story1809.xml
Title
story1809.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-06
911DA Story: Story
On September 11th, I was an attorney on my way to Nassau County Supreme Court on Long Island. I left my hom in Bronxville, unaware of what had happened downtown. My radio in my car was not working and the first notice I had that the WTC had been attacked was seeing it burn as I crossed the Throgs Neck Bridge.
The courthouse was soon closed after I arrived. All bridges were closed. I telephoned my law firm and was advised to return to our office in White Plains right away. I called my national guard unit in the Bronx and was advised we were mobilized by order of the governor.
I had to show my military ID to get across the bridges to return to my home to change into military attire and gather my belongings.
I had difficulty contacting my wife that morning. As we are originally from Mississippi, she had returned there, as I had plans to soon follow. After assuring her I was safe, the most dreadful news was to tell her I was going to the site of the attack.
As a desert storm veteran from active duty, I never anticipated we would be attacked on American soil. My experience from Desert Storm left me with mixed emotions toward the attack at the WTC.
Most soldiers were scared and did not know what to expect when we arrived. I assured them as best I could as their officer and went to work coordinating their positions with police.
The most horrific site awaited us at the south tower upon our arrival. The magnitude of the attack was beyond what most of the onlookers and civilians in the area could comprehend.
The national guard supplemented the police around the perimeter of Manhattan for several weeks. These soldiers are often overlooked and not mentioned as they did not play a part in the actual rescue effort. I commend each and every soldier who was called that day with me to do their job, although it was not one they were trained for. As the war on terror is almost a year old, never forget what a soldier gives back to his country and in turn, they never asks for thanks in return.
The courthouse was soon closed after I arrived. All bridges were closed. I telephoned my law firm and was advised to return to our office in White Plains right away. I called my national guard unit in the Bronx and was advised we were mobilized by order of the governor.
I had to show my military ID to get across the bridges to return to my home to change into military attire and gather my belongings.
I had difficulty contacting my wife that morning. As we are originally from Mississippi, she had returned there, as I had plans to soon follow. After assuring her I was safe, the most dreadful news was to tell her I was going to the site of the attack.
As a desert storm veteran from active duty, I never anticipated we would be attacked on American soil. My experience from Desert Storm left me with mixed emotions toward the attack at the WTC.
Most soldiers were scared and did not know what to expect when we arrived. I assured them as best I could as their officer and went to work coordinating their positions with police.
The most horrific site awaited us at the south tower upon our arrival. The magnitude of the attack was beyond what most of the onlookers and civilians in the area could comprehend.
The national guard supplemented the police around the perimeter of Manhattan for several weeks. These soldiers are often overlooked and not mentioned as they did not play a part in the actual rescue effort. I commend each and every soldier who was called that day with me to do their job, although it was not one they were trained for. As the war on terror is almost a year old, never forget what a soldier gives back to his country and in turn, they never asks for thanks in return.
Collection
Citation
“story1809.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 9, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/4845.