I honestly questioned if I wanted to write a post on covering my thoughts on September 11th and if I convey my thoughts into words in such a way that didn’t sound either scripted or insensitive. But after going through the day and seeing the images of that day over and over on my television or hearing the tributes on the radio I thought it was justified and ok.
“On That September Day”
On September 11th I was working out in the gym on Fort Huachuca, Arizona. I was assigned as the KennelMaster for the Military Police Dog program there and I had actually just started an Equal Opportunity Course the day before. As I was on the elliptical machine churning away I looked up at the tv and saw the pictures of the first tower on fire. I really didn’t think much of it originally, I mean fires happen all the time even if this one was going pretty big.
Then the ticker started talking about how an aircraft had struck the tower and showing people jumping from the building. Everyone seemed to keep going about their day however, even me.
“Where you in the yard with your wife and children or working on some stage in LA”
When I got home I did the normal stuff one does, shower, shave, breakfast in front of the t.v. and that is when the second plane hit the other tower. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I couldn’t believe, like most others, that someone could intentionally do that and I was mad.
“Did you stand there in shock, Did you shout out in Anger, or fear for your neighbor”
But I had work to do so I went into class. By time I got there, the plane had crashed into the Pentagon. Now it was time for me to take action, to not feel like I was just sitting around so I left my class, went to my kennels, and put my dog teams to work. We supported the entire installation that day, searched over three hundred cars in a couple hours. Cleared over 50 buildings and closed over half the installations gates.
“Or did you just sit down and cry”
By the end of the day reality had set in for everyone, there were tears, some had family in those buildings. There was a lot of anger, and the question “What are we going to do now?” was being asked by everyone. Nobody knew what the attack on the World Trade Center would bring us.
“Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning”
For me, ten years later has meant that I have been deployed four times in the last seven years. I have been to Iraq three time and Afghanistan once. I have lost eight great friends during those deployments, people who are and forever will be missed.
Overall the country has sacrificed so much for freedom, and in part, revenge. But we as a nation are healing, we as a nation will push on.
Comment below, tell us Where You Were When The World Stopped Turning
Regards,
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
10 years ago, I was still in bed waiting for my alarm to go off for me to get up for Swing Shift PT. My mom called me and asked me if I was watching the news. I said no, I was just about to get up. She told me I needed to turn on the news. Once I turned it on, I saw the second plane hit the tower. I was in shock. I couldn’t believe that this was actually happening. I told my mom, “I gotta go”. Right then and there I knew it was going to be a long day. I immediatly got dressed in BDU’s and not PT’s. I went down stairs where all of the offices were. My Platoon Sergeant told be to get everyone downstairs now. I ran through the barracks knocking on all of the doors and telling everyone to get into BDU’s and go downstairs. That day and many days to follow were really long days. I had three weeks straight of 18 hour shifts, with no days off. That seems like a lot, however, it was nothing compared to the lifetime that others will go without their loved ones there anymore. 10 years later, three deployments, six PCS moves, many friends lost, and I’m sure more in the future. I have eight years until I can retire. How many more deployments will I have to go on? How many more Soldiers will have to die? Time will tell. I have volunteered as well as 1% of the American people to make the sacrifice to fight for our freedoms so we can live in this great nation the United States of America!
Excellent, thanks for sharing your story!