Where were you today, 17 years ago?

I was in my sophomore year at Oklahoma State University, just walked back into my door from class to my roommate glued to the TV. He was a fire fighter from NY, he caught the next flight home with nothing but the clothes on his back. I later packed up his stuff and shipped it to him.
I don't remember if classes were cancelled, I am sure they were, either way I didn't go to class the rest of the day. Honestly I don't remember much else from the rest of the day, I don't remember going to lunch or dinner or anything other than watching TV.

 

I was at home asleep (since I worked afternoon to nights). Woke up with a phone call and while I was on the phone was when the second tower was struck. Called to work and they closed the theme parks at noon for safety reasons due to what happened.

The whole day we were glued to the tv and praying for those affected. I didn’t know anyone who lost their lives but knew some who lost people they knew. It was a tough day for our country and one I hope we never have to go through again. 7yrs ago today was also the day I lost my mom to cancer so I will never forget this date. 9/11 will always be a sorrow day for me.

 

@Jeep4Life sorry for your loss, today is certainly extra hard for you.

 

Washed up following a midnight shift I routinely surfed the Internet before going to sleep. Reports were streaming in rapidly as updates were ongoing. So much for sleep as the days events were just beginning. I remember the feeling of hopelessness, anxiety, fear, anger and most importantly how the country came together putting aside personal prejudices, tension and miscellaneous problems to become a united front against the cowardly actions of the terrorist group. For a time things became eerily quiet in my town as traffic was light and few people were out and about. I think the stock market activity halted and some businesses closed that day. Truly tragic and memorable.

 

Wife and I were on one of our anniversary travels, sitting on the beach, we seen people grabbing their gear and running for their hotels. we thought nothing of it till, we got back to our hotel room and turned on the tv. At that moment (CBS) they were showing the first twin tower on fire and the plane hitting the second tower. Then CBS started highlighted people jumping from the towers windows.

 

17 years ago today I had put the new engine in my Suburban the night before, but had yet to wire it up. So on 9/11 I'm driving in to the base, in my dad's truck. I'm headed to the 181st fighter wing, Indiana Air National Guard. I'm Disaster Preparedness. I teach chemical, biological, and nuclear warfare classes, and work the command post.

So I'm driving, and I hear on the radio about a plane hitting the WTC. I tell the gate guard, and he turns on his little radio as I roll in. As I'm walking in to the Chief's office, (he has a TV, and cable) I'm already talking. "Hey Jim, a plane hit the..." I instantly shut up... there are 4 people already there watching it on CNN. Not 30 seconds after I enter the office, the second plane hits. Instantly, I know, we're at war. Within another 30 seconds the phone rings.

Base Commander: "Get to the command post ASAP." We activated the command post, and started planning right then, and there. We got a call within minutes to deploy our aircraft to fly combat air patrol over Chicago. First time fighter aircraft have flown combat air patrol over the continental United States since WWII. They left guns only, as we never kept missiles on ready back then. We had to get into the ammo bunker, break out, and assemble missiles for the relief flight two hrs later. The two week annual training that I was on, turned into a 5 and a half month deployment overseas.

Quit the Air Force after that, and went back to the Army. (my first home) I did two more deployments before getting my career cut short (at 28 years) by an IED attack. To this day I still think that radical islam is the biggest threat to western civilization, if not all of human civilization.

This is the Suburban I was working on. I miss it. She rusted away on me...

 

Hooah. Thank you for your service.

 

I was in my office , 21 years into an army hitch, staring at the news channel going “Oh shit!” Several deployments later and now retired after 30 years in. I’ll never forget!

 

17 years ago would have put me at 13 years old. I remember riding on the bus and my bus driver got on the intercom and told us about it as he was trying to hold back his tears. Apparently his brother was in the First tower. They ended up canceling school and he took us all back home. After I got home we turned on the tv and we were in shock to see what they did to us. That prompted me to enlist in the Air Force when I turned 18. Deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. On my tour in Afghanistan on Thanksgiving day 2010 my truck also ran over an IED breaking my right knee, right hip, rupturing 2 disks in my lower back, torn tendons in my neck and I bit about 1/4 of my tongue off. I'm pretty thankful to be alive. Luckily nobody else in my truck was injured as bad as myself. I ended up being medically retired after 2 years of numerous surgeries and physical therapy. I miss wearing my uniform every day of my life and I wish I was still in. I'd still go back to Afghanistan and do what I was doin in a heartbeat.

 

I was in Afghanistan in 2010. Which part were you in. I was based out of KAF but ended up all over RC South, Spin B, Leatherneck, Lagman, Wilson, Tarin Kowt and was in Bagram a couple times.

 

I was also in Kandahar. We bounced around from leatherneck wilson and Tarin Kowt as well. Then we moved with the 101st to FOB Durkin and built their 3 SWA huts. Ended up doin some side work with the Rangers due to them not having enough man power to safely work some missions. Shit was pretty crazy. I still have dreams about it over there. I'd still go back tho.

 

Me to on both counts! What unit did you belong to?

 

I was in the triple 7 civil engineer unit.

 

How bout you?? Is it true that the boardwalk got taken out at KAF shortly after Thanksgiving in 2010?