lc_story213.xml

lc_story213.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2004-01-06

I was at work as a U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune NC. I was assigned as the Company Commander of Bridge Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion. I was returning to the company office from checking on platoon training. The agitated Company Clerk informed me that the media was reporting a plane had crashed into the world trade center. My immediate thought was it was a deliberate attack, but I quickly pushed that snap judgment aside in favor of waiting for further details and the possibility of other explanations. I continued about my duties. The Company Clerk continued to monitor the news via the web. He announced, now on the verge of loosing his composure, that a second plane had struck the second tower. That announcement removed all doubt about the nature of the tragedy; it was clearly a coordinated terrorist attack.

It was my Company Clerk's next words that still resonate in my mind and illicit a visceral emotional response. "What are we going to do now, Sir?" Something about that question disengaged my thoughts about the terrible loss of life and focused my minds-eye to the future. I knew we were going to do something. Our demanding but relatively predictable peacetime regime was going to change in the near future. Our training and character were going to be put to the ultimate test. I knew everyone in the office wanted an answer to that burning question. I curtly responded "what do you mean, we are going to go about our duties, we are going to continue to train. Let's get back to work."

The impact of 911 ebbs and flows like an emotional teenager on the collective conscious of the nation. To determine a lasting impact is difficult in our fickle citizenry. I think the attack on our soil firmly established a sense that the instability that breeds terrorism had to be proactively addressed even if the nation is deeply divided on how to do so. For me personally, I believed our military power should serve mostly as a deterrent and that nations should make the necessary sacrifices to secure freedom for themselves. My experience in Iraq showed me how easily desperation and hopelessness can breed terrorism. It taught me that some peoples could not possibly help themselves without intervention from powerful outside forces.