In remembrance

792 Views 9 Replies 8 Participants Last post by PrimalSeal, Sep 14, 2009

SpecialK47150

Discussion Starter · Sep 11, 2009

I just want to open up a topic in remembrance of all those who died that sad day 8 years ago.

I still remember exactly what I was doing when the attacks happened.

I was 11 years old, and I was living in Bangkok, Thailand at the time. I was playing on the computer and listening to the movie that was playing behind me when all of a sudden the movie cut out, and the frantic voices of the news anchors were yelling in thai and I couldn't understand a damn thing. I got up and went over to the couch with my dad and thai step mom, and I asked what was going on. Then I started to watch as they showed the footage, and I began to cry because I knew those buildings, I had an uncle who worked there. And I sat there, confused, not knowing what was going on, just knowing that something terrible had happened...

My prayers to all those who passed that day, from the innocent men and women who had no idea what was happening, to the courageous firemen and policemen who gave their lives to save those of another. To the passengers of flight 93 who gave their lives to prevent a worse tragedy.

God bless America.

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big Jim T

· #2 · Sep 11, 2009

I too remember exactly where I was when it happened. I was at work, and the boss called us all in his office to see it on his TV. we stood around watching what was happening. it was hard to believe that it was happening then, and still is hard to believe it even today.
I do have a great feeling of sadness for all those who died and for the heroism of those who went in to help. they will not be forgotten.
I have no compassion for anyone who would commit such an act, not then not now. I still have mixed feelings about our lack of action toward binladin.

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squidbilly

· #3 · Sep 12, 2009

I was in Malta, aboard the USS Nicholas FFG-47 serving as a Fire Control Technician working on the Close in Weapon System Phalanx. I was on the last leg of my first 6 month deployment. My best friend and boarding partner James a Gunners Mate and I were headed out for our first day of Liberty, and didnt make it 8' off the brow before the Officer of the Deck called us back on board and told us to report to the armory. I asked what was going on and was told that the towers were on the ground and the Pentagon had been hit. I told him that was a real shitty joke and in no way funny. He reassured us that is was no joke and to get to the armory.

James and I reported to the armory in our civies and were each handed a flack jacket, kevlar helmet a box of .50 rounds and an Browning M2HB, and told to get to the flight deck and set upin condition 1. I never knew I could carry that .50 and a box of rounds through the ship alone. After that we were on station in big Hawaiian shirts and shorts with flip flops for about 12 hours until we retrieved all hands and got clear of the port. I had just enough time to send an e-mail out before service was shut off.... "Mom Im ok, and I love you! Stephen" I can remember heading down to the armory after being released for station and taking everything down below. I turned in my gear and went to the mess decks, sat down and watched this horrible event over and over again on the television. I reenlisted 16 days later for another 6 years. Most everything was a blur until I pulled into home port Norfolk in late Novemeber and fineally got to see my family. This is the first time I have thought about this in a long time, and I still get a little choked up about it. I certainly hope nobody ever forgets those that died that day, I know I never will.

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PrimalSeal

· #4 · Sep 12, 2009

The funny thing for me is I was, just yesterday, in the air about 30,000 feet above Baghdad on my way home from my deployment, and it kinda just dawned on me what it is that we're doing over there, and the impact it really has. I mean, yeah, it's been tough, and it's hard to see U.S Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines lose their lives in defense of a nation, but damn it, it feels good when you see the smiles on the faces of the children that we helped make free as a result of our sacrifices. I am now safely back in the States, and will be getting home to my wife tomorrow, but please remember to pray for all of those that are still in harms way, up and down range. They will not forget it, and neither will I.

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69burbon

· #5 · Sep 13, 2009

I was at work, like most of us. I work for a tech assist call center for one of the Domestic Auto manufactures and was on the phone with a tech from New York when it happened. He kept me in the loop for nearly an hour until I could see the coverage. As I recall he was about 10 blocks from the Towers.

My wife was just over 8 months pregnant at the time and was just out of it by the time I got home. Ironiclly my daughter was born on October 7, 2001; same time we were going into Afghanistan.

I had been out of the Air Force just under 2 years when this happened and for the longest time we thought I was going to get called back. A few guys I knew did.

God Bless America.

By the way, Welcome Back to the States, Primal.

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SHOOTER Z

· #6 · Sep 13, 2009

The funny thing for me is I was, just yesterday, in the air about 30,000 feet above Baghdad on my way home from my deployment, and it kinda just dawned on me what it is that we're doing over there, and the impact it really has. I mean, yeah, it's been tough, and it's hard to see U.S Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines lose their lives in defense of a nation, but damn it, it feels good when you see the smiles on the faces of the children that we helped make free as a result of our sacrifices. I am now safely back in the States, and will be getting home to my wife tomorrow, but please remember to pray for all of those that are still in harms way, up and down range. They will not forget it, and neither will I.

AMEN!! And glad to have ya back!!

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citori59

· #7 · Sep 13, 2009

I was at my shop with one of my employees when the attack happened. I sent him home and decided to just keep the shop open while things unfolded. An old man came in sometime after noon and was commenting on the lack of traffic and people on the streets. I asked him if he had been near a TV or radio that day and he said no. I broke the news to him and he began to cry. He hung around for an hour or so and left. Every year thereafter he made a point to stop in on 9-11 just to see how everything had gone the past year. We discussed events and he would then be on his way. My friend didn't show up Friday, he had passed away in December. Not a day goes by that I don't see the look on his face on that fateful day......kind of summed it all up without saying a single word. I missed his visit, may he rest.

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welderman

· #8 · Sep 13, 2009

I remember very well. I had to go to the doctor that day, it was a Teusday. My wife was prepping to go to work and we had the Today show on. I had gone to the little room to perform my morning ritual, and she said that a commuter flight had hit one of the trade center towers. As I came back into the living room she said another plane had tried to get too close for a look and hit the other tower. I watched the replay of the second plane, and told her it was no accident, we were at war. I told her it was a terrorist attack, and things were going to get hot. After she had left I watched the towers fall and then the footage of the attack on the pentagon. It made me sick to see it, then I was MAD. I am a vet and I was at Ft. Carson, CO when the Iranians took the American hostages in 1979. I called my wife and she said she had seen it on her customers TV. (She is a housekeeper for several different ladies.)

If I hadn't been past the max military service age I would have went to re-enlist. I agree with you Primal, war sucks, American soldiers dying sucks and families being torn apart sucks. But it's apparrent if we don't stand up to them nobody else will. Leaders who send soldiers to war aren't usually popular, but they are neccesary. :'(

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