to 8am, so I was home asleep when my wife called me about 11am and told me to turn on the TV. I knew it was going to be a crazy night at work and it was. I saw video footage that most of the public never got to see. Pretty disturbing and crazy video. All hands were on deck at CNN and no off days for the next couple weeks after that.
Since a lot of us won't be around Sunday...
- Thread starter dawgstudent
- Start date
for a work meeting. My wife called me and told me the World Trade Center was on fire. Since I was in the car and couldn't see television, I didn't think it was a big deal. She called backwhen the second plane hit and that was scary.Ilistened to live TV coverage on the radio. It's amazing how much speculation and conflicting witness reports there were and then I didn't have the benefit of seeing the picture that went along with the reportsm so I was freaking out.That drivewas the longest 3 hours of my life.
eating a bowl of cereal before class. Roommate was already in watching it when I walked in. I just remember sitting there watching as the second one hit while we both stared in disbelief, and our cereal got soggy. Want to say I had freshman Chemistry class at 9 but we didnt go to class all that day. It was a very odd time, but at that age you really dont keep up with world events as you do once you graduate college, so were were mainly just stunned and sad at the same time. It was a great feeling of pride and patriotism that the nation showed in the following days, weeks, and months. It's a shame that we can't be more unified like that all the time.
Let's pray that we can have this anniversary in peace and have no incidents.
Let's pray that we can have this anniversary in peace and have no incidents.
It was the wife telling me that a plane had hit the first tower (today show information). I figured it was a small private plane and we were talking about it. She was telling me that from the looks, it was a big plane and then all f a sudden, she was telling me that a second plane had just hit the other tower.
I told her that we might be at war with someone (had no idea who) and that I loved her. She called back several times to keep me updated. Eentually someone brought in a TV and we pretty much spent the rest of the day watching. Was watching on TV when the towers fell.
I told her that we might be at war with someone (had no idea who) and that I loved her. She called back several times to keep me updated. Eentually someone brought in a TV and we pretty much spent the rest of the day watching. Was watching on TV when the towers fell.
My then-gf was already up and getting ready for workand had turned the news on. She came into the bedroom and woke me telling me, "You need to get up, there's something going on on the news." I just mumbled something and rolled over and went back to sleep. After she had left for work, my phone rang at about 8AM. I was a bit agitated that someone would call that early in the morning and was rather grumpy when I answered. On the other end was my National Guard unit's First Sergeant. The conversation went like this:
Me: (grumpy/sleepy voice) "Hello?"
1SG: "It's First Sergeant O. Pack your **** and stand by."
Me: "What's going on Top?"
1SG: "Turn on your 17ing TV, dumbass."
<Click> as he hangs up
GF had left the TV on, so I went into the den, sat down. By this time the first tower had fallen, and just as I called into work to tell them I was going to be late (if I showed at all) I watched the second tower come down. Later that day I watched the last few ships scrambling out of San Diego bay and I remember feeling angry because they were already in the fight.
On another personal level, the gf's best friend was a flight attendant for AA and her fiance was a pilot for AA. Both flew Logan to SFO regularly, along with gf's mother, who was an national exec for a major corporation. Fortunately, neither of the females were flying that day, and the pilot was in ATL and got grounded there.
ETA: One other thing popped into my mind while reading these. The then-gf's brother is an LAPD officer and was at that time assigned to Rampart Division (South Central LA). He told me that they didn't receive a single call that day.
Me: (grumpy/sleepy voice) "Hello?"
1SG: "It's First Sergeant O. Pack your **** and stand by."
Me: "What's going on Top?"
1SG: "Turn on your 17ing TV, dumbass."
<Click> as he hangs up
GF had left the TV on, so I went into the den, sat down. By this time the first tower had fallen, and just as I called into work to tell them I was going to be late (if I showed at all) I watched the second tower come down. Later that day I watched the last few ships scrambling out of San Diego bay and I remember feeling angry because they were already in the fight.
On another personal level, the gf's best friend was a flight attendant for AA and her fiance was a pilot for AA. Both flew Logan to SFO regularly, along with gf's mother, who was an national exec for a major corporation. Fortunately, neither of the females were flying that day, and the pilot was in ATL and got grounded there.
ETA: One other thing popped into my mind while reading these. The then-gf's brother is an LAPD officer and was at that time assigned to Rampart Division (South Central LA). He told me that they didn't receive a single call that day.
She would have been evacuating on foot toward a co-worker's apartment on DuPont Circle about the time Flight 93 went off the radar. A cab driver got her from there to her hotel in Langley. Her Dad and I drove from Mississippi in 13 hours flat and picked her up.
Downstairs in the kitchen, wife had the Today show on. I watched the smoke pouring out of the hole in the tower and I remember thinking, "How the heck are they going to fix that? Scaffolding or something?"
Like most folks, I was watching when the 2nd plane hit and the hosts suddenly became aware that we were under attack.
Friend showed up - we had plans to go downtown (in Atlanta) and walk through a trade show. We went anyway - place was a ghost town, people were leaving... we went back north and were in the car when the first tower fell. Had lunch together and watched President Bush speak from Barksdale. Sometimes it feels like the television hasn't left FNC since that day.
Like most folks, I was watching when the 2nd plane hit and the hosts suddenly became aware that we were under attack.
Friend showed up - we had plans to go downtown (in Atlanta) and walk through a trade show. We went anyway - place was a ghost town, people were leaving... we went back north and were in the car when the first tower fell. Had lunch together and watched President Bush speak from Barksdale. Sometimes it feels like the television hasn't left FNC since that day.
every so often of random things... I truly just sat in my office all day looking at them.
Still one of the most harrowing things I have ever done is this.. One saturday, I had to work and we were never busy. I was the manager that just had to oversee **** all day. So, I sat in my office for 4 hours and read all of the 911 transcripts from the people above the fires... Just absolutely terrible reading that stuff.
Still my biggest regret, of all of my visits to NYC, not visiting them.
Still one of the most harrowing things I have ever done is this.. One saturday, I had to work and we were never busy. I was the manager that just had to oversee **** all day. So, I sat in my office for 4 hours and read all of the 911 transcripts from the people above the fires... Just absolutely terrible reading that stuff.
Still my biggest regret, of all of my visits to NYC, not visiting them.
...because at that point the Pentagon had been hit and I was trying to get to Stennis Space Center before they closed it to incoming traffic (it did not get closed, but did go to essential personnel status for the next day or two).
Saw the first WTC tower collapse and was absolutely sickened when realizing how many lives were lost in those few seconds. Then my engineering background kicked in and I was just in complete awe of how fast that much concrete and metal could move. Called my mother and told her things were ok here and that the word was aircraft were being sent from Barksdale to provide cover for us--never did find out if that was true.
Later that day the cafeteria was full of people transfixed by what was playing out on the television screens.
I videotaped hours of TV footage that afternoon and the next and still have the tapes, but have never watched them.
Saw the first WTC tower collapse and was absolutely sickened when realizing how many lives were lost in those few seconds. Then my engineering background kicked in and I was just in complete awe of how fast that much concrete and metal could move. Called my mother and told her things were ok here and that the word was aircraft were being sent from Barksdale to provide cover for us--never did find out if that was true.
Later that day the cafeteria was full of people transfixed by what was playing out on the television screens.
I videotaped hours of TV footage that afternoon and the next and still have the tapes, but have never watched them.
We had two patients in the chairs. I was walking between the rooms and happened to walk by a radio we had on real low. They were saying something about a plane hitting the WTC. We had a TV in the office but it wasn't on. I went in and turned it on and what I saw were the towers just after the second plane hit. We finished up what we were doing on those two patients and then me, the staff, and the two patients crowded around the TV for a while. Those turned out to be my last patients for the day, the rest cancelled (understandably so). That was the trend for the rest of the week. We spent most of the rest of the week sitting up front watching the news.
I also spent a lot of time that first day trying to find out where one of my first cousins was. Hewas and still is a pilot for United and was based in DC at the time. Turned out he was on the west coast, Seattle I think, and had just taken off heading back to DC. They set him down in Eugene, Oregon. He was there till planes flew again.
I also spent a lot of time that first day trying to find out where one of my first cousins was. Hewas and still is a pilot for United and was based in DC at the time. Turned out he was on the west coast, Seattle I think, and had just taken off heading back to DC. They set him down in Eugene, Oregon. He was there till planes flew again.
My Battalion was at Ft Benning, GA getting ready to deploy to Bosnia as part of the stabilization force. I was packing to get on our first flight out that morning. Just as we were getting on the bus to go to the airfield we were told the flight was canceled and to return to the barracks and await further orders. We didn't know what was going on until we got back to the barracks and turned on a TV. We were glued to the TV for the next two days as rumors circulated on where we would be sent to instead of Bosnia. Ended up going on to Bosnia as planned.
and my school decided not to tell the students. I had one teacher that gathered the class, prayed and cried the whole class while we had no idea what happened. Then all after-school events were cancelled. On the way home from school my mom was crying in the car and I asked what happened and she just turned up the radio. Didn't fully understand it until I saw it on TV at home.
I was at work at the WTC in Collierville that day. My coworker stopped by my cube and told me that a plane had hit one of the towers at the World Trade Center. Thought to myself, man what was that pilot doing. I was in the breakroom watching the news when the second plane hit. Knew then that this was no accident. Sadly, a former IT colleague of mine from my Sedgwick James days, Gary Lasko, was killed in the first tower. He left a wife and daughter here in Memphis. Extremely sad.
I had Career Discovery during the next period and we watched the news during the whole class. And then I remembered my Dad was in DC that day. Figured he was fine (and he was), but it did make it a little more real for me personally when I realized where my Dad was.
I was in San Antonio where my wife was attending a conference. I had gone with her because one of my best friends lived there at the time. I was planning to return home that morning but my friend called me minutes after the first plane hit (he was Air Force Signal Intelligence) to tell me to turn on the TV and not plan on going anywhere.<div>
</div><div>We decided to stay put in San Antonio for a few days because we had the flexibility to do so and the rental car situation was not a good one. We finally got a car about 4 days later and drove home.</div><div><div>
</div><div>It really is the "Pearl Harbor" or "JFK Assassination" of our generation. An event that everyone will remember where they were and what they were doing.</div></div>
</div><div>We decided to stay put in San Antonio for a few days because we had the flexibility to do so and the rental car situation was not a good one. We finally got a car about 4 days later and drove home.</div><div><div>
</div><div>It really is the "Pearl Harbor" or "JFK Assassination" of our generation. An event that everyone will remember where they were and what they were doing.</div></div>
A friend of mine,. Chris Henick,was the senior Republican staff memberin the White House that day. He was in the middle of taking calls from Gulliani and all kinds of folks when he took time to call a friend accross town and ask if he wanted to come to the White House and join him in the secure bunker. His buddy who like everybody else was hearing all the rumors about inbound planes headed for DC and specifically theWhite Houseand like everybody else was scared anddidn`t know what the hell was going to happen replied......"Are you 17ing crazy? " True story told to me by Chris.
and on the radio they were talking about the first plane hitting. Like everybody else I figured it was an accident. As soon as I got to work I had a meeting to go to. The meeting lasted a while, and nobody came in to tell us what was going on. When it was over I went back to my office, which was right by the elevators. I sat down at my computer and got online to look at the news and start my day, but none of the major news sites would load b/c of all the traffic (at the time I didn't know why). Finally, out of desperation I went to the most obscure website I could think of for news, npr.org. It had the headline, "World Trade Center Towers Toppled." I thought, "my GOSH that's a poor choice of words, because that makes it sound like they fell down." Then I read the story, realized what had happened and walked out of my office to realize that everybody was standing around in a daze watching it. Surreal.
Wife comes in the bedroom, turns on the tv and says, "you need to see this."
I spent most of the next week watching tv. The market was closed, so there wasn't much to do but answer the phone.
Here is an interesting link: Front pages from around the world<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>from the day after ... 9/12/2001
I spent most of the next week watching tv. The market was closed, so there wasn't much to do but answer the phone.
Here is an interesting link: Front pages from around the world<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>from the day after ... 9/12/2001
I was at Madison Central in P.E. class, I was winning a "championship basketball tournament game". After P.E. we all had break and thats where I got the news, I went straight to the JROTC room and started watching just after the 2nd plane hit the south tower. I remember Col. Gentry said guys be prepared, we are definately going to war soon. The next class was English I remember the principal told all the teachers to turn off the T.V.s and continue with class, but we watched anyways. After that class I skipped school and went home and watched all day long.
the first time any English had been on. Caught it a couple of minutes before the second plane hit. Spent the next five days swapping hotels and trying to get new flights home, having to be among a lot of people who didn't seem to care. Even Paris observed that moment of silence, not The Netherlands. Houston has never looked as good as it did the day we made it back.
And was making a dellivery and listening to John boy and Billy when first plane hit. I rushed back to office intime to see second plane hit. We were obviously all in shock, but what happened next was the only time I have ever been petrified with fear. The Pentagon had just been hit, and news were going live to coverage there. All of a sudden, the electricity went out. After about two long minutes of staring at each other, a coworker said that since we were still here, evidently the Mississippi Chemical Company fertilizer facility hadn't been hit.
(For those that don't know, MCC manufactures granular and liquid fertilizer, particularly Ammonia Nitrate, the same fertilizer used in Oklahoma city bombing).
We were all waiting on the shock wave to level the office. After five minutes the electricity came back on just in time to see flight 93 coverage in Shanksville, Pennsilvania. I needed some alone time at this moment. I still don't know why the electricity went out.
(For those that don't know, MCC manufactures granular and liquid fertilizer, particularly Ammonia Nitrate, the same fertilizer used in Oklahoma city bombing).
We were all waiting on the shock wave to level the office. After five minutes the electricity came back on just in time to see flight 93 coverage in Shanksville, Pennsilvania. I needed some alone time at this moment. I still don't know why the electricity went out.
I woke up that morning about 6:30 sick as a dog, up chucking the sandwich I had eaten the night before (any of you in Fort Worth, watch out for Loafin' Joes, just sayin). After about 30 minutes of hugging the toilet, I got back in bed to watch TV b/c there was no way I was going to work. While my wife was getting ready for work, I happened to flip by the Today Show and they were talking about what appeared to be a small plane had hit the WTC. When my wife was ready to go to work, she came to see if I needed anything. I told her what had happened, but neither of us thought much about it.
She left to go to grocery store to get me some Pepto, Sprite, & crackers before going to work. By the time she got back about 30 minutes later, the 2nd plane had hit. I was already sick and watching the 2nd tower get hit on live TV made me hurl again. She stood & watched for a while and then went to work despite me telling her it wasn't a good idea. She ended up watching TV most of the day at work because no one in the country was working, so no one was calling.
I spent the whole morning laying in bed watching it all unfold between stints of hugging the toilet bowl.
She left to go to grocery store to get me some Pepto, Sprite, & crackers before going to work. By the time she got back about 30 minutes later, the 2nd plane had hit. I was already sick and watching the 2nd tower get hit on live TV made me hurl again. She stood & watched for a while and then went to work despite me telling her it wasn't a good idea. She ended up watching TV most of the day at work because no one in the country was working, so no one was calling.
I spent the whole morning laying in bed watching it all unfold between stints of hugging the toilet bowl.
Remember thinking/praying it was not an attack. Finite Math test that afternoon was not cancelled.
Waited in line at pump and save at jitney jungle to fill up with gas b/c my mom told me to.
On a positive note about the day, got married on 09/11 last year b/c MSU played Auburn on Thurs.
Bittersweet.
Waited in line at pump and save at jitney jungle to fill up with gas b/c my mom told me to.
On a positive note about the day, got married on 09/11 last year b/c MSU played Auburn on Thurs.
Bittersweet.
4th grade Jackson ms. I remember being told go to out cafeteria and watching the news and seeing the towers in smoke. Then seeing planes around the sears tower in Chicago. Teachers let us watch all day. Didn't understand it a bit. Then school was put on lockdown couldn't do anything any of that. Finally school was let go and went on to to Boys and girls club sykes unit in jackson. I remember the counselors getting all of us together and asking if we understood what was going on. Once we talked for an hour I realized what was going on and was scared to death. After leaving remember the gas stations as full as ever and people at the atm pulling out money not knowing what would or could happen. Sad day in our history and a day I will never forget.
I was informed by the stripper in my class who was on crutches from a stage injury. Ill never forget the feeling I got when my dad called and told me how scared he was for my safety. I don't think the seriousness had set in for me up to that point. That was the beginning of the news ticker
A friend called me while I was sleeping in and said turn on the TV a plane hit the WTC. I turned on the TV and soon after the second plane hit. I work as an insurance adjuster and had appointments already set up for the day. I left Tupelo headed to Meridan listening to news stations on the XM Radio. It was weird because their were no cars on Hwy 45. I was hauling *** cause I knew the cops had better things to do. While inspecting homes I would get updates and catch a little bit of coverage on their TV. I was headed home and needed gas. All the stations around Meridian and Collensville had long lines due to rumors of a gas shortage. Waited in line to buy gas so I could make it home. People were filling their cars up and every 5 gallon can they could get their hands on.
for a deep water snare device to cut nets of Japanese fishermen. The call came in and we kept working not thinking much of it. When the second plane hit we started listening to the news. My wife called me to tell me that there were secret service agents in her area telling them not to come outside. Minutes later Air Force 1 was landing at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, LA.
Later that afternoon I closed on my first home, went to Bennagins, and saw finally my first footage of the events.
Later that afternoon I closed on my first home, went to Bennagins, and saw finally my first footage of the events.
some dumass small plane pilot screwed up and hit a building. Then I got to my office and, well...the world turned upside down in about 45 minutes. Employees crying, Mama's worrying about their 18 yr old sons going to war. It was like I was in a dream....nightmare. I kept thinking "How did we let this happen?".
Hutner, wakes me up with a knock at my door. He was getting ready for class. I skipped class regurarly and am not sure if i was skipping at the time or didnt have one til later. He was watching the news as the first one hit. Normally he would knock once, walk away and say get your *** up. This time he knocks hard as he walks into my room and said get your f'n *** up. No questions asked i ran into the den. I watched a few seconds after the first had hit and wathed the 2nd. Don, our other roommate had already left, i think, and showed up later in typical don fashion and said whats up. Hunter and I were in the exact same positions we were 3 hours before. When the 2nd pland hit Hunter dropped his cereal, and I remember that more than anything. Crazy surreal **** that i will never forget.
Side note, in the same house, i remember when lane staley died. I got that call from my dad.
Side note, in the same house, i remember when lane staley died. I got that call from my dad.
I was listening to some radio station that usually was pretty funny, but they weren't that morning on the drive on to campus. I walked into Music appreciation and was asked why I was late. I told the professor that terrorists had just crashed planes into our WTC towers. He told me I was original and to sit down.
I was in the ROTC at State and I was on the field the first game back against S. Carolina when us and the football players all held a very large American Flag out over the field. I remember us shaking it to make it wave at the crescendo of the National Anthem.
I didn't realize it at the time, but my life was forever changed. Since then, I've spent a total of three full years in the middle east fighting...
I will never forget.
I was in the ROTC at State and I was on the field the first game back against S. Carolina when us and the football players all held a very large American Flag out over the field. I remember us shaking it to make it wave at the crescendo of the National Anthem.
I didn't realize it at the time, but my life was forever changed. Since then, I've spent a total of three full years in the middle east fighting...
I will never forget.
I was in that class also, and I just remember being dumbfounded about what he said, and thinking what the hell are we still doing in here? I went home and watched it on the news and came back to McCool for my late morning class, which of course was canceled. That was just a crazy day, and everyone had the same looks on their faces of disbelief.dawgstudent said:
at my last year at the private school I was attending. Someone burst in the class saying the "World Trade Center has just been bombed!!" This was my first time hearing about the WTC and I assumed that they were talking about the Convention Center in Hattiesburg. I was confused in wondering why anyone would want to bomb that place. The teacher at the time then turned the tv on which was when I was able to see exactly what they were talking about. Even then... I still didn't grasp the gravity of the situation. The rest of the day had a lot of prayer and watching of the news, and one teacher even "tried" to continue with class to help get our minds off the subject.<div>
</div><div>As the day progressed, however, and the more reports and replays of people plummeting from the top of the 2 buildings I saw, my stomach began to twist into knots. It didn't take too much longer for me to realize my lack of initial concern was sickening which was then followed by a fear for the safety of myself, those I loved and the people of this country.</div>
</div><div>As the day progressed, however, and the more reports and replays of people plummeting from the top of the 2 buildings I saw, my stomach began to twist into knots. It didn't take too much longer for me to realize my lack of initial concern was sickening which was then followed by a fear for the safety of myself, those I loved and the people of this country.</div>
I was a library helper during first period which was supposed to be study hall for me. We would always watch good morning America each day and that day was no different. I still remember seeing that second plane hit live thinking it was a replay of the first plane. Needless to say, the rest of the week was spent watching tv in class.