nmah5582.xml

nmah5582.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-07-31

Having just arrived 2 days prior at my new duty station at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, my wife, son and I got ready at our hotel, then made our way over to the Schiappa's restaurant next door for breakfast. Upon entering, we noticed that there was not a single occupied table in the main dining area. As we took our seats and prepared to order, a waitress came over to our table. When I causally asked why business was so slow that day, she gawked unbelievingly at me and said "...haven't you seen the news? A plane hit the World Trade Center! Everyone's in the bar watching the big screen TV." We immediately abandoned our table and went to the bar area. Sure enough the image of smoke pouring out of the hole in the tower was there. The news anchors and reporters at the scene were all talking about a small plane hitting the tower and it was probably someone in a Cessna, or something.

Due to my position in the U.S. Army, and just coming from duty in Germany, I had the lowdown on terrorist groups due to their close proximity to our bases in Europe. I turned to my wife and said, "...this wasn't an accident." Sadly, before leaving the restaurant, we saw on live television, the second plane hit the other tower. My suspicions were confirmed,...and I guessed (correctly, it turns out) that it was Al'Qaida who were responsible.

Never in my life have I ever wanted to retaliate so badly against someone. The anger I felt against these Hypocrites of Islam was immense. I believe myself to be a very tolerant person, but to see religion used, just as it was in the Crusades, to justify attacking and destroying innocents, made my blood boil.

I have to admit, that I had always suspected that someone or some group would try to destroy the WTC, because the first attempt in 1993 was unsuccessful, and I thought that whoever had tried and failed would try again one day. I did NOT expect anyone to be so brazen as to attack the Pentagon. That news came as a real shock to me, being in the Army. As a soldier, you expect to meet the enemy on the battlefield, not in Washington D.C. I was heartened to see my fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, as well as DoD Contractors running to the aid of the fallen. I don't think I've ever been prouder to wear the uniform of this country than I was on that day.

I had never felt directly impacted by anything any President had spoken. (Especially given the kind of leadership we as a country had just emerged from in the "Clinton Years."). But I listened VERY carefully to President Bush that day. His words filled me with a pride in my country that I had not felt since first taking the oath of enlistment in the Army. Seeing him react, as he did, with a little anger (and more than a little resolve), made him at once, a Commander, a President I could be proud of, a human being, and a guiding light for what was to come. I thought to myself that THIS is definitely the right man to have leading our country right now. You could see it in his eyes.... he.... meant....business!

As I write this, I am still at Scott Air Force Base. I am still assigned to United States Transportation Command. I still wear the uniform of the United States Army. All the while, since October 2001, my fellow service men and women have been in Afghanistan, Iraq, along the DMZ in Korea, the Philippines, and most recently started the process of deploying to Liberia. I am safe. They are not. I have lived. Many of my comrades-in-arms have not. Those who have died have paid the ultimate price for freedom. Those who are still there continue the process begun in September 2001 by the words "We are at war." Don't forget who fired the opening salvos of this war on September 11, 2001. We have joined the fight, and will see it through. No matter how long it takes.

In general, no, nothing has changed. I continue to serve in the Army. In the fine details, yes. My family and I tend to be closer, and we have a deeper appreciation and respect for our Executive government these days. I tend to stand even more straight-backed when I'm in uniform. I'm more proud of my comrades-in-arms, and continually thankful that none of my direct acquaintances died in the attack on the Pentagon, or in duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.

We should remember those who died innocently by the hands of cowards. Yes, even the ones at the Pentagon. They were there, doing their duty to a country who only half appreciated them at the time, trying against all odds to keep an incident exactly like this one from becoming reality.

We should remember the Civil Service employees: the police, firefighters, ambulance drivers, doctors, nurses, medical assistants, rescue volunteers, construction workers, and everyday men and women who showed compassion and humility when it was most needed. Not only those who died giving assistance, but to those who continue on with their noble works.

I think the fact that religious zealots were allowed to go unchecked (And in control of a NATION, no less) and supporting the very people who attacked our country speaks volumes about how the government had it's hands tied by Political Correctness in the years leading up to September 11th. Since the end of the Persian Gulf War, most Americans had a rose-colored outlook on where we stood as a country. Invencible. Dominating. The left-wing liberals had started the United States down the path to insignificance and weakness with their arguments of 'America is just a big bully'. Obviously not a big enough bully. September 11th brought us back to reality. We should remember to NEVER let this happen again!

An American flag, in some form, has always been a part of my household, wherever that has been. I raise it every national holiday, especially those of remembrance. It has flown even more since the missions in Afghanistan and Iraq have begun.

My love of our flag has grown even more since September 11th. I am trying even more these days to instill in my son that same love of country and feeling of duty to our fellow Americans. I don't know if it will work, but as for me, as long as I live I will honor those who have fallen, and those who continue to serve to protect our country.