story6995.xml

story6995.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-13

On September 11, 2001 I was in AIT at Ft. Lee, Virginia. We had less than a week left before my class was to graaduate. The poeple within my class and I had been together through basic and now AIT. Most of my company was outside the post in a field excercise. I was left behind for medical reasons. We were in our bay when the post alarms went off. The whole post was completely shut down in less than five minutes. My classmates were still off-post in the field. We had no knowledge of the bombings for almost eight hours. The next day my company returned. the chaplain came to the company and a breifing was given to those whose family members were involved in the tradegy. It seemed like everyone grew closer; however that ended. I am Muslim and after another classmate of mine realized this things changed. Some people looked to me as a scapegoat for the events as if I planned it...the same people I was to suppose to be close to turned on me. A few people were not as optimistic and did not treat me any differently. Four days later we graduated and wwere flying out. Due to the current situation we were searched. I was searched twiced however. It was said to be a random checked but before I was pulled to the side for the search my name plate on my military luggage was pointed out. I am glad that America came together in its time of need. I just wish that the religious scapegoats were not made.