story10962.xml
Title
story10962.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2004-09-12
911DA Story: Story
I woke up around 6:30, a little on the early side, and heard my mom mention something about the news as I climbed into the shower. I got out, went downstairs, and turned on the TV. The next thing I did was call the two people who I really trusted back then, my girlfriend Amelia and my teammate Jesse. Amelia had already left for school, but I got through to Jesse. Here's our conversation:
Jesse: Hey what?s up man?
Me: You're not gonna believe this.
Jesse: What?
Me: Turn on your TV
Jesse: what? what channel
Me: It doesn?t matter
Jesse: Oh shit
Me: Yea...I gotta go, I'll see you at school
The day at school was a blur. I remember so many teachers acted like nothing was happening and continued as normal with the lessons, but I couldn't focus. I didnt know what to feel. Having never been to the east coast, I couldn't get my mind around the fact that this was actually happening. That evening I sat in front of the TV and watched the images again and again. I probably sat there for two hours just absorbing it. I don't think I had a single emotional reaction the whole day. Shock had wiped away any feeling I could have about the events. I fell asleep not knowing what the next day would bring.
Over the next few weeks and months I changed. Having grown up in Berkeley in the 90's meant that I really saw no real need for a military establishment. Sure we had enemies, but they were so far removed it was difficult to imagine them ever being a direct threat to us. In those following weeks I not only realized why we needed a military, I began to consider the kind of people they were looking for. Less than two years after my visions of pacificm and the good of all people had faded, on July 1st, 2003 I reported for 7 weeks of basic training also know as Plebe Summer at the United States Naval Academy. I havent looked back since.
Jesse: Hey what?s up man?
Me: You're not gonna believe this.
Jesse: What?
Me: Turn on your TV
Jesse: what? what channel
Me: It doesn?t matter
Jesse: Oh shit
Me: Yea...I gotta go, I'll see you at school
The day at school was a blur. I remember so many teachers acted like nothing was happening and continued as normal with the lessons, but I couldn't focus. I didnt know what to feel. Having never been to the east coast, I couldn't get my mind around the fact that this was actually happening. That evening I sat in front of the TV and watched the images again and again. I probably sat there for two hours just absorbing it. I don't think I had a single emotional reaction the whole day. Shock had wiped away any feeling I could have about the events. I fell asleep not knowing what the next day would bring.
Over the next few weeks and months I changed. Having grown up in Berkeley in the 90's meant that I really saw no real need for a military establishment. Sure we had enemies, but they were so far removed it was difficult to imagine them ever being a direct threat to us. In those following weeks I not only realized why we needed a military, I began to consider the kind of people they were looking for. Less than two years after my visions of pacificm and the good of all people had faded, on July 1st, 2003 I reported for 7 weeks of basic training also know as Plebe Summer at the United States Naval Academy. I havent looked back since.
Collection
Citation
“story10962.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 20, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/16762.