9/11 Memories

[Uncle Duke]

Where were you when you heard about the 9/11 attacks?

I was on a tour bus at the Waterford Crystal factory in Ireland.  I was travelling on vacation with a good friend and colleague, at the time an active duty USAF major stationed at the Pentagon. An Aussie standing next to me on the bus said, "Bloody Hell, the Yanks are under attack".   We got back to our rental car as quickly as possible where I had a small Grundig SW radio I always carried when I travelled.  After getting the gist of the story on VOA, we headed to a pub to see a television.  We got there shortly after the plane hit the Pentagon.

My friend was very concerned for his troops, but he could not get a call into the Pentagon.  He next called the Air Attaché at the US Embassy to report in, and then we went looking for somewhere to get on line.  We finally found an internet cafe where we both sent emails, the manager refused to take our money afterwards.  As we walked out, he said to us, "God Bless America".  I was very moved.  The Irish people could not do enough for us the rest of the time we were there.  We did not pay for another drink while in country.

We wound up getting on the first flight back to the US (Baltimore) out of Shannon thanks to the Air Attaché.  It was eerie, the quietest flight I've ever been on.  We actually flew over NYC, you could clearly see the smoke coming up from Ground Zero.  One of the stews lost it when she looked down at the site.  My friend went straight to the Pentagon from BWI, I got a flight home (three passengers) late that evening.  When I got home, my friend had already called my wife to let her know he had spoken to each of his troops, all were safe.

[mikuthing01]

I was sleeping

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Where were you when you heard about the 9/11 attacks?

I was on a tour bus at the Waterford Crystal factory in Ireland.  I was travelling on vacation with a good friend and colleague, at the time an active duty USAF major stationed at the Pentagon. An Aussie standing next to me on the bus said, "Bloody Hell, the Yanks are under attack".   We got back to our rental car as quickly as possible where I had a small Grundig SW radio I always carried when I travelled.  After getting the gist of the story on VOA, we headed to a pub to see a television.  We got there shortly after the plane hit the Pentagon.

My friend was very concerned for his troops, but he could not get a call into the Pentagon.  He next called the Air Attaché at the US Embassy to report in, and then we went looking for somewhere to get on line.  We finally found an internet cafe where we both sent emails, the manager refused to take our money afterwards.  As we walked out, he said to us, "God Bless America".  I was very moved.  The Irish people could not do enough for us the rest of the time we were there.  We did not pay for another drink while in country.

We wound up getting on the first flight back to the US (Baltimore) out of Shannon thanks to the Air Attaché.  It was eerie, the quietest flight I've ever been on.  We actually flew over NYC, you could clearly see the smoke coming up from Ground Zero.  One of the stews lost it when she looked down at the site.  My friend went straight to the Pentagon from BWI, I got a flight home (three passengers) late that evening.  When I got home, my friend had already called my wife to let her know he had spoken to each of his troops, all were safe.

That's a great story now, Duke, but no doubt not so much at the time.  The heartfelt sympathy you got from the Irish isn't at all surprising.  I spent some time there about twenty years ago, and was met with genuine friendliness and hospitality everywhere I went.

On 9/11, I was getting ready to hit the road for my annual fishing trip in northern Wisconsin.  I turned on the TV and saw the first tower smoking, but couldn't tell what it was and at first thought it was a nuclear plant disaster.  Then I saw the plane fly into the second tower, and it was "what the fuck!"  My buddy was already on the road and cell phones were still pretty exotic, so we had no way to get in touch.  I waited for a couple of hours to see if there were going to be travel restrictions or even a declaration of martial law.  When that didn't happen, I figured the northern boonies was one of the safest places I could be, so I went up there.

After we got there, we wished we'd stayed home, because the cabin was overpriced and terrible, and the fishing was worse.  The resort owners didn't make us feel particularly welcome, but they did tell us an interesting anecdote about Dennis Hastert getting drunk and ritualistically pissing on a stone raccoon yard ornament outside the bar.  Apparently, he was a friend of the owners and a regular guest, and watering the raccoon was a tradition for him and his fishing buddies.

Seriously, though, I remember just feeling kind of numb for a few days before I really started to process the enormity of what happened.  It seemed like everyone else was experiencing the same thing that week, because even though it was on TV constantly, people didn't talk about it at any great length at the resort. Even when we were fishing, we really didn't dwell on it.  I noticed it at the time, because it seemed like such an odd reaction, but in retrospect I have to wonder if we were just so dazed and overwhelmed that our brains decided we needed some time before dealing with it emotionally.

Thanks for starting this thread, Duke.

[Walks_At_Night]

I was driving into work, listening to Imus in the Morning and they were discussing reports that a plane had
hit the World Trade Center.  I didn't think that much about it - I just assumed that it must have been really
foggy and a small plane got disoriented and hit it.  This had happened to the Empire State Building along time
ago and I figured it was the same sort of deal.

Got into work.  Hit our development lab where we had a little break area with a TV.  Was shocked to learn that
it was not a light plane but an airliner.   There was a small debate going on with the Rainbow and Unicorn
crowd as to whether it was an accident.  It seemed pretty obvious to me that if it was an airliner on a crystal
clear day that it was no accident. After the second Tower was struck, it was clear to all that it was an attack.

Later that day I talked to my folks to see how it stacked up against Pearl Harbor in their eyes.   

Not as nearly as interesting as the Dukes story ........................

[K_Dubb]

Mine isn't as interesting either -- mom called me as I was getting ready for work and I watched on tv like everybody else.

I do remember it was a beautiful day here as well, and eerily quiet.  I was sitting outside in the sun when I was startled to hear, and later see, a small plane fly over, as well as a minute or two later when, with a deafening roar, a gray fighter went after it.  I want to say it was an F-16 but can't remember for sure.  I remember it came from the north and the nearest base is south, but I think they were flying patrols.

[albrecht]

Was at work in my office in Holland and my recent hire secretary was chattering away and looking at Russian websites in the other room and looking back towards my office, right then a UPS or DHL guy (I forget which) came in in a rush and wild expression and said 'have you heard NY has been attacked.' I tried the internet and as I recall it wasn't working or slow to CNN. Then both of them started talking and describing in English (better than my Russian or Dutch) and I was like, slow down, I don't understand/believe it. Then started getting calls and my boss who was in another country said you can leave and check on your family etc.. I went out and bought a bottle of Beam and watched the constant coverage on tv in my room and frantically called relatives in the US from the hotel (and kept having to explain to the gal in the hotel lobby that, yes, I will pay for an international call) but especially a few who worked in NYC (one of whom was working at an, I will, not name news station and stayed behind and said it was the weirdest thing ever post everything because the city was evacuated so really bizarre.) Nobody I knew died thankfully but it doesn't make it any better.

The aftermath in coming weeks/months was really amazing actually. Random people, especially old people (I was living in a town in which most of the main streets are named after US and English generals who liberated them from the NAZIs and still celebrate that day) would hear me speaking English and hug me, cry, etc. One particular situation almost brought me to tears because a random old lady on a train with her husband singled me out and he translated her story and love for Americans and etc. Younger and middle-age people, who could almost all speak English, would express their surprise, sadness, and sympathies. It was very heartfelt and great.

Now for the darker side:
Later, especially amongst the younger folks, once the new wars happened the situation changed but for a while they pretty much loved or at sympathy for us. I will say as a note that the Muslims, especially Moroccans, laughed and one immigrant I saw making cartoons and showing them to her co-workers at break (one in particular I saw on an assembly line showed Osama sodomizing Bush. I mentioned it to the owner, subcontractor, and he said, shrug, she will be gone in a few weeks anyway. Once she satisfies the requirements for immigration stay she will quit and go on the dole anyway, not worth bringing it up or tiring to fire because hard enough to get workers.) And in Berlin a year later I went by the main area Schwabing and saw tattoo tent and saw that you could get an Osama tattoo. Being drunk, and a rabble rouser, (was not at work but it was a trip for fun) I demanded the tattooist to put a face of Hitler on my chest and some Schutzstaffel on my arms. He blankly looked at me. I said, I know you know what those are- still blank, worried look. I said "Where is that in your tattoo book?" (The tattoo guy was German but had advertising about tattoos to get including Osama and some other stuff. And a book inside the tent with more designs. I said I was kidding, obviously, but WTF you put that other stuff on people. He basically admitted that it was a Federal crime to do those (no free speech there unless you are a Muslim) and I was like but you can fucking put on a tattoo of Osama, PLO, Arabic slogans, and all these other terrorists on these Turkish scum outside and he shrugged- "is not a crime." This was before all the terrorist and sexual attacks both in Holland and elsewhere (though I forget if Van Gogh and some attacks were before or after now?) But the problem was evident then.

[Jackstar]

I woke up at 0530 Pacific time and was listening to morning drive radio while lying in bed when the news broke.

I haven't gone back to sleep since.





Gravity does not cause steel girders to be hurled directly into adjacent buildings.

[Jackstar]

We actually flew over NYC, you could clearly see the smoke coming up from Ground Zero.

And this was... how many days after?

[Uncle Duke]

And this was... how many days after?

Either three or four days, don't remember if we came back on Friday or Saturday.  I know I was back by Sunday because I remember going to Mass that morning and commenting on how many people were there.

[trostol]

sleeping. Was awakened by either work or a friend about what was going on and was informed no work that day. Then like everyone else, just watched the tv all day

[albrecht]

Either three or four days, don't remember if we came back on Friday or Saturday.  I know I was back by Sunday because I remember going to Mass that morning and commenting on how many people were there.

I recall also later flying into MSP and there were what looked like anti-plane batteries? Not sure but seemed like. Also Funny, the famous wide-stance bathroom was my favorite after the long flight. To shit. Only later I found out Senator went there to hook-up! I was laughing so much when I heard. Cause if not business lounge one always figures out what shitters let you have time/privacy to crap without traffic, like what best airport bar. (At least I do.)

[GravitySucks]

I was supposed to fly back to Houston from BWI at 1:30pm that afternoon. I was in a wrap up meeting in an office building in Greenbelt, MD, supposedly completing a business trip to Goddard Space Flight Center. One of the staff came into to the conference room to tell us a plane hit the tower. We all assumed it was a small plane and was an accident. It wasn't until they came back to tell us the second tower was hit that we realized that this was no accident.

I don't know why, but my first thoughts (and words) when I saw the news of the towers on fire was that we had lost 53,000 people in the Vietnam War and that there had to be that many people working in the Twin Towers.  Amazing that more weren't killed.

I don't remember how long I was stuck there, but I know it was at least 6 days. Maybe 7 or 8. If the NFL had not cancelled the Redskins game, I would have probably had to sleep in my car because the Greenbelt Marriott was booked for that weekend for the Redskins team.  All I could do was watch the news, cry, cuss, and pray for the families of the people that were killed or injured.

[21st Century Man]

I was on my way to work at the Wal-Mart Home Office in Arkansas when I heard the news.  It was around 1:00 pm and I was working on the second shift as a lot of my work was involving overseas operations.  Business really was slow that day due to the distraction.  Everybody was in shock.  I was numb the whole day and simply don't remember much.

[Dr. MD MD]

I don't know why, but my first thoughts (and words) when I saw the news of the towers on fire was that we had lost 53,000 people in the Vietnam War and that there had to be that many people working in the Twin Towers.  Amazing that more weren't killed.

That's because a bunch of people were warned not to go in that day. They were going for tragic but not too catastrophic. 

[21st Century Man]

This is how not to properly remember 9/11.  I know I want to bring my sex doll when I go visit ground zero.    I kinda feel sorry for the blokes though. I don't think they had any intention of disrespecting the place.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3782563/I-lost-husband-sacred-ground-m-disgusted-British-stag-cause-outrage-taking-selfies-NAKED-BLOW-DOLL-Ground-Zero-eve-15th-anniversary-9-11-police-order-leave.html

[albrecht]

This is how not to properly remember 9/11.  I know I want to bring my sex doll when I go visit ground zero.    I kinda feel sorry for the blokes though. I don't think they had any intention of disrespecting the place.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3782563/I-lost-husband-sacred-ground-m-disgusted-British-stag-cause-outrage-taking-selfies-NAKED-BLOW-DOLL-Ground-Zero-eve-15th-anniversary-9-11-police-order-leave.html

I was at a wedding a several weeks after in London. American but lots of English etc and sad cause many didnt come due to the choas a not wanting to risk. Still good and they still married. BUT many lawyers n bankers n 'high flyers' from both Cities (C capitalized.) And soon after at after party rehersals and even reception. ...jokes off-color
But the NY guys were talking Joose even. Im talking major lawfirms and investment bankers. But young folks not major players except expenses n salaries n families. But was weird.

[21st Century Man]

I was at a wedding a several weeks after in London. American but lots of English etc and sad cause many didnt come due to the choas a not wanting to risk. Still good and they still married. BUT many lawyers n bankers n 'high flyers' from both Cities (C capitalized.) And soon after at after party rehersals and even reception. ...jokes off-color
But the NY guys were talking Joose even. Im talking major lawfirms and investment bankers. But young folks not major players except expenses n salaries n families. But was weird.

That is weird. 

I spoke a lot with folks overseas and they expressed their condolences all of the time for the next month afterwards.  Chinese, Germans, Brits, South Americans and Koreans.  All were extremely sympathetic.

[Yorkshire pud]

I'd just started the afternoon shift at the printers I worked at. I had the radio on and the Steve Wright show had started at 2pm, the news had mentioned with the top story of reports of an aircraft hitting the WTC, but no further details. Ten minutes later, the show was interrupted to go back to the newsroom and the news now was the plane had been an airliner, and not only that, a second had just hit too. Needless to say, the rest of the afternoon was full of progressively more and more news and a lot less 'show'. Back then cell phones weren't as popular so I didn't see the pictures until I got home about 10pm, by which time the full horror had been described on the radio. Only it hadn't; I walked in the house and my wife was curled up on the sofa hugging a cushion, sobbing. I stood in the room watching the TV pictures, over and over it showed the devastation and I thought it was a movie; a damn good movie for special effects, but this couldn't be real.

A few weeks later I was pulled to one side for complaining at work about us printing posters showing the NY skyline with the WTC on it. It disgusted me someone (the customer) was profiteering from this horror, and me being the big mouth made sure my bosses knew it.

[albrecht]

That is weird. 

I spoke a lot with folks overseas and they expressed their condolences all of the time for the next month afterwards.  Chinese, Germans, Brits, South Americans and Koreans.  All were extremely sympathetic.

As.I mentioned almost all were. And this was, I think, more nervous macho talk but still recall some later event from Americans with theories n nervous  jokes.

[starrmtn001]

I was also asleep with the radio on.  The news bulletin awakened me so I turned on the TV.  It was playing on every station.  It was surreal.  I couldn't comprehend what was happening.

That night, I was in bed looking out of the window.  I saw a commercial airliner fly north.  I thought it was strange as it was announced earlier that day, that public air transportation had been closed.  To this day I wonder whether I saw the plane that was carrying the (Bin Laden?) family members out of the States.

[DigitalPigSnuggler]

Interesting story.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/inside-hero-fighter-pilots-decision-211825890.html

Inside a Hero Fighter Pilot's Decision to Give His Life in Kamikaze Mission on 9/11: 'We Were Going to Do the Unthinkable'

"The only problem was we didn't have weapons loaded on the airplanes yet because we normally don't fly with weapons," says Sasseville, now a brigadier general who works out of the Pentagon.

The only "weapons" they had were the planes themselves, which meant he and Penny were on a Kamikaze mission.

[FightTheFuture]

That's because a bunch of people were warned not to go in that day. They were going for tragic but not too catastrophic. 

Like the mythical 4,000 Joos? :

I sure hope you don`t buy into that little chestnut of Arab propaganda.

[Dr. MD MD]

Like the mythical 4,000 Joos? :

I sure hope you don`t buy into that little chestnut of Arab propaganda.

I'm not even sure what you're on about. However, the propaganda I'm having the most trouble swallowing these days is, unfortunately, American propaganda. I think a lot of Americans are starting to feel what it must've been like to be a citizen of communist Russian. Your corrupt government is constantly lying to you in an effort to steer you. Those at the top can get away with anything while those at the bottom are treat with brutality and indifference. 

[DigitalPigSnuggler]

Like the mythical 4,000 Joos? :

I sure hope you don`t buy into that little chestnut of Arab propaganda.

Don't waste too much time hoping.  Any time there is a mention of 9/11 the paranoid retards are on it like flies on a rib roast.  They have QUESTIONS!  And, you know, important petitions that are yellowing around the edges.

[Yorkshire pud]

I'm not even sure what you're on about. However, the propaganda I'm having the most trouble swallowing these days is, unfortunately, American propaganda. I think a lot of Americans are starting to feel what it must've been like to be a citizen of communist Russian. Your corrupt government is constantly lying to you in an effort to steer you. Those at the top can get away with anything while those at the bottom are treat with brutality and indifference. 

What it needs is a guy or woman who knows exactly what its like to be at the bottom; to strive and struggle and still get up when he or she gets repeatedly knocked back down. Who knows exactly what its like to exist on next to nothing and have to sometimes go without food because they're feeding their kids instead.. Of course they used to have a good job, but their little company was closed down because the corporations they were supplying went to China instead and they couldn't compete if they wanted to live too. But that man exists..Step forward Donald J Trump THE man of the people.

[Dr. MD MD]

What it needs is a guy or woman who knows exactly what its like to be at the bottom; to strive and struggle and still get up when he or she gets repeatedly knocked back down. Who knows exactly what its like to exist on next to nothing and have to sometimes go without food because they're feeding their kids instead.. Of course they used to have a good job, but their little company was closed down because the corporations they were supplying went to China instead and they couldn't compete if they wanted to live too. But that man exists..Step forward Donald J Trump THE man of the people.

Yeah, as crazy as that is because it sure as hell ain't gonna be Hillary that does that. She's probably trying to think of how to grind old people up and separate them into basic elements for sale on the open market right now. 

[Yorkshire pud]

Yeah, as crazy as that is because it sure as hell ain't gonna be Hillary that does that. She's probably trying to think of how to grind old people up and separate them into basic elements for sale on the open market right now. 

I actually think you really believe that. Please don't vote.

[Juan]

I was stuck in traffic driving to work in Jacksonville, Florida.  Karl Kastle on NPR calmly and matter-of-factly announced that a plane had hit the WTC.  I thought it must be a small plane.  I arrived at work in time to see the second plane hit.  The USS Kennedy was undergoing repairs at NS Mayport, but set sail for New York anyway.  My lasting memory is the noise of very low flying fighter jets - F-14 and F/A-18- over my house all night.

[WOTR]

I was young and sitting in a D-6 dozer listening all morning to the reports as they came in.  I may have mentioned it elsewhere on the board- but my contempt for the "news" only grew that day.

They said 50 000 people worked in the towers, so for hour after hour they delighted in announcing that 50 000 people were dead.  I did the cold math (50 000  divided by 2 towers = 25 000.  Plane hit 1/4 - 1/3 of the way down = 5 000 - 7 500.  Happened before peak hours = around 5 000 dead.)

That said, it was a surreal day listening to updates as they came in.  One plane, second plane, collapsing towers.  Nothing to do but to sit in the cab of the dozer, meditate on the events happening a thousand miles away and push dirt back into a hole.  It was not until that night that I saw the news and saw the planes hit...

I suppose like most people, I remember where I was / what I was doing- but there is nothing special about it.

[Dr. MD MD]

I actually think you really believe that. Please don't vote.

If I can get away with voting for Trump twice I'll do it.