September 11 Digital Archive

[Untitled]

Referred to by

Smithsonian website

How has your life changed because of what happened on September 11, 2001?

Every day, I took the PATH to the base of the World Trade Center, under the towers, though 5 WTC and then past 7 WTC. On the morning of September 11, 2001, I got an early start.

I passed by the shoeshine place, deciding that a 15-minute shoeshine would leave me less time to prepare for an afternoon budget meeting. From my office window, we could see a smoldering fire at the WTC and an airplane sticking out of it. We could not see the South Tower from our vantage point.

I called Donna. "It looks like a plane hit the WTC. Get out of there!" she said.
"Do you know what is happening?" I asked.
"No. The news reports aren't clear," she said.
"OK, I am in a safe spot, and we're going to leave." I hung up.

My Dad called. "Dad, what is happening?!"
"Mike, I don't know from here, I don't have a TV." I conferenced Kathy in.
"Kathy, this is Mike and Dad, what do you see on TV?"
"Looks like a plane hit the WTC. This is it for now."
"I have to get out of here. Love you guys. Bye."

I said to my team, "The whole city is probably going to evacuate. Beat the rush and get home. Stay away from the WTC. Go North. Work from home, if you can."

At this point, someone yelled out, "Oh my God! A second plane hit." I could not verify this from our vantage point. Everyone ran to the window. All hell broke loose.

One of my coworkers, John, who had just arrived said, "I saw debris coming down from the building. Then, I realized that there were bodies falling or jumping from the building!"

We all left. I walked over to the West Side Highway to see what was happening. A procession of Special Operations trucks, police cars and ambulances passed us at 80 mph, speeding to the scene. Later, I would learn that most of these heroes would die.

We were standing less than a mile from the base of the twin towers. We were grouped together, looking at the flames, when a gigantic fireball erupted and smoke spewed forth, like from the gates of Hell itself.

Glass shards flew everywhere from behind the tower. A big plume of smoke and debris expanded. In slow motion, I saw this big wave of doom fall toward the people below. All I could think was that I was standing there witnessing the mass murder of everyone under this flaming wall of death.

It was the most hopeless feeling I have ever felt.
Men and women were wailing and screaming. A young child started to throw up. A woman in front of me lost her bladder. An old man fell down, sobbing.

A big wave, seemingly taller than the tallest building, grew and started to expand toward us. At this point, everyone started to run. I said to my coworkers, "There was no reason for me to be here. Good-bye".

Walking past Chelsea Piers, someone handed me a glass of water. Later, I learned that this would become the triage center where the majority of the victims were brought. My only regret is that I did not stay to help triage. But, in retrospect, who would have known this?

After many attempts. I finally got through to Donna. "Where are you, Mike?"
"I am far away and heading out. I have to go. Please tell everyone that I am OK, in a safe place."

I did not stop until I had gone about 35 city blocks, or about 3 miles. Being on the West Side Highway, I still had a clear view of the one building left. Wait a minute...

At this moment, I realized that there was only one building left. I stood there with my mouth open, unbelievably looking at the spectacle.

Someone handed me a cigarette. I started to turn and someone let out a big, "Oh no!!!!" Turning back, I saw a huge fireball, expanding from the remaining building.

Focusing on this 5 story long girder (60 feet long/10 feet wide), I saw it slowly swing out, in slow motion. I saw the antennae coming down and I knew that the whole building was collapsing. I sobbed with the group. I could hear people screaming, crying, yelling in anger.

You could not take your eyes from the falling debris and the growing realization that many more were going to die. Right in front of your eyes.

And there was nothing, nothing in this world that could prevent it from happening.
All of the people who rushed in to help, the Special Operations team, the cops, ambulances, the motorcyclist, the people leaving the building. All would all be crushed.

In disbelief, I turned and left the city (sobbing). There was nothing I could do.

Citation

“[Untitled],” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 3, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/96825.