9-11-01, Where were you

[BigBear]

Didn't see anything posted about reminescence, so here goes:

Where were you? What were you doing? Thoughts at the time?


I was at my undergrad. School was canceled. I tried to enlist... failed again. Played TAPS about 20 times that weekend for different events.

[Batteriesnare]

I was in my 8th grade history class, and they shut down all internet and cable to the school so we couldn't find out what was going on.

[TS12000]

7th grade history, watched news coverage for 1/2 a day then sent home. Even being that young it felt so surreal, almost like I was in a dream or movie

[jake]

I still lived in the UK at the time and I remember arriving home from work at 2pm GMT, about twenty minutes after the first plane hit. Went online, saw a thread on a messageboard about a plane hitting the WTC. At the time we all thought it was an accident. Turned on the news and spent the rest of the day glued to the computer.

My wife tells me she was at home in Miami and her mom called her to wake her up (they both lived in the same condo building, overlooking the port of Miami) and they spent the next few days freaking out. She was actually a mod on an ice hockey board and one of the members there worked in one of the towers. His last post was timestamped a couple of minutes before his tower was hit.

[trlcavscout]

My wife was pregnant and over due, her water broke and we went to the hospital at like 04:30, they sent us home and said it would still be like 12 hours so I went to work to finish some quick stuff up. When I got to work they were watching it on the news and I seen the 2nd plane hit. We were living in Las Vegas, so I left got the wife and pistol :) and we went back to the hospital. We watched all day until 16:30 when my son arrived. Will never forget or forgive! They almost ruined one of the best days of my life.

Now every year we observe 9/11 in the morning and clebrate his birthday in the afternoon.

[Krasni]

Left work, spent most of the day trying to get in touch with buddies at the pentagon.

[BigBear]

Wow, I thought I was young and some of y'all were still in grade school!! I am an old man... Dear Lord....

[SA Friday]

I was half way through my remote tour at Osan AB, Korea. It was about 2200 at night and my suitmate in the dorms was getting the news feed on the internet when the first plane hit the first tower. He called me over and we watched and speculated over terrorism or accident. Then the second plane hit. We looked at each other and said, "terrorism". We went and got all the agents (we all lived in the same sub wing of the dorm) out of their rooms and briefed them on the news and clustered around his computer while the NCOIC called into el hefe to determine course of action. Then we got news the Pentagon got hit. We all grabbed our gear and headed into the office. We did a quick down and dirty brief and went off base to round up personnel from their off-base activities and get them back onto base. We went to FPcon Delta while we were doing the brief at the office.

We loaded up the SMG's and geared up and went off base to get everyone back on base. Fun times rounding up a bunch of drunk partying GI's prior to curfew (midnight). We got everyone back on base and battened down the hatches.

My wife was ADAF at the time and deployed to Rhiad, Saudi Arabia when the attacks occurred. That sucked. I couldn't get ahold of her for days.

[ERNO]

Our two man survey party was sent from Hunt Valley, Md. to Quantico,Virginia;where we stayed in a motel,to stakeout a huge indoor firing range,and three shoothouses for the F.B.I., on the U.S. Marine base in Quantico.I'll never forget that clear morning,when the "roach" coach pulled up at the construction site.I went to buy a soda,and the vendor told me that the first tower had been hit;then later, the second.I went over and leaned up against a shoothouse wall,and told my boss that the U.S. was going to war;under the the din of rifle,pistol,and submachine gun fire,from the next door,F.B.I.'s old gun range.The Marine base went on " ORANGE ALERT"?;that's when the Marine base came alive,with low level F-15's?,doing bombing runs over our heads,to drop their bombs next to the F.B.I.s training Academy grounds.We could see the Marines parachuting from there CHINOOK helicopters nearby.One thing I did learn,is that the Marine's don't like the F.B.I. being there;because both are being interfered with each others training op's program's.

[Birddog1911]

I was scheduled that morning to go to Norfolk, Virginia for a training mission. I was having my last cup of coffee before I left the house, when Fox and Friends announced that an aircraft hit the WTC. I mentioned it to the wife, commenting on how way back when a B-25 (I think) hit the Empire State Building. Suddenly, the other plane came into view and hit the other tower. I instantly knew we were at war, told the wife I loved her and didn't know when I'd be home, and raced to work to get through the gate in case they were going to close the base off.

Wound up the rest of the morning watching everything take place, telling my family I loved them, and waited to see what they were going to do with my crew.

[jerrymrc]

Was at my job on Ft Carson. What a zoo it became. I got to the TV just in time to see the second plane hit.

[Hoser]

I was on base.

Not a fun time.

[funkfool]

Used to go to breakfast with my father at least once a week... we were at IHOP on Southgate Rd. at 7:15 MST when we heard what was happening.
Never forget that morning.

[Mtn.man]

Didn't know about it till 7 days later. Was bowhunting and when we came home is when we found out.

[Marlin]

I was working at the then Avyia building at 120th and I-25. The one that looks like a big Satellite dish.. Word started filtering through about 7:45 or so. We were standing around trying to figure what was going on. At this point, and after the intial shock wore off, I have to laugh at, The computer nerds that worked for Avyia went into complete panic. Seemed like they were trying to carry half of thier cubicles out to thier cars in one trip.. I seriously have never seen panic like that before or since.

I could maybe understand it if we were in NYC, but Thornton, naw.

Must have been about 3-4 fender benders as they all headed for the exits at once..

We stood around for a bit more and let the nuttier ones get far enough down the road. went in a picked up our stuff, and left to watch the coverage..

[mrfish83]

I was asleep... I couldn't believe the news when I turned it on.

This year I was on top of a 14er with an American Flag... a new tradition for 9/11.

[Ah Pook]

Getting out of the car to go to work. I think it was Peter Boyles that had mentioned a plane had hit one of the towers. Click, off to work. We didn't have TV but I managed to get a station on our satellite service. That was just in time to see the towers fall. Had it on the lobby TV. People were glued to it all day.

[WillysWagon]

Was at work watching it on the TV.

[clublights]

I had just arrived at my brothers house after driving all night to UT to get to my grandfathers funeral.

between fighting the kids for the remote and trying to watch news ( for weather for the day originally) saw the second plane go in live. we took the remote away from the kids after that.

The Marine detachment that was supposed to do the honors at his funeral got called onto base and was locked down .. found a VFW post to do it in time luckily ...

[StagLefty]

I was on my way to work when the first plane hit and turned on the TV in the break room when I got there and saw the second plane hit..We had to stay at work but it was a really quiet day after that.

[OgenRwot]

Senior year of high school. Walked into my football coaches classroom and they had it on the tv, I watched the towers fall. Like everyone else I was shocked.

I knew right away that we were at war and that life would change drastically. My idea of change was a lot different then than it is now but it did change a little bit for us. I see the ramifications more now but that's besides the point I guess.

[Elhuero]

I'm pretty sure I've posted this here before. Oh well.

My alarm clock set to KILO 94 woke me up. I knew instantly something was wrong, the tension in the DJ's voices was palpable. I sat on my bed and listened as they spoke, but no specifics were given.

After listening for what felt like several minutes I screamed in my mind "What the fuck happened!?" and as if she had heard me the DJ said planes had hit the twin towers. I said "Holy shit!" and went into the living room to turn on the TV.

Then I said "Holy Shit!" again.

That was pretty much all I said until I got to work.

After work I spent the next hours and days glued to the TV. I am not ashamed to admit that I cried like a baby. One thing that really got me was when the two french filmmakers were reunited in the firehouse.

(happens at about 2:50)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmkSVw44zpA

Around dinnertime I drove up to my folk's house. It felt like I was on another planet. Going up Chelton people were standing on the street in front of their houses, waving flags, lighting candles and waving at the cars like it was a parade. I honked and waved back. Later I sat on the front porch and looked up at a sky empty of aircraft for the first and probably only time in my life.

A buddy of mine told me his experience.

He was active duty Army in Korea. On that day they were in the field training. They got called back in and shown the T.V. footage. Soldiers that had family in NY went one direction, toward phones to start trying to get in touch with loved ones. The rest went another direction, where they were put on high alert, issued live rounds and sent back out.

He said they were all pissed off and ready to rock if the north had so much as twitched. They stayed on alert for a long time.

Forgive and forget.

hmmm... forget? no way.

forgive?

fuck that.

[gnihcraes]

Had just arrived at work, some crazy lady said "a plane has hit the world trade center" - huh, ok. (crazy woman) After about an hour, there was finally some information on the internet about it - much more than the lady indicated. Eventually they closed up all the government agencies and sent us home for fear of being a "Target" - yeah like they are going to fly an airplane into a local government IT shop that is far from the metro areas. I tried to stay at work, but they forced us out and sent us home. (stupid)

I drove to the Good Green Mountain guns at that time and picked up a 1000 rounds of 7.62x39 for the SKS. Came home and watched all the news the rest of the day with the wife and my small children.

[mikedubs]

Soph year of undergrad, sleeping off a binge in my dorm room...my dad calls and says "Turn on the news!" "Which station?" "Any one!" Just in time to see the second one hit and say holy shit. Shitty shitty day.

BigBear, I know how you feel![ROFL1]

[Troublco]

I was at work on base (Buckley) and as soon as we heard the news we turned on the TV. We watched for close to an hour, then as soon as we saw the second plane hit everything went into overdrive. We worked 24/7's for a few days after that. One of the most eerie things I recall was how quiet everything was. The only thing I really heard when I was outside was the sound of our jets as they flew patrol over the city. So quiet.

[Birddog1911]

I was at work on base (Buckley) and as soon as we heard the news we turned on the TV. We watched for close to an hour, then as soon as we saw the second plane hit everything went into overdrive. We worked 24/7's for a few days after that. One of the most eerie things I recall was how quiet everything was. The only thing I really heard when I was outside was the sound of our jets as they flew patrol over the city. So quiet.
That was something that got me as well. Working on the same field as Co.Spgs Airport, and nothing at all moving. It was so quiet it was disconcerting.

[palepainter]

I was enjoying breakfast in when I lived in AZ. Watching the morning news, to check on the ever changing weather in Tempe. Saw the initial interuption that morning, took a tv to work to follow the rest.

[ghettodub]

I had the day off of work. Woke up, most likely hungover, and had to return two videos to blockbuster. Turned on the TV, and only heard in the background something about something in New York. Didn't think much of it, so I finished taking a shower, getting ready, etc, and then drove up to blockbuster. Dropped off the videos, and the motor in my car blew. So, angrily, I called all of my friends to try and get a ride home, but no one answered, so I walked four or so miles home. I grabbed a beer from the fridge, super pissed off, and then finally sat down to see what was on the TV...

[KevDen2005]

With an Infantry battalion on FT Benning, GA

and Big Bear is right, I can't believe how young a lot of you are, I thought I was young

[Irving]

I've been watching these little boys, 7 and 8, and today I asked the older one today if he knew what 9/11 was. He said he didn't. I told him to ask his mom tonight what it was. I forgot to tell her when she picked him up tonight.

[DD977GM2]

I was woken up by my Dad when the first tower fell and I was at my GFs apartment. I was 11 months out of the Navy and I went to get my daughter to head to our cabin in Estes Park.
I had no idea what was going on. Then some chick ran into my truck and gave me a seperated shoulder and mild concussion. I eventually got back to my apartment with my Daughter and guns loaded ..... for what as we all didnt know what the fuck was going on.


Fuck al qaudia!!!!!1!

[Graves]

I was 19yo, working in boulder; my old man called and said some assholes were flying commercial airplanes into buildings, that's when I turned on the TV and saw the first tower on fire. Spent the rest of our shift glued to the tele watching in disbelief.

[blackford76]

Where was I? Just got home from work in time to see the second plane hit the tower live.
Was in shock...I was supposed to pick up my wife and daughter at DIA. Had my notes as to which flight they were on, what time to be there to pick them up. United 93.
Longest fucking day of my life.

Obviously she wasn't on THAT flight, but for several hours I believed they were. I ended up driving out to pick them up. 1905 miles in 27 hours.

[ShooterChick]

I was sitting in my class and the principal came over the intercom freaking out and called an assembly in the gym to tell everyone what was going on and projected the news on the big pull down screen for everyone to watch.

[Elhuero]

Where was I? Just got home from work in time to see the second plane hit the tower live.
Was in shock...I was supposed to pick up my wife and daughter at DIA. Had my notes as to which flight they were on, what time to be there to pick them up. United 93.
Longest fucking day of my life.

Obviously she wasn't on THAT flight, but for several hours I believed they were. I ended up driving out to pick them up. 1905 miles in 27 hours.


God damn.

[jake]

God damn.
To say the least.

[ColoWyo]

I was camping near West Creek with my friends who are all airline crews as well. One being a United pilot. We decided just to stay where we were and fish the rest of the day. There really wasn't a much safer place on the front range than upstream of Cheeseman reservoir.

Considering there were 3 airline pilots and two flight attendants in our little camping group, we had a few voicemails when we got phone service that night.

[patrick0685]

I was in marketing class in TN, at first everyone was in shock, then as more reports came in of other possible target everyone started freaking out bc we lived about 15 mile from Oak Ridge (Home of the A-Bomb and shit loads of Nuclear energy). Every class that we went to all we did was watch TV.

[rockhound]

I had just left my financial adviser's office where i had just handed over $10,000 for a new IRA account, Ten minutes later the first plane hits and I turned $10,000 into $2300 because I didn't wait two more days before I bought in.

friggin terrorists, bomb our cities killing innocent people and children and blame it on us just being the way we are, bringing it on ourselves.

and the muslims wonder why we fear and dislike them.

[Beprepared]

I was in Slidell, LA. The wife and I had the day off together. We get my step-son to Jr. high, and take my toddler to the local coffee house for breakfast. Our friend Chris, the owner, had a radio or tv he pulled out of his office. He and some patrons were huddled around intently listening or watching. Chris tells us one of the trade towers were hit by a jet aircraft. Not fully comprehending the situation, we get our coffee and go home to watch the news. We saw the second plane hit the next tower live. It was a rough day, trying to get news of friends in NYC, and my wifes ex at the pentagon.

Never Forget

[gnihcraes]

I recorded a documentary from history channel a couple nights ago, will have my kids watch it since they were only 6 months and 2yo at the time.

[Richard K]

Stuck in Istanbull trying to get home.

[robsterclaw]

I was on vacation from work. Sat watching the tv for the whole week. Pissed off and sad. And desperately wanting to go shoot the fuckin palestinians that were in the streets cheering.

[Ah Pook]

I was sitting in my class and the principal came over the intercom freaking out and called an assembly in the gym to tell everyone what was going on and projected the news on the big pull down screen for everyone to watch.
[Shy] I watched the the first moon walk in an elementary auditorium, on a 20" black and white TV, and thought that was cutting edge technology. :D

[sniper7]

I was in high school physics 10th grade. Watched the second plane hit live on tv in school. I knew the family of the captain of united 91... very sad day for me. Continues to be san isue in my industry

[losttrail]

I was at home getting my daughters ready for school (1st grade), watching Fox News as usual. I had turned on the TV and seen the first tower burning, thinking that it must have been one of the regional commuter planes that hit the building, since the damage looked to extensive for a small, private plane.

As my girls were eating breakfast and we were talking about what had happened, the second plane flew into tower 2.

My heart skipped, since it now became apparant that this was not an accident and the plane was obviuosly commercial.

Since my wife was travelling on business that morning from NY to Chicago, I became very anxious, yet tried to keep it together for my kids.

I immediately tried to call her cell, but was already getting the 'all circuits are busy' message.

Fortunately, her flight was much earlier in the morning and she was already in Chicago.

We were not able to connect until mid-afternoon, and she was unable to get home for another 2 days.

My thoughts and prayers to all those directly and indirectly affected by this evil act of cowards.

[KevDen2005]

Stuck in Istanbull trying to get home.


Istanbul, don't you mean Constantinople?

[Colorado Luckydog]

Dove hunting.