story10532.xml

story10532.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2004-04-11

I was listening to WLS radio out of Chicago when i heard the initial reports that a plane had struck one of the World Trade Centers. At that point the reports were sketchy and it was being reported as possibly a small aircraft or a propeller plane of some sort. Then the reports resumed shortly as video was made available and Don Wade and Roma, the radio hosts were reporting the size of the gash in the building and that it had to be larger than a personal aircraft.

Reports then were that eyewitnesses saw what they thought was a twin engine jet, possibly a cargo jet strike the building and burst into a fireball. It was at that point that terrorism came to my mind as I drove on to my meeting.

In short order, another plane then struck the other Trade Tower and terrorism became the obvious. I remember thinking one of two things - most likely terrorism - or secondly - had the air traffic controllers misguided the planes on a collision course with the buildings. It wasn't long before terrorism was the only logical answer.

I made calls from my cell phone to alert people where I worked and my parents.

I hade made it all the way to Elkart, Ind. when the coverage had become the only thing on just about any radio station you could turn on. They reported the second plane had created an enormous fireball and that it had turned and made a flight path obviously on purpose and directly smashed through the building. We've all seen the picture. I had been listening to reporters on the scene as the second plane made impact and they looked up in shock watching it happen.

I made it to my meeting - business goes on you know. The receptionist was ear to radio and everyone in the office was aware. I toured the plant and met the owner and then as I was leaving the first building came down. There was a solomn mood suddenly as we all realized how terrible this had become. I had not - nor had anyone there seen any footage of it. This was all radio reports. So, our imaginations were our guide.

I left shortly as the reports continued. One report from Ashley Bamfield caught my attention as she was running (I'm not exactly sure if this was right before my meeting or right after or if it was as the second plane impacted or as the second building fell. Either way - Ashley began screaming "Oh my God." and you could tell something horrendous had occurred. I recall thinking "What - a bomb? A nuclear explosion?" This was either as the building fell or the second plane impacted. Regardless - I recall seeing every single person driving with a solomn look of determination on their face. We'de look at each other at stop lights and shake our heads or nod and grimace.

As I drove home, the reports continued. I live in the Southern Suburbs of Chicago and I stepped on teh gas a bit to get back as quickly as I could. Things were obviously getting worse. Reports now saying a plane down in Pennsylvania and smoke seen at the Pentagon. I'm now thinking perhaps we are at war? I should get my daughter out of school? She goes to school in an area with a large middle-eastern population. Is that a danger? What's going to happen?

All flights have been told to immediately land. I am watching a commercial jet flying very low south of the interstate. There are no airports there. It is only perhaps 1,000 ft. maybe 2,000. What targets are there? None that i can think of. Trying to land most likely.

Other reports say other planes are no longer in contact with air traffic controllers and that one has been confirmed down in Pennsylvania. Presumably in a field. They are still not reporting anything more than there has been an explosion at teh pentagon and that billows of black smoke can be seen rising. Indeed, it seems we are being attacked on many fronts. I am now in on war footing. I have guns. No ones attacking our area without a fight. I seriously consider that there is a possibility that the attack may be coordinated to the point that our own citizens of middle eastern dissent may be sleeper warriors and that the battle may come to street fighting.

There are conflicting reports and to this day I know there was one other flight that had lost contact with air traffic control and ahd disappeared from radar and had been heading toward Chicago. Possible targets were the Sears Tower or other large Chicago buildings. Shortly thereafter, I heard no further reference to that particular flight number. I think it was flight 107 (United Airlines).

Perhaps this was confusion as there were thousands of flights in the air at the time and some confusion would be easily understandable.

It shocked me how quickly the aircraft around the nation were landed and how quickly the FAA had responded to the orders of grounding all flights immediately. That still amazes me to this day.

I remember stopping to pay a toll before exiting the toll road and entering onto the Frank Boreman. The toll attendant - a nice lady, was equally horrified about the attacks but seemed also equally square with resolve.

I have never experienced in my life such a unanymous and steadfast resolve among Americans. The terrorists, despite there horrific act of evil had made a terrible miscalculation. American will not stand idle to such threats. In short order - our Commander in Chief, George W. Bush, did what needed to be done in a very pragmatic and reasonable way. He went about the job he had to do and now the evil people that brought terror to us - are either dead, terrified or on the run and in hiding. They may well attack again. But for every one of us they kill, we will bring the wrath of God down on them thousandsfold. They attacked the wrong nation of free people.

Oddly, it is now years past - a short while ago historically speaking - and already, there are political elements in our nation willing to dismiss these events and the importance of them. We've finally managed to take a stand in teh world that we should have taken all along - which is simply not to tolerate terror, evil or those that live with and support it. Already, we have the same tired old political rhetoric that completely dismisses the fact that it was they who waged war on us - and that the next attack can and may well come from any number of threats including but not limited to Al Qaeda and Iraq - both of which have been largely beaten.