Today is the 25th anniversary of the 9/11/01 attacks on the United States by four sets of al-Queda hijackers…
These images were burned into our consciousness that day, if you were alive then…
American Airlines Flight 11, and United Flight 175 hit the two towers at the WTC.
American Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.
And United Flight 93 (destined for Washington, DC and either the capital or the White House) crashed in Shanksville, PA after fighting between the hijackers and the passengers, bringing the term “Let’s Roll.” into the lexicon.
I heard the term “defining moment” thrown around a lot, especially in the last years…
My recollection from that day-
On 9/11, I was in my office at the University when I got a call from one of the University pilots who is a retired Marine helo pilot; he told me to “get to a TV, somebody just hit New York with an airplane!”
I finally found one in a conference room upstairs and turned it on, as it happened it was on CNN…
Others started to wonder in to see why I was ‘violating’ University policy, and the pilot called me back, about that time. I do remember something to the effect of “a terrible accident has occurred” being said on TV about the time the pilot saying this wasn’t an accident, it was an airliner and something bad was going down.
As we talked, the second airplane hit the second tower, and we agreed about the fact that America was under attack, but at that point we had no idea who had done it… Anger was the prevalent feeling, and frustration, since there wasn’t anything we could directly do for those folks…
About a half an hour later, I was called into a meeting with law enforcement about securing/protecting facilities and infrastructure; we were interrupted by the announcement that the Pentagon had been hit, and the tone of the meeting changed from what if, to we need to prepare NOW! I also remember driving back to my office and hearing about Shanksville and UA 93 during that time. We set our emergency response plan into effect, sending folks home and going into a 24 hour response cycle.
I stayed at work, coordinating with various folks, but I noticed a lot of my co-workers were in shock that anyone would attack America, much less why attack us… I wasn’t shocked, I was PISSED…
The few of us that were ex-military tended to not say anything after the first couple of arguments, since we had a significantly different perspective. We knew the military had been placed on elevated alert, and folks were either airborne or sitting in cockpits on strip alert…
In the days that followed, I didn’t get a lot of sleep; watched a lot of coverage. When the list of casualties came out, I found out I’d lost three good friends in the Pentagon, and I wrote to Navy Personnel volunteering for recall to active duty. Sadly, I wasn’t recalled…
Why did I post these pictures? Because they are REALITY… Not sugarcoated, apologized for, sanitized talking points, or spun by whomever. We, the USA were attacked on our home soil by terrorists who are STILL determined to bring America to her knees, since we are the “Great Satan”… 25 years later, the terrorists are still after us, and Iran is still leading the charge…
Today, politicians will horn in on the various memorials for the obligatory photo ops even when asked to stay away. They won’t speak, and will keep those who actually DID THE WORK out of the memorials. Friend of mine who is a nurse and worked the pile for over 2 weeks at the Towers asked, and was told not to bother showing up, she wouldn’t be allowed in.
Where were you, and what was your response, and more importantly, what are your thoughts today???
Capt Larry Getzfred, USN; Capt Jack Punches, USN ret; AW1 Joe Pycior all died in the Navy Ops Center in the Pentagon. Never forget…
And steel from the Towers was used to build the bow of the USS NEW YORK (LPD-21).
She, and the USS ARLINGTON (LPD-24) and USS SOMERSET (LPD-25) were named for the other locations where the planes hit. All three ships are San Antonio Class Amphibs.
Learn the actual history of 9/11, not the pablum being spun by the left and most of the media.
Never forget, never forgive!
