nmah5420.xml

nmah5420.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-01-27

I am a Special Agent for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. I was driving to my office at the Sacramento, CA Post of Duty and listening to National Public Radio when the first account of the first plane to hit was aired. It was 6:45AM PDT. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I was stuck in morning traffic on Highway 99 when I heard that a second plane had struck the other tower. At that point, I knew things were not right and I proceeded to turn on my lights and siren to get out of the traffic and to the Federal Building as fast as I could. By the time I arrived, security was evacuating the building of all non-essential personnel. I was able to get into the office and quickly initiated contact with my fellow agents and our Headquarters in Arlington, VA. Our agency Director instructed all DCIS offices to evacuate and to assist local law enforcement if requested. By noon, the U.S. Attoney's Office had contacted our office and requested that the Joint Terrorism Task Force be assembled at the request of the California Governor to assist in protecting key facilities in the State's Capital. I spent the next 14 hours assisting local police and the California Highway Patrol in setting up a protective perimeter around the State Capital. Little did I know how Sep 11th would change my life from that point on.

Very much so. In addition to being a federal law enforcement officer, I am a reserve officer of the US Army. While I worked around the clock with my agency to conduct terrorism investigations for the first 30 days after 9-11, the Army was gearing up for the greatest use of reservist since Korea. On Oct 12, 2001, I was activated to active duty and left my family for six months in support of Operation Noble Eagle. I missed my son's 6th birthday, my wedding anniversary, Thanksgiving and the holdays. However, I knew there were some families that would never have their loved ones home again, so it was an honor to serve. In April 2002, my agency transferred me to our Headquarters in Arlington, VA. This transfer came at a time that I was just re-establishing with my son and wife after serving 6 months of military duty. We moved from California to Northern Virginia with hope that we would be able to get our lives somewhat back to normal, but knowing we were embarking on a journey that was nowhere from over. Six months later after moving, I was recalled to military service. As I write this submission, I am serving in support of military operations to safeguard the future of my family, our Nation and our way of life. I think back on Sep 10, 2001 and realize that my life, my son's life and my wife's has changed drastically because of the attack. We had just had our home built in California and thought that it would be our home well into retirement. As the saying goes, life can change in a New York minute and without a doubt, 45 minutes that happened in New York, changed everyones.

The most important thing everyone should remember is that the attack was committed on innocent women, men and children by those who hate us simply because we are free. Our Nation was founded upon invididual rights and liberty and while we have struggled to ensure that dream is available to everyone, an evil exist that hates us for attempting. No one is immune from the hatred this evil sector has for us. Our very being as a Nation is in jeopardy and our continued existence as we know it must be defended. Do not let those who would rather "get on with our lives" passify you into discounting the horror we faced on that day. It is real, it is ongoing and it must be dealt with. Freedom is not free.

Yes. The flag has always been important to me. It symbolizes the freedom we enjoy, the blood that has been shed for that freedom and price some of us are willing to bear to ensure it for our children.