~ “I hope we once again have reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited. There’s a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts.” Ronald Reagan.
I was an Observer/Controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Ft Polk, LA. The Command took care of us, when we weren’t in the “box” we worked half days and three or four day weekends. Ft Polk is the middle of nowhere but is within five hours of Houston, Shreveport, Baton Rouge and N’Orleans. Talk about some places to party! Party during the 90 odd days of the year you aren’t in the box.
Every month a Brigade from the US Army comes to train in the box at JRTC. It is the premiere Light Infantry training site in the world. The 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Geronimo) provides the Opposing Forces (OPFOR) and they are good at what they do. I learned more by watching my peers fail at JRTC more than anywhere else in my career. I must thank every one of them for sharing those lessons with me. I suffered some shitty times with my Blue Force (BLUFOR) counterparts, wading thru Louisiana swamps chest deep, being lost like forty m*therf*ckers. Having 10,000 mosquitoes bite and lift, threatening to carry you away. Waking up with swollen lips from the nasty stagnant water the mosquito had been dragging it’s proboscis through. We averaged 250 days in the field each year. Way more than half, but we did trade in and out, we called it “refit” when we could go back home shower and be human for a day.
September eleventh, 2001 was my day for refit. My partner came out to the box, relieved me and I drove my HUMVEE to the rear. I parked, carried my dirty gear to my truck and drove home. It was about 0800, Central Time. I stopped and got a six pack on the way home. My wife was already at work and the kids were at school. I got home, cracked a beer and turned on the TV. The first thing I saw was the first plane hit the tower. The rest, the jumping bodies, the second plane, the collapsing buildings is all a blur. A blur of outrage and growing anger. I stared at the TV all day long, uncomprehending, lost in anger and the desire for vengeance. Anger helped me hold back the tears.
The growing anger grew as I remained stuck in Louisiana and other units deployed to take vengeance. I couldn’t participate but that was the one thing I wanted. I helped train the 101st Division to go to Afghanistan but couldn’t go myself. Finally in early 2003 I was re-assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division[…]
The following post was originally created on the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 Islamic terrorist attacks on the United States and it has been re-posted it every year since in remembrance of those who perished that day, thereafter and because we, as Americans must never allow ourselves to forget. (Posted on my sister blog).
Because it is in his best interest and that of our enemies, Barack Hussein Obama has designated that September 11th NOT be a day of remembrance. Instead, Obama, on the side of Islam has decreed September 11th a day of service, the intent of which is to historically revise the Islamic attacks on U.S. soil, officially sweeping the attacks under the rug, i.e., endgame: erase this day from our history books (my consensus).
Enter September 11, 2014: It is no surprise that Obama refuses to say the words “jihad”, “Islamic terrorism.” Nor will Obama ever admit that ISIS IS ISLAM.
ELEVEN YEARS LATER, AGAIN.
Forever entwined with the 2001 terrorist attacks will be the September 11, 2012 protests across the Middle East, Asia and the Islamic terrorist attacks on the U. S. Consulate and safe house in Benghazi, Libya which resulted in the deaths of four Americans, i.e., U. S. Ambassador, Christopher Stevens, Ambassador, Sean Smith, Information Officer, Glen Doherty, Navy SEAL and Tyrone Woods, Navy SEAL.
The Benghazi attacks are the second wave of Islamic terrorist attacks on United States soil in eleven years. It came about as a result of lack of leadership; namely, Barack Hussein Obama, a cretin who has weakened the United States in the eyes of the world, bedded down with the enemy and holds mounting disdain for the U. S. Military, the United States of America, our founding documents and the truth.
It is the actions of Obama, correction lack thereof, the results of which is Benghazi, four dead Americans and multiple injuries of others.
Obama who would not be distracted from the task at hand; campaigning, refused to do his job, then embarked on a cover up which has morphed into one of the biggest scandals in American history but only one of the many scandals and cover ups during the reign of this despot.
One year later post the Benghazi attacks , Americans are still in the dark. History will frown upon the legacy of Barack Obama, one who is guilty of treason and dereliction of duty.
ORIGINAL POST:
This what the World Trade Center looked like the night of September 10, 2001.
This is what it looked early morning, Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
The story that I am about to tell is my personal account of the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. While I have brushed upon it before in previous posts, I have never gone into such detail as I do today.
Warning, this post is as long post as it is personal. I apologize if I get all yada, yada, yada but this is my therapy. I have to get this out.
As I prepared to leave for work on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the television was on in the living room. I was not watching it but listening out for the transit report. I already knew that it would be a glorious day. You see, the sun was bright, the weather was not too hot and the air was dry.
I remember while getting ready thanking God for blessing us with such a beautiful morning, which, quite honestly, was the primary reason I dragged my feet getting to work that day. This is one morning where running 45 minutes which proved be a good thing.
Good Morning America was on the television and as you can see, they clearly had nothing of interest to discuss that is until 19:50 of the video.
If the above video is not visible, you can check it out here.
What a plane hit the One World Trade Center?
Concerned, I continued to prepare for work thinking to myself, I always knew that something like this would happen which is reason I left a job of five years in the World Trade Center.
Still not quite convinced that this was an act of terrorism, I continued preparing for work and switching channels on the television. The first thought that came to mind was that the pilot lost control of the aircraft and this out of control aircraft descended it crashed into One World Trade Center. A terrorist attack was the last thing on my mind. After all, this is the United States of America; no one in his or her right mind would do such a thing.
My beautiful day was rapidly going downhill as I continued getting ready for work and at 9:01, I was set to leave for work and decided to check out the news events once more.
9:03 a.m.
As I watched an aircraft come out of nowhere fast and crash into Two World Trade Center I immediately recognized that something dark and evil had descended upon New York City and still I was unaware that the Pentagon had been attacked or that Flight 93 had gone down in Pennsylvania.
I moved about in auto mode. I called my job and no one answered the telephone. Next, I called my best friend who is a public school teacher on her cellphone. I never call her when she is teaching but this morning, I did. She was in shock but tried to hold it together for her students.
I decided then and there that I had to get to Manhattan. To this day, I have no idea what propelled me except that I could not allow terrorists to have dominion over my comings and goings.
Fast forward (sort of), the trains are still running. I board the train for Manhattan. The train pulls into the President Street station. It sits there for what feels like an eternity. There are about fifteen passengers in the train car with me, everyone to their own thoughts.
After ten minutes, I noticed transit workers in stealth mode moving toward the staircase. Not one transit worker addressed the passengers. We hear a lot of screeching sounds coming from an inaudible public address system but that’s about it. Then along one at a time come the train conductor and the motorman.
What’s up? Where are they going? Two levels up. They did look back once at the passengers still on the train but said nothing as they ascended upward abandoning the passengers on the train.
It occurred to me that they were making a fast exit. I then got up, stepped on to the platform and quickly noticed that it was just us passengers.
At that point, I peeked into the train car and said quite loudly, “It’s every man for himself. The conductor and motor man left. We have been abandoned and I don’t know about you but I am not hanging around here waiting for a fireball to come flying through these tunnels.
That statement was enough to get passengers moving out. We climbed two levels of staircases before exiting the President Street train station. Upon reaching the first level, it was clear that we really had been abandoned because the token booth was empty as well.
I remember standing on a corner upstairs from the train station and as I looked toward Manhattan, I saw the twub towers burning and huge thick clouds of black smoke.
At first, I thought I was imagining it or maybe dizzy because even on this corner, I could clearly see the buildings sway.
After a while, I went back down into the train station to see if I could find out some news.
Ten minutes later, I am back on the street corner peering out and I am now peering at even larger plumes of thick black clouds of smoke but no twin towers.
I ask out loud, “Where are the twin towers?” At that moment, I hear as if on cue coming over the station’s PA system, “a building collapsed in Manhattan.”
This was no longer a beautiful day but one of evil and chaos.
Awaking me from my daze is a fighter jet flying overhead. Whether it was one of the two Supersonic F-15 Eagles sent to New York from Massachusetts, I do not know. What I do know is that this fighter jet much like the others was flying really low. It was loud and while I recognized it as one of ours, it did not register at that moment.
Is the United States under attack? I have to get home. I think to myself, “If it’s the last day on earth, I must get to my family.
I am 50 ft. from a bus stop but I cannot board one bus. They are all full to the max so I look for a cab but there is not one in sight and so I begin to walk several miles home.
As I walked, I noticed that a fighter jet flew overhead every ten minutes or so. Nerves were on edge that morning. Each time a fighter jet flew over, people looked up in fear.
As I made my way walked Nostrand Avenue, I prayed and stopped at St. Mark’s Catholic Church and later Church of St. Jerome to take a break from the sun, fighter jets and to pray.
There was a time when the doors of these churches were locked because of their location but this morning they were open for all in need. Churches of other denominations along my route home were also open.
As I continued my journey home, deep in prayer for those who I am sure perished moments ago, my country, my family and our safety, I noticed that not everyone was surprised.
There are plenty of establishments on Nostrand Avenue that are owned by Muslims. I suspect that there may even be a mosque or two.
As I passed these establishments, Muslim men stood outside very quiet. Some appeared nervous. It was clear that many were concerned as others followed the events inside on television or over the radio. There was no joking or tomfoolery but as I walked by, I looked into the faces of these men who did not look back and realized that the last thing on their faces was shock.
It was at that moment, that I thought to myself, “They know, they’re in on it.”
As I continued my journey homeward bound with fighter jets flying overhead, I noticed that the huge plumes of thick black smoke had caught up with me along with the debris falling out of the sky.
Finally, I am standing on the steps of my apartment building and yes the thick black clouds of smoke are still overhead spreading further across Brooklyn and I think into Queens along with the toxic debris.
I look down and there sheets of paper and small pieces of what I assume once existed as office equipment or the ashes of what was once a man or woman.
I remember feeling shocked that these black clouds of smoke and the debris from the World Trade Center collapse travel such a distance, i.e., to the far side of Brooklyn. How could that be?
Upon reaching home, I unsuccessfully attempt to make a few telephone calls. Failing that, I finally turn on the television where I learn of the attack on the Pentagon and later Flight 93.
I now prepare myself for conversations with my son and my nieces. I advise them not to seek revenge no matter how much it hurts. I then meet with my son’s friends and tell them the same.
I am thankful that on this morning, my 21-year-old unemployed son was at home with me and that he no longer worked at 120 Broadway in spite of the fact that I hit the roof when he quit. While he looks like a tough guy, my son has the endurance of a lion and the heart of a lamb.
I did not find out until ten days later but that morning a very close friend of my son’s and former co-worker left his job at 120 Broadway and ran down the street to help the people trapped in the World Trade Center. This young hero did not work for the FDNY or NYPD. He was a mail clerk who worked for a brokerage firm.
I had the honor of meeting him twice and will tell you that this hero too had the endurance of a lion and heart of a lamb. This true hero has not been heard from since. God bless this man whose name escapes me and may he rest in peace.
If Darrell was there, I know for a fact that he would have gone into the World Trade Center to help.
As relieved as I am and thankful, I feel guilty for being thankful while so many others lost loved ones that day. Each time I revisit the morning of September 11, 2001 (even as I type), I cry, I pray and ask God for forgiveness if I am being vain or selfish.Wednesday, September 12, 2001
THE MORNING AFTER
I rise early and after morning prayers, I decide that I am going to work. Why? Because I refuse to let terrorists take away my choice, liberty, and freedom. I refuse to let them have this one.
I am on a Manhattan bound train. There are only five other passengers in my train car. It never occurs to me to ask, where is everyone
Finally, I make it to Wall Street in Manhattan and the train just sits there.
I look out the window of the train to the other side and immediately notice that the platform is empty. I look down on to the tracks and all I can see is water. There is so much water on the tracks that I can hear the water swishing under the train I am on.
I then notice a strong smell of jet fuel and realize that I am on a train that is hooked up to a live third rail immersed in water and jet fuel.
Okay, now I am getting nervous and realize that coming to Manhattan this morning may not have been wise.
I am desperate for the train to pull out but it does not. The train sits at Wall Street for two hours during which time I am inhaling the fumes from the jet fuel, toxic dust and what I suspect to be incinerated human remains.
I get to work at 10:30 and am surprised to see that I am the only one in the office. Duh!
Because many of the phone lines were down in parts of the state, my boss could not reach me to tell me to stay home that day.
The smell and taste of jet fuel stayed with me for three months and I now suffer from asthma but since I have had bronchitis more than a dozen times in my life, I cannot connect the asthma to the inhalation of jet fumes.
The events of that day, ten years ago is a wound that just will not heal. I am not alone.
Enter September 11, 2013:
Barack Obama demands that Americans see September 11th as a day of service rather than a day of remembrance. What he means is that September 11th should be honored as a day of service to his fundamental transformation of America and forget that his jihadist friends are responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans.
I say to this traitor, Barack Hussein Obama, NEVER.
I say to freedom loving Americans NEVER FORGET!
September 11th is and will always be in the eyes of Americans, a day of remembrance. We will never forget the sins of those with whom you collude against the interests of America, in particular those who have waged war against the United States.
While you may attempt to re-write history, we the people, will not allow the accounting of your sins and of those with whom you are complicit in their war against the United States of America to be untold.
The world will know. Our children will know and our children’s children will know.
Most Precious Offering Iraqi War – “Tucked into a corner just off Riehle Plaza this profoundly moving memorial honors the servicemen and the families of these servicemen who died in the service of our country during the Wars in Iraq. We remember, today, these and all of those who have risen to serve our country during its times of greatest need.”
EnduringFreedom Remembrance 911. Image courtesy of Wikipedia
WE MUST NEVER FORGET.
WE HONOR ALL THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE 911 ATTACKS (2001 AND 2012) INCLUDING THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE WARS POST SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN HONOR THEREOF, THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND LOVES ONES, MANY OF WHOM WHILE OVERLOOKED ARE CASUALTIES OF ISLAMIC TERRORIST ATTACKS ON U. S. SOIL.
If you are still here with me at this point, I thank you for taking the time to listen and to read.
The memories and pain of September 11th is a day that is embedded in the hearts of us all. Should you feel the need to share you moments, feelings, accounts, please feel free to do so. You are welcome here. in the comments section below.
Always remember that no matter how the Marxist elites spin it, America remains ONE NATION UNDER GOD.
WE, THE PEOPLE, WILL NEVER FORGET. GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
I am able to forgive for many reasons but September 11, 2001 AND September 11, 2012 Islamic terrorist attacks on Americans is definitely NOT one of them.
NEVER FORGIVE and NEVER FORGET 911, either of them. To do so is suicide and suicide is fatal.
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