were we going to do. Chaotic is an understatement. For the next three months we suplemented NYPD and assisted with an outer perimeter of the site, searched for victims and secured high profile events like the World Series that year. Four months later I attended a service for the cousin of my close friend. Mike was a New York City fireman. They only found a small piece of his hip and that is all we buried. Not a single day has passed since then that I am not reminded of what happened that day and what I saw, both the best and worst in people. Not a day has gone by since then that I have not kept vigilance for those hoping to strike at our country and my home state again. Working in an area an hour north of the city I know the next attack will start in the subburbs and make it's way there. I will not let that happen on my watch with the Troopers I now supervise. I saw the site up close at its worse after the attack and I saw the site at its best with the memorial dedication. I am extreamly proud of my brethren from NYPD, FDNY, PAPD and EMS for their heroic actions and sacrifice that day. I am equally as proud of the actions of my fellow Troopers and everyone far and wide who came to my state to assist. I have never served in the military. To our men and woman who immediately deployed and those inspired to join after the attacks, you will always have a place in my heart and epic status in my mind for your fearlessness, tenacity and decidedness in exacting revenge for our fallen. I SALUTE YOU ALL!

February 1993 was a tap on the shoulder. September 2001 was a punch to the face. It is up to all of us to be united in preventing this from happening again, for my children, your children and their children. SOFREP has not only been a site of informative reading for me, but also a chance like now to remind myself what is always at stake.  

Thank you to everyone for sharing your unique experiences with me and with others.  Your individual stories reaffirm my belief that America's strength truly lies in those citizens who feel passionately about the events which touch all of our lives, such as September 11, 2001.  

Walked into the waiting room for a physical therapy seesion (back injury from a jump).  Saw the WTC on fire and the second plane hit.  Left Martin Army Hospital and drove to WHINSEC (I was chief history/leadership dep't of the combined arms general staff college at what used to be the School of the Americas).

Students just left whatever training/classes were going on and watched the TV's that could be found.  Was standing in a  packed breakroom of officers from just about every nation in S. America.  About 15% of us were US.  The towers came down and I thought outloud, "we just watched 10,000  people die."  (Thank God I was wrong but considering upwards of 50k people worked in the WTC it's a miracle more didn't die)  There was silence but a palatable tension from the allied officers wondering what our reaction.

I left the breakroom and walked into the commandant's office and vollunteered for any tasking that came down whatever it may be.

The rest of the day was a daze.  I had a Peruvian and Salavdoran LTC serving as instructors in my section.  They both expressed their deepest sorrow and support and expressed the desire that their nations would sould support us in any action we took.  That was a very common reaction from our allied students but from my close personal relationship with these two men I knew they were very sincere.  I got through to my parents in Brooklyn late in the day. 

The Peruvian LTC and I had a very strong relationship that rose above the typical political banter.  We were pretty candid with each other and had had many a deep discussion on tactics, military history etc.  We spoke at length at what was to happen over the next couple of days and any news we recieved.  I slept on my couch for a week or two watching 24 hr news.  A sad time and something I have thought about every day since.   

It was the day after my birthday. I had a nine-month-old, and my husband had just been promoted to Lieutenant on MPD (DC police). The baby had had a rough night, my husband was on evenings, and I had been laid off the month prior. We slept in and turned on the TV just after the first plane had been hit. Charlie Gibson was reporting, and I was horrified thinking it was so tragic for this pilot to have had a heart attack at the controls - that was all I could imagine could have possibly happened. When the second plane hit, hub got up and started getting dressed. All I could say was, "Oh my God! I can't believe it happened again!" He stopped getting dressed, came and squatted in front of me, took my hands, and said, "No honey. This was an attack." It felt like the whole world fell out from under me. Everything I knew changed. I was always so sure that everyone does the right thing and something this horrible was so unimaginable to me.

At some point I realized why my husband was getting dressed, and it was around this time that reports of the Pentagon being hit were made. I realized he was getting ready to leave and the entire world felt like it was falling apart. I filled a cooler with food and drinks for him because I didn't know when he'd get to come home, or if there would be anywhere open where he could get food in Northwest DC. I even taped a picture of the baby and me to the inside top of the cooler because I was afraid for what he was going to see and do, and I wanted there to be something good there, too. When he left, we stood on the front steps of our house some 20 miles from the Pentagon and I just sobbed. I was very grateful when he came home about three days later to take a shower and grab some sleep before heading in again.

Five days after the attack, I took my baby into DC and photographed her in front of various DC monuments. I was afraid more attacks would come and this place would be lost forever. I wanted my daughter to have proof that she had been beside/in front of these places. At some point I realized we had wandered far of course and it was around 7pm or so. I called hub to give us some directions and he was PISSED that I had come downtown with the baby during this mess. Instead of directions we got a a ride in the back of a cruiser with a lecture about not *maybe* not being the best time to have done this. I thought it was funny until hub told me to get my hair up because I didn't want it rubbing against the back seat of a cruiser....

Interesting post and definitely interesting reading everyone's experiences.  Thanks for putting this out there.  I was on my way to work when my then wife called and said that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.  My first thought was the attack in 1993.  When I got to work I went to the break room as the 2nd plane hit.  Watching with me were people from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India and other countries.  Everyone was in shock.  There was no doubt that we were attacked at that point.  I remember being very angry once the initial shock wore off.

The next few days were very strange.  The only planes in the sky were fighters doing CAP and C-17's leaving the Navy base next to my office.  We were asked if we had any working satellite phones.  I had spent 6 years working on a sat phone project and had several working phones.  I took them to the uniformed guys in the lobby and they were sent to New York.  Most of the cellular infrastructure was destroyed in that area of Manhattan and the one of the only reliable communications for the many first responders heading toward NYC was by satellite.  

Chris, thanks for sharing your experience.  I was stationed at Incirlik AB, TU for four years during the the first gulf war.  Turkey at that time was extremely secular compared to other Islamic countries, and we had very good relations with the soldiers and locals.  I'm sure the Turkish Special Forces had their fare share of dealing with the Kurds and terrorist groups like the PKK in their own country.  I bet most of those members really meant what they said to you.

On that day, I was still in the AF working in space operations at Schriever AFB, CO.  I was just finishing up my last mid shift before my break and one of the SNCOs told me that a plane had hit the tower. I remember thinking how odd it was that a small plane hit one of the towers.  It wasn't until I walked into the break room and saw the Towers burning that I realized it was a commercial aircraft that had crashed.  As soon as I saw the Pentagon in flames I knew we were going to war soon.  Since the base was on complete lock down, only part of the on-coming crew had made it in, so I ended up working another half of day.  I didn't mind because there was no way I could sleep after seeing what I had seen and I was glad to be actually doing my part to support the on-going operations.  One of the crew members came in to the ops floor to tell us that one of the towers fell.  And then not long after that, he came back to tell us the second tower fell.  As you could imagine, we had several on-going tasks at the time and I can remember some of the crew members walking around as if they were in a cloud of disbelief/shock and they could not function.  We controlled our emotions as best we could and pushed through with our activities.  It wasn't until I was finally at home that I finally had time to reflect on what had occurred.  Later that day, the hubby and I took our dogs for a walk and the only thing we could hear was a single unseen aircraft patrolling the sky.  It was a very surreal moment that I will never forget.

I was a freshman at the University of Missouri, sitting in the Hitt St. Computer Lab, preparing for class that day. After finishing the reading assignment for my 9 AM Sociology class, I checked the Kansas City Star website to get a quick look at the days news. It was about 8:30 AM CDT. I will never forget the picture I saw in the top left corner "frame" (remember the "frames format on we pages?) of the web page; the headline said "Planes Hit World Trade Center" and the picture showed a freeze frame of the second plane just before it hit the tower. I thought it was odd, so I headed across campus to the library to meet with friends before going to our 9AM class. As I entered the library, I saw my friends, along with a large group of students, gathered around a TV (on a wheeled cart, odd for library to have "noise") watching the Today Show. That's when it all really hit me. Nothing would ever be the same.

I was there too,the day it happened i was watching the news and the morning broadcast broke back on with this horrfic scene of the 1st plane hitting the tower.I rememer thinking how dare they then they hit the second tower in horror I saw people jumping out windows praying for their souls I knew in my heart it was an terroristic hit I had to do something being a NYer,and imendetly called my local fire dept and packing a bag to go.when we got there it was so soreal,i started to cry but not loosing why I was there.We helped on the pyile,for days finding bits and pieces of what was human.I got so pissed off. Then the Port Authority put some of us on the steel pail to siff through it looking through the remains bagging and tagging when ever possible.I could not take any more so I went home to join the military again in my mind I had to get even.I found a unit that was providing security at the Nuclear Power Plants,that seemed a bore to this former Ranger so I luckiy found an Infantry Unit training up for deployment,I joined them in Camp Shelby Miss.we had or op order to go to Iraq it was to late to find a unit for Afganistan,as a true Ranger I went and followed orders.I was attached to a Infantry Co.as a designated marksmen wound up working among other CO as a sniper os out in a turret looking for cashe"d weapons.I had several hummvees lown out from under me that's why i am a wounded warrior today.Thats not the first time in NAM I got sharpnel from rpg team I went back out  there too.In Iraq the DR's wanted to send me to Germany but i stood my ground and stayed even though the pain was great as a Ranger I had to complete the mission though I was the loan suvivor.I still wish I was in but Walter Reed took me out of the shooting bussiness in 08, after 2 tours I was honorably disharged now I am Service - Connected GI w/ 80% and 20% for unable to work. Now on occastion I teach basic rifle marksmenship and do some gunsmithing on the side sh! sh! I do not accept any money not to jepordize my VA income.Most of can't go out all the time I am home in pain with cervical stenois,TBI,back stenois,herniated disc's,hearing disorder,so I sit and play with my working dog RIO, a vet himself EOD who just quit training one day I got Rio through Veteran K-9 Corps.Thats part of who I am today and looks that way till I ecme paralized from my injurys

@BrandonTWebb thanks for sharing Brandon.

Chris, first of all, thank you for sharing your story with us.   My story of 9/11 really revolves around other people.  I have worked a day job as an Executive Assistant in the same place for almost 31 years, for a public agency that is comprised of 85% women  - in a military town that has both Army and Air Force base and a Naval base about 40 minutes away.   My 'profession' however, was as a Chaplain.  I'm on the West Coast, so I woke to the news of the attack.  I wanted to crumble, but instead I made prayers, shoved the anger and grief away, got dressed and went to work.  In my building there are many military wives, so I spent the day being available to them and to those who needed to talk.  A co-worker's brother was in the North tower and it was a few days later before we learned he had made it out safely.  I am also an American Red Cross Volunteer Chaplain, specially trained for crisis situations.  I chose not to go to New York because I felt I was needed here.  Truthfully, the days and nights following are a blur for me until I felt I was drowning in all  the grief, fear and anger from others.  Fortunately, I have resources to deal with that and another Hokema stuck me in a good hot sweat lodge that cleansed and strengthened me enough to get back to what needed doing.   And as time went by and husbands/sons/daughters started leaving for war, I was still there for the wives and families.   It wasn't until 2 years later than I dealt with my own personal feelings.  That day happened when I held my first grandchild and realized she would never know the America that had been.  A brother joined her a year later.  They will never know the innocence and sense of security we had being Americans, and their lives would be forever shaped by an event that happened before their very existence.  They have only ever lived during a time of war and uncertainty.  My grieving happened then.  I retired as a Chaplain, although I kept my Red Cross certification and still respond when needed.  I will retire from my day job in 5 months.  I will never retire from being an American and my pride in the American people has stayed rock solid.  Yes, I know we are a divided nation in many ways, but the one thing that we are unified about is a love for our country and its principles.  I wish we could have retained some of the other lessons we learned that day, but in truth we are rebuilding our nation and that is always a messy process. It will take all of us, though - both those who fight abroad and those left behind.  We are one people - regardless of our color, economic level, political views, national origin, gender - we are ONE people, and my prayers now are a hope that we never forget that.   The tragedies have not stopped.  Every single loss of an American life is a new wound for me.  Every single injury  - physical or emotional - to a warfighter feels personal to me.  I'm old and tired and the best I have to offer is a prayer and a listening heart.

@LauraWalkerKC Great perspective of what it was like for those on the front lines, always good to be reminded why we are doing this....

I was in first grade when 9/11 happen. I was in school when all of sudden there was announcement over the intercom. The principal was telling us to put the TV on the school news.  They were telling us that a plane crashed into the WTC and then ask us to pray for the victims (I was in a catholic school). My personal reaction to the events unfolding was being puzzled. I couldn't grasp the size and scope of 9/11 at the time since I was just too young. The thing that strikes me the most about about 9/11 was not something on the day itself but one or two weeks later when my dad was watching the news. The reporters were talking about the victims and showed walls in NY covered in pictures of loved ones with many saying "Have you see him/her". That affected to me to my core some how. I can't really described the feeling. All I know is that every time I hear people talking about 9/11. That image of people's photos on the walls of NY pops up in my mind first.

i was working on  FT.BRAGG at the time building Eighteenth Airborn's new barracks,dayroom and mess hall. the whole post wound-up by 1030hrs after it's first alert status.  our supt. rounded up all of us hard hat's,,gave us a short brief and told us too roll-up our tools and go home  (with pay), until further notice. first time they shut-down BRAGG in yrs and it took me 6hrs to get off post! didn't go back to work for a week.  what a fucked-up day that was

I was on a training run up to Mt. LeConte early that morning. Being a weekday, I had the place to myself. Once I made it to the top I just stood there and thought my world could not be a better and brighter place than how I felt right then. I forced myself off that mountain and trail ran back to the car a few miles away - still oblivious. Still feeling on top of the world. Prior to 9/11 I made efforts to remove technology (cell phone, etc) whenever I went into the woods. So, my cell was turned off and I wouldn't turn it on til I got closer to my destination. 

As I pulled into a gas station near Townsend, TN I saw all these people gathered around a truck and they were completely dialed in to something. As I walked past them, I noticed how motionless and hollow their faces seemed. I couldn't understand why until one looked at me and said, "Did you hear? The trade center towers - we were just attacked" My beautiful serene world was left on top of that mountain and my heart and soul was crushed in that valley below - all in one instant. 

I stood next to them and listened and then grabbed my phone and tried reaching my parents and other family members. I had family and friends overseas and a very dedicated group of friends at Bragg, Campbell and Benning that I immediately thought of, too. Later, I would watch it unfold on TV and all I remember thinking was how badly I wanted to hug and hold those I loved, put them behind me and chase down every mother fucker that made that day happen.

Seeing those poor souls jump to their deaths from the towers is an image I'll never forget. Hearing about the heroism of the NYC PD/FD/EMS and other brave citizens choked me up like nothing before, yet made me proud and then sad b/c I couldn't be there to work with them and help. And then hearing about the guys on flight 93 saying, "Let's Roll" just after realizing they were being used as a suicide bomb - to think that they would so willingly do what was necessary in order to protect the lives of complete strangers humbled me to my core - better love hath no man than this...

I was changed in many ways that day. Those images and those thoughts of all those REAL heroes are what I used to push harder, dig deeper and drive on whenever I was exhausted from long patrols, hungry, tired, cold, wet, you name it. - nothing I've ever done can compare to the heroes of that day. Their memory will live on through those of us that are willing to answer that call in our darkest hours and have the courage to say, "Let's Roll"

I came late into patriotism.  Very late.  I didn't feel anything when I saw the Towers get hit - not anger, or sorrow, or joy.  I would say that I was too young to understand but I was in 9th Grade and that would just be an excuse.  I watched Afghanistan unfold without any opinion - as far as I was concerned we had gone and taken the Taliban out and that would be that.  11 years later, I am older and have seen a lot more of how the world works, that the simplistic worldview of the college student and the average TV pundit (on both sides of the spectrum) just won't fly anymore.  I don't know anything anymore, save for one important thing - the world is not safer.  It is more unstable than ever, and if America is going to underwrite global security then it is my duty to step up and help.  I came into patriotism late.

I was just finishing PT and it was dark. Someone had said a plane had crashed into the towers. I thought to my self thats odd, they are so big how could that have happened. Then I heard a second one had hit and knew that was no accident. It was kind of like the scene in "Starship Troopers" all of us trying to run in and crowd around our Tv. After skipping breakfast we watched the towers fall. I could feel every eye in the Detachment on me. Everyone knew I was from NY, I had family that lived in Manhatten, my brother and sister both lived and worked there. I had tears welling in my eyes, I come form a family of NYC Cops, I knew my dad would have known people who didnt make it. I was grinding my teeth with rage and sadness, feeling helpless I was so far from home. Of course the phone lines were out so I couldnt make contact. I went outside into the cold, dark morning air knowing the world had just changed for all of us. While thinking a myriad of thoughts I heard the distinct roar of C Model Afterburners at full Mil power. The Alert Cell guys on the otherside went screaming out setting off car alarms, then Mother took off, then a few others. We wondered what the hell else was going on. RUMINT said there was 1 or 2 planes entering our airspace and they hadnt responded to ATC. Turned out I think it was a KAL 747 who had been out of the loop, lucky he wasnt blasted out of the sky.

I later made contact with family, my brother who works nights awoke to all the ash and sirens with no power. He thought Armageddon had arrived and he was like Burgess Meredith in that Twilight Zone episode when Armageddon hit. My sister was alright too, she had gotten some ash on 7th Ave but was Ok.

Everyone wanted payback like right then and there, it would be awhile but TF501 would go, and payback was on the menu.

    Being a Disabled Vet at the time of Sept 11th and only being out of the Navy for 3 years, I was working at a job Near the Las Vegas International Airport.  Constantly hearing the planes, seems like every 5 minuets or so a plan was either landing or taking off, Then all the sudden Nothing, Silence instantly I knew something was wrong, I figured a plan was in trouble and was performing an emergency landing.  Nevertheless, ten minuets went by, nothing.  That is when I turned on my Radio and my heart sank.  I felt the blood rush to my face with rage, I had to get back into the Navy.  I tried everything, harassing Senators.  Speaking with my old XO, but it was a No Go.  My heart was broken and I felt helpless.  It took a few years but I was able to follow in my Father’s footsteps, became a firefighter which was my plan anyways, but to this day I wish I was out there with my fellow American’s Serving on the front lines.  Thank you so much for all that you people do, I know my daughter sleeps safe peacefully because of the job all you service members are doing. 

My memories are as a civilian and are also strong. I woke up and turned on the news as usual for a bit before getting out of bed and tuned into the surreal, horrifying events happening across the country. I watched the second plane hit live and could hardly take my eyes off the tv. Being a work day, I eventually got up and ready. Once there, most were milling around talking about what was happening. In the weeks following I remember furniture shopping (I had just moved into my condo) and feeling like I was doing my very small bit to behave normally, live my life, support the consumer economy and not let the terrorists win emotionally.

@BrandonTWebb Thank you for sharing your reflections. Thank you for your service to our country.

I was in 5th grade at the time sitting in class when an administrator knocked on the door and asked my teacher to step into the hallway, once my teacher reentered the room he explained what had happened. In my case, my aunt had worked in the WTC and I immediately yelled out that I had to call my parents. I was unaware at the time she had began working in another building only two blocks away a few weeks prior. As the day went on and I realized what was actually happening I went through a variety of different emotions (as did everyone else) our school was let out early around 11:30 AM and I went to my friend's house. His mother had the news on and seeing those individuals jumping to their deaths set something off inside of me. I still remember all of the little details from that day, and believe that in this time of war that myself and able bodied male must do what I can to prevent this from happening again. 

Shock. Then anger. Then disbelief. Disbelief that an enemy had somehow found a chink in our armor. It was hard to process because we all lived in this big bubble, so to speak. The everyday American, up until that point, didn't believe it could happen. The average American had not been exposed to any intelligence that would suggest any vulnerabilities. Now it seems more and more Americans are not only aware, but actively seek to stay informed of potential threats.

My 9/11 experience actually started on the 12th, since I was already deployed overseas.  I was on my final day of patrol before getting two days off,  and I wanted to head out into town since we were due for another mission soon.  The first plane hit just past 2230 here, and I was already on watch at the entry gate, and so I was told to start securing the outside entry points and start funneling personnel towards the main gate to the ship.  So I secured the officers gate and the contractors gate, and put them on the quarterdeck and enlisted brow.  We knew about the air attack, but we weren't sure if attack by air was the only means they had.  We were also worried by suicide boats coming in.  And we were worried that Weapons department wouldn't get gun crews up fast enough to stop, if it was already in motion.  By the time the second plane hit, we kinda knew it was an air only attack, so my watch commander pulled me into dispatch, and told me that I was the lucky guy to be a stinger operator, since I was the only stinger qualified on the boat.  That was hell, since I found out later I can't leave to even eat chow down below since since no one else can do it.  Cold chow was brought up to me.    Note to self~~never be the top man ; train the new guys..  

So I got to watch them recall the whole ship back to the boat, and the next morning we were getting steam back up, and getting the civilians to pull chocks so we can deploy.  We deployed without our air wing and headed to Afghanistan.  What can a carrier do without the Naval air wing??  Well, without the air wing, we can't sink Al-qaeda subs (BTW, they are a landlocked country), can't shoot down al-qaeda aircraft since they don't have any fighter or bomber aircraft.  So we were sent to combat al-qaeda without a declared combat zone without fighters,bombers or even an Hawkeye.  But JSOC/SOCOM had a special mission for us ; we were to be a platform for an inter-unit task force to hunt for UBL and his group.  

I don't have TV. I live very rural and hop here and there for project work. I received a call from a girlfriend in Coronodo, about 1000 miles away from me. She was helping to get her husbands gear together, trying to keep her red haeaded 3 year old in line and trying to tell me to get to a television set somewhere. She told me the USA was under attack and sounded chaotic as a top notch military wife and long time military brat. I didn't even change from my PJ's, I hopped in a rig and drove about 30 miles to a satellite office and watched as the events unfolded. IT took me about a week to realize what had happened, why, who was involved and what changes would be occurring in our lives as well as on a national security level. I had always done project work, but in different theaters/arenas. I remember the moment, about 2 weeks after 9/11, the stark realization that my future projects would involve and ultiumately revolve around this war. I knew my life changed, my families life changed and that I was heading back into a world I really thought I was finished with. I made many changes to my life in order to be prepared to take on any project anytime as needed. Since then, I have lost more friends and loved ones and met more (s)widows than I could ever imagine. The war on a fighting level has been intense. Another level of this war surfaced having to do with health issues coming back from over there. I immersed myself in the science of the health issues as a diversion to my other projects. Its the only factor that keeps me 1/2 way sane.