Alumnus responded to Sept. 11 in Phoenix
Although not a first responder-áin terms of New York Police Department, Port Police or Fire Department, this is a perspective from a first responder in another major metropolitan city, Phoenix, Arizona and military reservist.
During Sept. 11, I was working as an intelligence analyst in the Organized Crime Bureau at the Phoenix Police Department and had recently switched from the Army Reserves to the Navy Reserves.-áThe day began like any other, pulling out of my driveway and starting the commute to downtown Phoenix around 7 a.m. I heard of the first impact into the twin towers over the radio just as the car left the driveway. As everyone is aware, the second impact came moments later and was aired over the radio.-á At this point I realized (as everyone else did) that this was not a navigational error from an airliner, but instead some sort of attack against the U.S.-á The thought raced through my mind that attacks would take place across the U.S. within the next few hours.
Contingency plans are in place for every major city in terms of first responders under crisis situations.-á As an employee of the Phoenix PD, my initial thoughts were to get to the department as quickly as possible. As soon as I arrived at the department, efforts were already in place to setup a tactical operations center to respond to any additional attacks and process any information that may-ácome from citizens that-áwould be critical to investigative cases.-á
As the TOC was put into place and information came streaming into the department, the-ámilitary reserve concern soon flashed across the screen as CNN ticker tape-áannounced the information that all reservists should contact their reserve units immediately.-áI made the appropriate call and stood by for mobilization.
Over the next two weeks, work days consisted of 12-hour shifts everyday until the TOC was no longer needed.-áAs most people are aware, the infamous Phoenix memo originated out of the Phoenix FBI office.-á The Organized Crime Bureau transitioned quickly into working counterterorrist related issues, and the remainder of my time employed with Phoenix PD was spent-áon-áthese types of-áinvestigations.
The day brought about an emotional and physical roller coaster that will never be forgotten, and has-áaffected my civilian and military life and career ever since.
Brennan LongAlumnus
Ball State staff member tries to keep up with news during event
The morning of Sept. 11, I was working at the Reference Desk in Bracken Library.-áMy husband was home with our 10-month-old daughter.-áHe called and told me about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. I immediately tried to get online to get more information.-á I couldn't get any news sites to load and was horrified when my husband called back with news about the second plane striking the other tower.-áI knew then that it couldn't be an accident.
Shortly after this, another librarian came out to help cover the desk, and I told her what had happened. She had a Walkman radio, so we sat at the Reference Desk sharing the headphones and listening to the news.-áI could only cry as we heard the reporter explain that the towers were collapsing. We heard it as it happened.-áAnd it was so surreal. Here the two of us sat crying at the desk, when all around us were students who were completely unaware of what was happening.-á They were going about the business of life: reading the Daily News, trying to check e-mail and chatting with friends. -áI struggled through that day until I could finally get home and hug my little girl and try not to think about all the little girls who would never get hugs from Mommy or Daddy again.
Sarah HaleyHonors Academic Advisor
Language barrier slows news for Americans in foreign land
Unlike most Americans, I did not personally know nor was I related to anyone who was injured or killed on Sept. 11, 2001. Unlike most Americans, I was overseas, half a world away, in Japan on that day. I remember the news broadcast vividly. It will be etched into my mind forever.
I had just moved overseas to Japan a month earlier with my husband and two small children. That evening we had put the kids to bed, and I suggested that we try to catch some news. I was hoping we would catch a broadcast in English because our television was not bilingual and could not play the English translation dubbed over many programs. I flipped through channels while my husband was in the kitchen. I stopped on a channel with someone speaking so fast in Japanese that I could only catch every fifth or sixth word at best. All that was showing was a tall building with a clear blue sky behind it and a little smoke. I called for my husband and said something like, "There's building on fire in Tokyo. No, wait, Brian ... oh my God Brian that is not in Tokyo. That is the World Trade Center back home. Brian what is..." And that is when the second plane hit.
I have never wished to hear English more in my entire life. We sat up until about 3 a.m. trying to understand what was going on and what had happened. I cried while I caught the Japanese on some channels and the American reports on others. We called other Americans in our prefecture. We were helpless to do anything but pray. The towers fell, and dust and dirt flew. We tried to call back home to Indiana. The lines were busy for hours. We finally got through to my husband's parents. Apparently they had just come back from a trip to New York City days earlier. They had not turned on their television that morning. My mother said school was canceled and kids sent home. "Carrie, maybe you should think about moving back home. It could be unsafe to be an American overseas right now". With too much information and images in our heads we decided to go to bed.
The next morning, mentally and physically exhausted, I went to the high school where I taught. It was very quiet. I walked into the school, and the normally bright and happy office workers did not look at me. I then made my way to the teachers room, where all 70 teachers had their desks. I opened the door to a room that is normally bustling with teachers and students going in and out. All I met was a sorrowful silence. I made my way to my still unfamiliar desk. Everyone seemed uncomfortable. My go-between, the teacher who takes care of my needs and helps with my transition to life in Japan, leaned over and asked if my family was alright. That is when I understood the silence. Most teachers were unaware where I was from in the United States. "My family is fine. Indiana is far away from New York. Please do not worry. I have no family in New York." As the word spread you could see the tension melt.
Even though I was not in the U.S. for Sept. 11, I did experience it. The days and weeks following the horrible attacks were filled with calls from home asking me to return and giving me updates. The events of Sept. 11, 2001 were not experienced by Americans alone. It deeply affected other countries and peoples around the world. If I could change where I was at the time, would I? No, I don't think so. Japan experienced the atomic bombs in a world war. They had experienced a huge earthquake in 1995 that killed thousands and leveled an entire city of 1.5 million people. I was in a country surrounded by people that understood my feelings of helplessness and anger. They had lived through these horrific events. I knew that the United States would as well.
Carrie PickeringBall State Alumna 2001
Sept. 11 started as a normal day for one alumnus, but turned into trek home
Sept. 11 started out as any normal day with me going to work at 700 13th NW, Washington, D.C. (two blocks from the White House).-á When I arrived at work, we first heard about a plane hitting the first tower and, like everyone else, thought it was just a random horrible mistake. Then the second plane hit. Then our building's fire alarm went off.-áThen while out on the street we heard that the Pentagon was hit.
From that point on, everyone lost cell service and Washington, D.C. became filled with rumors and fear. Military personnel were all over the place -¡- on the streets, in the metro, in trucks with anti-aircraft weapons. Fighter jets were screaming above the city constantly. There were rumors of bombs-áat-áthe State Department and Capitol, and that another plane was on the way.-á There was even a rumor that a plane had circled the Capitol.
At this point, the first tower collapsed in New York, and that is when I had enough. From what we saw on TV, we could not tell if it collapsed from above or from bombs underneath, and since my office building was directly across the street from Washington's biggest metro station (Metro Center) and since I was two blocks from the White House, I decided work could wait and I wanted to get home to my wife (Michelle) and daughter (Lyndsey, who was born just more than a month earlier, July 24).
Since I took the metro to work those days, getting home was going to be an issue. The metro was pretty much gridlock, and since my line went through the Pentagon's stop, it was completely shut down.-á Also, it did not appear that I was the only one getting out of Dodge since the streets were gridlock and hundreds of people were just walking.-á An office colleague or mine and I started jogging home - past the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, past the Commerce Dept., past the Washington Monument, and then we got to the 14th Street bridge.-á This is where I hitchhiked for the first time, because military personnel were not allowing anyone to walk across the bridge (a normal occurrence).-áI was taken across the bridge with two other strangers and dropped off next to the Pentagon. This was obviously very emotional since it was still on fire - I guess the whole thing starting getting to me (fear, anger, hatred, pride, etc.).-á I stayed there for about 10 minutes talking with some other people until we were rushed away by military personnel again because of other rumors of another plane heading towards Washington. This was Flight 93, but the information was obviously late since it had already crashed in Pennsylvania.
I was able to hitchhike two more times before I ended up having to walk about two miles to reach my townhouse, where my daughter was asleep and my wife was memorized by what was happening.-á The rest of the day was filled with me trying to locate friends (I am from Long Island originally and have many friends who worked in the financial district) and family (sister)-áin New York City and watching the never ending news reports.
The next day I went into work, albeit I was not there right on time, but I was there.
Chris LawrenceAlumnus 1995
Student fears aunt's death as towers collapse to ground
I am from Beltsville, Maryland, -áwhich is about 13 miles North-northeast of Washington, D.C., in Prince George's County, Maryland. I went to High Point High School and was in grade 10 that year.
My story begins like too many others on that day. It was Sept. 11, 2001: 7:30 a.m. and an absolutely beautiful Tuesday morning. Walking to school, I listened to the birds chirping as usual. Upon arriving at school, I went to my World History class, like any other Tuesday. Without giving it too much thought, I started working on the warm-up. I still remember what it was that day: "What does religion mean to you?"
The bell rang. As I walked down the hall, I could here conversations among everyone scurrying to classes. I heard someone say "A plane hit the World Trade Center." I thought it was a small propeller plane, and nothing was wrong. I continued on my way to math class.
I looked at the clock: 8:53 a.m. I sat down and began talking to friends when we saw someone run into the classroom and say yet again "A plane hit the World Trade Center!"
By this time, I began to worry. I knew that my aunt worked in One World Trade (the North Tower), but I didn't know which floor. I got up to ask the teacher to turn on the television in the classroom. This is when my fears began to come true. I saw that the upper floors of One World Trade were on fire. I watched in horror as the building burn. I looked around the classroom at every eye fixed on the television.
-á9:03 a.m.: Seemingly out of nowhere, a second plane flashed across the screen and slammed directly into Two World Trade (South Tower). I could not believe what I was seeing. I felt like we were being attacked. "My God!" I prayed, with tears welling in my eyes "Please, PLEASE, let Aunt Pam not have gone to work today!"
Stunned, I watched as news of the Pentagon being hit began to surface. We all watched as the strongest building in our country, our center of military operations, went up in flames and large plumes of smoke. Now, it was much closer to home. At 10:05 a.m., the South Tower collapsed. I watched helplessly as the building with people still in it, fell to Earth. My tears would not hold back, either. I watched as a couple jumped from the 109th floor, hand in hand, all the way down.
My heart was pounding, my mind racing. Then, at 10:28 a.m., my worst fear came true. The North Tower began to collapse, from the top, down. All 110 stories as if it were being peeled apart.
"No, NO!" I thought. My world slowed down in that instant. As the tower fell, I knew I was watching my aunt die right before my eyes and there was nothing I could do.
I sat in my seat, crying. I knew, I just knew she was gone.
I remember hearing something about a fourth plane headed in our direction. No one knew exactly where it was going. Our principal told us over the public address system that every school in Prince George's County was being evacuated. Within two hours, I was on my way home. Walking down the grassy field, with a clear view of the sky, I noticed something was missing. Being in the flight paths of several airplanes, the sky was eerily quiet. There was not a single aircraft in the sky, Still, it didn't matter to me. I felt empty inside, void of any remote feelings of joy or happiness.
I got home and my mother, father and sister were all there. I sat down on the couch and sobbed. We went on that evening, trying desperately to call my aunt and uncle in Manhattan. It was to no avail. All of the phone lines in New York City were jammed, including cellular service. Six hours went by, then the phone rang.
It was my aunt. We all ran and grabbed a phone in the house and listened to her tear soaked voice. She told us she climbed down 27 flights of stairs, and at the same time, saw firefighters running up past her to save anyone they could. She told us how she had had breakfast Monday morning -áat the Sky lobby on the 110th floor. She told us that she felt the building being hit and papers falling off of her desk from the impact. She said building officials told them they could stay and that everything would be okay. She knew that something was wrong and left everything and started down the stairs. She told us of all the devastation she saw from the ground, looking up. She told us that she walked more than 100 city blocks to get home because the subway system was shut down. By the end of that blessed phone call, my whole family was crying with tears of extreme joy at the sound of her voice.
Five years ago today, I remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001 as if they happened yesterday. The images, sounds and feelings will always be etched in my mind. I will always remember how happy and fortunate I was to have a family member survive that day. I know that thousands of family members were not as lucky as I. I hope that we as a nation will always remember today, as a day we must cherish forever. It is my hope, that we remember the lives lost on that fateful day. I hope we realize that live does grow, and continue to go on. I hope that we can be forever grateful for life itself, and I hope that we will never -áforget Sept. 11.
David WilliamsJunior
Sept. 11 numbing, eye-opening
The events of Sept. 11 changed the entire world in one way or another - forever. I was in total shock when I turned on the TV and saw the horrific pictures. I remember feeling numb. It seemed like time stood still for the rest of the day. It was very difficult to pull myself away from the TV to go to class. When I left my house for class everyone that I encountered along the way seemed just as shocked. There was a quiet, somber tone to classes that day. Some professors even canceled class. Unfortunately, the attacks made me realize how much we take for granted. I get up every day and thank God for what I have. I appreciate the little things now like time spent with friends and family.
Jenny Vetor
Family member's co-workers killed in World Trade Center attack
I can't say I am related to a causality, but I am related to a victim of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. My aunt and godmother was working in the Pentagon at the time of the tragedy.
The day for me started out as a normal day.-áI was in the ninth grade, and everything was going pretty darn good. I was on my way to band class when I heard that some planes had hit the World Trade Center. Naturally, I felt sorrow for what had happened. Then the news came out that a plane had hit the Pentagon. My ears perked up.-á"The Pentagon?-áThat's not in New York," I thought to myself. Then the news said that the plane had hit on the side of the building where the helicopter pad was and that was about the time that my stomach dropped.
Having visited my aunt less than a month before that, I still had my visit to the Pentagon fresh in my mind. I was able to get into the building as long as I was with my aunt at all times. This was long before advanced security checks were on anyone's mind.-áI had seen my aunt's office, and I remember her saying that the helicopters land right outside of where she was.
I went through that day, Sept. 11, more nervous than I had ever been.-áI got home from school and there on my answering machine was a message from my aunt. She was okay.-áLuckily she was in a meeting in another wing of the building at the time of the plane hitting the building. Unfortunately, she had lost 13 of her coworkers from the office that she worked in, one of them an expecting mother.
I kept the message on my machine for almost two years after the event, it was a constant reminder that miracles do happen. Call it luck, an act of God or just being in the right place at the right time. Whatever it is to be called, it can always be called close.
Greg KoniecznySophomore
Unsuspecting visitors experience Pentagon tragedy first-hand
I was at work in University Computing Services when one of our employees heard the news about the World Trade Center towers.-á Soon, we were all listening to the news about the towers being hit by passenger airplanes that had been taken over by terrorists.
The news that put my heart in my stomach was the news that the Pentagon in Washington D.C. had been hit by a passenger airplane that had been taken over by terrorists.-áMy son, Eric, was an active duty Army communications person working for the White House Communications Agency.-áHe was on duty at the White House grounds when the attack on the Pentagon occurred. I tried calling my daughter-in-law in Maryland, but she had no news as to my son's whereabouts.-áIt was approximately 13 hours before my family received word that my son was OK.-á
My heart still goes out to all the families that lost loved ones that day, and I thank God every day for the military personnel that are working to protect my freedom.
Sonja ReesEvaluations Coordinator, Evaluation ServicesResearch & Design, University Computing Services
Couple struggles, finds way to get back to Indiana after attacks
When those planes hit the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, my husband and I were in Colorado visiting with his brother and his family.-á Our first thought, of course, was how soon would we be able to fly home and if we really wanted to fly period. Our five adult children were here in Indiana, and it was scary being so far away from home and family, not knowing what was going to happen next, if anything.-á We tried to rent a car to head across country, but none were available. The following day, we decided we would buy a car and drive home.-áIt was amazing how quickly a transaction could be made by telephone and fax with the dealership and the bank. The following morning, we bid farewell to the Colorado Folkerths and headed for Indiana.-áIt was a relatively quiet trip, much quieter than we thought it might be. When we passed the Denver airport and saw only fighter jets circling, it was pretty frightening. When we came by the Fort Dodge exit off of Interstate 70 and saw all the sand-colored camouflage military equipment, we were certain this was something our military had been prepared for.-áWe saw lots of flags in windows of vehicles and attached to semis showing their patriotism.-áEvery place we stopped, whether to eat or spend the night, there was a TV on tuned to CNN regarding the attack and what was being done.-áBy the time we reached home, airplanes were again flying and people were trying to get back to normal, and we were certainly happy to see our children and grandchildren.
Marilyn Folkerth
Staff member feels fortunate to have been in Muncie during attacks
It was early we were just settling into the work day when one of my co-workers came out of his office and said that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center.-áEveryone immediately hit the Web which had live footage but no commentary.-áI was working in the Administration Building at that time and we were taking turns going downstairs to the Kumler Conference Room outside the President's office to watch the TV commentary.-áI went down with another staff member.-áThe room had a mix of administrators and staff, 15 or so.-áWe had been watching less then-áa minute before the first of the two towers came down.-áA hush fell across the room, I remember my mind racing to figure out how much time had-ápassed from when the plane hit.-áI-áwas hoping that enough time had-ápassed to get everyone out that could get out. We got a-áflood of calls from concerned students and parents wanting to know if classes would be canceled or if we would close the university. I remember thinking the-áWorld Trade Center, the Pentagon....how could anyone think that BSU would be next.-á I felt very safe in Muncie,-áIndiana, nowhere-áUSA.-á
Deena WhiteStaff-á
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