Wow.  7 years.  It still seems like yesterday.  I was on my way home from work in rural Ohio.  I was on 3rd shift at the time.  I was flipping the stations, cuz no one was playing any good songs I liked.  I remember one station giving a traffic report.  They gave the number for “accidents, jam-ups, or planes hitting buildings.”  I thought, what the hell is this dude talking about?”  I had no idea yet, and thought it was a goofy morning show joke.  It was, because at the time, out in Ohio, we knew very little of what happened.  I switched stations again, and the morning show guys were talking about this plane that hit the World Trade Center.  I was like.. wow.. talk about a freak accident. 

Then one guy in the background just goes “holy sh*t holy sh*t!  Another plane hit the other tower!”  At that moment, I knew our nation and our freedoms were under attack.  I knew it was Al-Queda and Bin Laden.  I knew those names from intel briefings in the Air Force.  I knew they’ve been after us for years.  It irritates me to this day that those names weren’t well known before that horrific event.  We knew the dangers we faced and did next to nothing about it.  Anyway… as soon as I knew it was a terrorist attack, I hit the gas and went as fast as my Ford Tempo would take me. 

At the time I was still living in Ohio, but my fiance lived in Staten Island, NY, and I knew her brothers and her sis-in-law worked in the city.  I had no idea of the scope of the events, and had to get home to call her and make sure everyone was ok.  It took me nearly two hours to get through because of the volume of calls NYC was having from people trying to do the same thing I was.  I got through and found out everyone was ok.  I found out her brother saw one of the planes hit, and his wife saw the other.  My sister-in-law’s sister worked in building 7.  She called out sick that day. 

My dad was in his office at home, and told him what was happening.  I ran into my brother’s room to wake him up and turn on his TV.    Still groggy, my brother asked me what was going on.  As I turned his TV on, the Pentagon was hit.  I then realised the possible scope of all of this, and just screamed, “Jesus Christ, the country’s under attack!  The whole country’s under attack!”  He bolted upright and just stared at the TV.  He asked what all happened as I told him.  We sat in front of the TV all day and watched the events unfold. 

The emotions were overwhelming.  I was scared.  I was worried about my future wife’s family and what they were going through.  And I was pissed.  I looked at my brother at some point, and told him “we’ve got to get these assholes.  An the only way to get them is to kill every one of them.” 

I was in the Air Force Reserves and called my unit to see if we were being activated.  I told them to call me first if anyone was needed for anything.  I’ve since deployed three times for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.  The first time, I left the day my wife and newborn daughter came home from the hospital.  The other two times, my wife was pregnant for both.

When the towers fell, I was just in awe.  I couldn’t believe it all.  I could only think about the people inside.  I usually was in bed by noon, working night shift, but I couldn’t turn away.  I wanted to know what we were going to do about this.  My nephews came over after school since I was home, and their mom was still at work.  My oldest nephew, 6 at the time looked at the TV.  I think even he knew what was going on.  He looked at me with a grim look on his face and asked me, “Jeremy, is this real?”  I didn’t know what to say.  I just looked at him and said “yes.  There are some really bad people out there who hate us.”  He asked “are we going to get them?”  Hearing these things from my nephew, I was almost at a boililng point at what happened.  I just looked at him, “I hope so.”

“will you have to go?” he asked me.  I told him “I hope so.”  I then turned the channel to cartoons for him.  I tried to sleep but couldn’t.  I was waiting for that phone call from my unit.  It never came, as our unit wasn’t activated.  I still wonder how they could pull it off.  How they could bring themselves to kill so many innocent people.  If they hate our gov’t fine.  If they hate our military, fine.  But to kill innocent people.  On purpose. 

Everyone says “never forget.” 

I say never forgive

@life_by_us - 7 1/2 years?  why not just finish it out, I wish I stayed Active at times.  The pay and benefits are much better than being full time Nat’l Guard.  I miss being at Wright Patt.  I grew up in Ohio about 90 miles north of there.  Unfortunately, due to custody issues with my wife’s ex, we’re stuck in New Jersey for now.  I feel like I’m behind enemy lines bein a conservative in this state lol.  I do plan on retiring back to Ohio though.  Since your hubby’s getting out, he should check out the Guard or Reserves for the college benefits.  Especially with the new GI Bill coming out next year.  It’s GREAT!  More tuition assistance, a housing allowance if you’re full time student, and spouses will be eligible for Tuition assistance as well!

Speaking of Wright Patt, I was doing my annual tour there the week after the attacks, and went to WWE:Smackdown exactly one week after the attacks out there at the Nutter Center.  The patriotism was unbelieveable.  I think half the arena was nearly in tears as the ring announcer gal sang the National Anthem.  The show is taped on Tues, and shown on TV fri.  They had to delay taping cuz the crowd was chanting USA USA forever.  I miss that patriotism.