re: Where were you on 9/11/01?

I remember this very well - was in an office writing out contractor service schedules, approving timesheets and authorizing travel vouchers for contractors who provided services to an alphabet agency which you would not recognize when I was urgently called to the briefing room to see an emergency news item.
We were watching a replay of the first plane and thinking/hoping it was a terrible accident when they broke the news coverage to the second one. No accident!

Horrifying.

No doubt that we were being attacked and went into protection and preparation mode. Doubled security and set contingency for continuing this enhanced level of security around the clock for the next week or two.

I called home for a travel bag and some special items to be made ready and advised that I would be gone until further notice. Was advised that all was being gathered, packed and would be at the back door because she had also seen the news and anticipated my call. Grabbed a sleeping bag and pillow since hotel availability was not likely to be in my future.

(I had stayed for weeks at the Vista in the South Tower in the past during work in that area, so I felt a connection to that place. I really liked the towers. Had also stayed at the nearby Marriott a few times)

One of our crews was in sight of the WTC right then so was frantically trying to contact them to check on them and to get a reliable first hand report on the situation.

I was contacted by my next level in the chain and ordered to get to a particular area where I boarded a plane and was sent on numerous travel related jobs. They needed someone who supervised contractors, was cabin crew certified, had DOTD HazMat certification and was currently qualified with a number of special tools., so I was on the short list. Yes, there was a no-fly order, but it did not apply to us as we had authorization. We were challenged either by towers or by fighters as we came into various sectors for verification and sometimes fighters escorted us until the next handoff. These guys were getting their flight hours, but in the radio traffic that I could hear, sounded a bit excited. All of our pilots were current or former military and things had been carefully coordinated so they had no trouble getting through the challenges.

We moved a lot of personnel, supplies and equipment in a variety of aircraft at a time when other modes of travel were not available. Not all that efficient, but things needed doing so they got done. Met emergency response teams from a variety of agencies and organizations who needed to get to places ASAP. My swag collection grew.

We saw the burning rubble of the WTC from the air - heartbreaking. It was also a sad experience to see people on the ground looking up at us in fear because they were told no planes would be flying. Hated that, but things needed doing.

Was always puzzled that there was not more use of military cargo planes, but I saw none flying then.

Things were crazy at that time and a lot of rules were temporarily suspended. For example, imagine taking off from JFK after a later bomb scare when the control tower was not even operating... Sort of like taking off at a private airfield, but this was JFK! This was an unreal experience.

People look at you like you are a loon when you explain that you saw and did these things. But it all happened.

Since I was at LSU, we were an hour behind. Woke up to the news that both towers had fallen. Went to my accounting class, the professor wrote on the whiteboard with a permanent marker, got really frustrated and told us all to go home. It was a surreal day.

I have worked with people who had family they couldn't contact that day, or worked blocks away. Not something they wish to discuss.

6th grade science class.

Teach wheeled in a tv and said we needed to turn it on to keep an eye on what’s happening. We sat there and watched it until most of our parents came and got us.

Ha, imagine with the security and drug dogs for that airport where those flights go yeah I imagine that was interesting


share more if you're willing

On my way to French 205 at ULM. My dad was off that day for a dentist appointment and I darted through the living room about around 8:30. By the time I got to campus life had changed….

Boise, ID on work.

My office in Houston four months after graduating from LSU.

I had Fox News on getting ready for work, a plane had hit the first tower and they showed a plane going into the second one. I called in and was glued to the TV the rest of the day.

All I remember is walking outside and not seeing any airplanes in the sky, it was unreal, but it was.

I was in Quebec City,Quebec. Just about to go down to the trade Show floor. Phone rang, my boss asked if I had the TV on. I watched for a minute. Come to the lobby on our floor. Large screen TV. sat for a few minutes, then raced downstairs to Hertz. Over their teletype…..”do not rent cars to Americans” we were to be in Detroit on Thursday. So we sat and watched. Phones jammed, no out calls. Then his cellphone rang. Voice asked if I was there. Give your phone to Ray. We’ve got messages from Washington. Your daughter and the kids were the last allowed to leave Andrew’s. They are in Maryland now. And Mark? Still in the White House.” My Son in Law had the Marine Corps Guard that day.

Then the message, “Do not board a plane.” I replied, none will be flying within the hour. In 1968, my Father was part of the emergency plan to get all the air craft on the ground and get the skies empty. They never thought the hijackers would use passenger planes.