bruiser
New member
I was off that day but was on the phone with my manager when he said a plane had just hit the WTC. I thought it was a small private plane. He said "Jim, you better turn on the TV". I did and was taken aback by what I saw. I immediately went out and put up my flag as I hadn't done that yet. Then the second jet hit. I was in shock. I started praying right then for those in the towers and all of the responders. As Vrodrjs said about the imminent collapse, I knew the towers couldn't hold up to that much damage and heat. I began yelling at the TV "Get out, get out". I wanted desperately to warn them, to warn someone. I cried at the sight of the towers collapsing and at the people running in all directions. I cried more at the sight of the firefighters. police and EMTs covered in dust trying to do their best to save lives. I cried for the lost as I surely knew there would be many. I called our local Dispatch to volunteer to go and help with the recovery, but they weren't taking any names and didn't know if anyone was. Then when the third plane hit the Penatgon I became angrier. I went on base later that afternoon and the saw manned and armed APCs at all the gates. The guards in full battle dress with loaded weapons. It's an eerie feeling having an M60 pointed at you as you enter the base. All buildings were on lockdown and you had to show an ID even to get in to the BX. They were searching any and all large vehicles. They even stopped me and had me open the bed cover on my pickup. If you didn't have an ID you were not allowed on base. There were planes landing from all services but none taking off. The memory that is etched forever in my memory is that of firemen holding each other and crying at the loss of their Brothers. But how soon we forget, how soon we go back to our everyday lives...