nmah38.xml

nmah38.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-06-27

I work for a bank/broker-dealer, Credit Suisse First Boston, in the Operations Risk Management Group as an Assistant Vice President in the Operations Division of the Firm. On 8:46am that morning, my colleagues and I were evacuated down a stairwell in 5 World Trade Center after the first plane struck Tower One. I departed on the upper lobby level of the mall intercourse (adjacent to the satellite airline ticketing centers) and walked into the human and building debris which was falling into the World Trade Center Plaza. I then proceeded down an escalator into the mall concourse and went into the lobby of Tower One to look for my wife, Amy. My wife, Amy, works as a Benefits Administrator for Marsh USA based in midtown but often attended training seminars on the 100th Floor of Tower One. When I was pushed away by security guards in Tower One, I proceeded through the mall concourse past the PATH Train entrance; Cortland St. 1/9 Trains; Au Bon Pan but then exited past the Sam Goody store in the mall concourse (in 4 World Trade Center). As I exited the building, the second plane crashed into Tower Two directly over my head. I was then instantaneously trampled by the stampede of people running and fell face-first to the cement on Liberty Street (below the impact of the second plane in front of Two World Trade Center). I was then found by a co-worker, in City Hall Park (a few blocks from the point of impact) lying on a park bench at approximately 9:30am. It was estimated by EMT's that I lost consciousness for 5-10 minutes. I was taken to NYU Downtown Hospital (Beekman) where I was treated for head trauma and contusions to my back. I also breathed in the debris cloud resulting from the collapse of Tower Two as the hospital is located within blocks from the World Trade Center. I was further treated at a local hospital (Mercy Medical) and by other health care providers for several months after 9/11 for lingering physical injuries (pulmonary specialists; etc.) and have attended group counseling since late October, 2001.

I am fatalistic about the twists and turns of life. I had accepted a position with Cantor Fitzgerald a year prior to the tragedy and would have been working on the 101st floor if not for a last-minute decision to accept a job at CSFB. I was also one of the few Five World Trade Center workers injured as a result of searching for my wife in Tower One that morning. I survived after being knocked unconscious and left for dead under the impact of the second plane colliding into Tower Two while there were some who were blocks away who were hit with falling debris. How did I survive and others did not have the similar fortune ? The events of that morning has changed my outlook on life as I now live every day to the fullest. I have been involved with many support groups and am involved in the World Trade Center - Oklahoma City Family Exchange Program. I am also completing my travel of the United States as I will have completed the 48 continental states by the end of July. Achieving personal goals is a must and my wife and I are expecting our first child in late November. Focusing on positive; not negative goals is a must-do step in recovery. I will always have the events of that day embedded in my memory forever but I have learned to use this tragedy to gain a greater resolve and determination. I have used the aftermath of the events of 9/11 not as a crutch, but as a motivating force to make my life a meaningful one to myself and my loved ones.

I believe September 11th should be a remembrance of all victims - not only the uniformed heroes. Using the term "civilian victim" is a denigrating term. Every loss of life (with the exception of the perpetrators) was equal and should be grieved and remembered with the same vigor. There should not be a caste (hierarchical) system in tragedy. September 11th should be remembered as a day when innocent Americans lost their lives in a manner uncomprehensible to most. As a witness to the brutality and viciousness of this attack, it is important for all Americans to never forget and to try to embrace the unity that unified the country after 9/11. It is unfortunate that many people have moved on, forgotten this tragedy, and continue to function in an un-American manner. I feel that if every American could feel - for one second, one minute, one hour, one day - the pain and suffering that all of the survivors and victim's friends and families have felt since that day, there would be a change in the attitudes and psyche of most Americans. Only then will we be one unified country with the same vision and fortitude. The same spirit which brought many people of many different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds together after that day needs to continue as we are all Americans regardless of background unified under one God.

Yes, my patriotism has increased. I marched in the Flag Day parade, as a WTC survivor, which was coordinated by the Sons of the Revolution, who own & operate Fraunces Tavern Museum, and participated in the NYC Flag Day Parade and Ceremonies in NYC as a VIP guest. On June 14th, they honored all of the Heroes of September 11th. The organization invited WTC United Family Group family members to march in this year's NYC Flag Day Tribute to the Heroes. After the Flag Day Parade and ceremonies at City Hall and Fraunces Tavern, they held a luncheon for all the marchers.