story10728.xml

story10728.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2004-08-04

I was onboard a US Navy destroyer the morning of Sept 11th. We had gotten underway earlier that morning for routine operations and I was busy restocking my medical supplies and doing the daily routine business. I was walking back to medical with an armload of supplies when a shipmate ran past me and said "Doc, we are under attack!" and ran off. I dropped the supplies off in medical and went to the chief's lounge where we had a large TV. We were still close enough to land to receive regular programming and I arrived just in time to see the second plane hit. The mess was quiet at first and then all hell broke loose. We were all angry and upset and sad and just in disbelief that this was happening. My children live just outside of DC and my fear grew for them and their safety. I was able to see the first tower fall and I knew that we had just lost a lot of firemen and civilains. I was a fireman before I joined the Navy so I am still familiar with how things usually work. Just after the tower fell we went to General Quarters and the Captain came over the net and told us we were being detached and would go off the coast of Virginia to provide air support. We lost TV but had e-mail for a short period. My father (retired Navy man) and my fiance were my only souces of information other than what I could get out of our intel guy. I wish I could relate the feelings of anger and helplessness we all felt those days and weeks after this happened. We didnt get to come home to Florida until the end of October and it was only then that all of us learned more of what and how things had happened. Like everyone else, we were glued to the TV and waiting and watching the casualty numbers fortunately continue downward. Only a few months after that we were on our way to the Med to conduct boardings and search for contraband and terrorists. It wasnt much compared to what others have done. My thoughts are never far away from that day and I think of those we lost and those who took them away from us. I didnt know anyone lost on 9/11 but I still weep for them and their families who must go on. There is a song that asks "Have you forgotten?" and I hope that no one has or ever will forget that terrible day. God bless my brothers and sisters in the armed forces and the fire service that have given there all and will continue to do so as long as there are people inthis world with no regard for human life.