story79.xml

story79.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-02-25

I am a veteran and retiree of the armed forces (Army). I am also a doctoral candidate at George Mason University and and an adjunct instructor in government as well. I also work full time - providing planning and exericise and wargame development for the Joint Chiefs of Staff - located in the Pentagon. I was in the building on 9/11. It was a terrible and confusing day. When we were outside of the building after being evacuated, we foulnd that we could not communicate - cell phones did not work, due to system overload. We were also told that more planes were possibly inbound - remember we were over 20,000 people standing outside near the Potomic River, surrounded by multi-lane expressways and no where to go - it was scary. What i want to tell you, however, is that while many Americans would feel helpless and unable to do anything, I was afforded a unique opportunity to contribute. You see, for years i have been studying and lecturing on mobilization and crisis management. Immediately after the attack (that Night) I was asked along with an Army Colonel, a Military Lawyer, and an Atty from the Justice Department to draft a declaration of national emergency. It took us 3 days and nights (working 24 hours a day) and on September 14, 2001, President Bush signed the document. He immediately ordered the Reserve and Guard to active duty and invoked several other militiary and economic measures needed to provide the legal basis for the emergency. What is amasing is the fact that I am not a federal employee, nor was I recalled to active duty, nor was it within the contractual agreement I have with the Government to plan exercises. I did it out of love for my Country and a sense that it would provide the President and the nation with the legal tools required to
respond to the crisis. Soon after I found myself back at Mason, attempting lead a discussion about the attack with my students in a state and local government course.