It seams fuuny but i remember more about 12 years ago this day than ever before.  I was assigned to Special Operations during that era.  SOC as its known was a special place on the FDNY   It was all about the job and what you can do.

9/11/2001

I was up and  ready to go out and do my side job of construction when my Dad came into my house and said he heard a small plane hit the WTC.   I knew I had to go being from SOC I just knew it was something bad.  My wife drove me down to the staten island ferry.  I grabbed my helmet and turn out coat and arrived just after 9am.  I heard engine roars and assumed it was a boat but then seen the south tower explode

I was confused as to what happened as i got onto the ferry which only emergency personel was allowed to board.  There were about 30 other FDNY members with the same idea as they told me it was another plane that hit.   The capt. of the boat was not sure on if he should go but his mind was changed by a member of the FDNY who climbed up the front of the boat and told him LETS GO

The trip was in slow motion as events unfolded in front of us as we slowly made our way across the harbor.  A trip that would normally take 25 minutes  took the boat closer to 45  As we turned into the downtown slip the south tower came down.  Thousands of people now wanted off the island and jammed the ferry slip as we formed a line to exit.  Dust covered everything as panic set in to the people who wanted on the boat  NOW  

As we marched thru the crowds of panicing people they stopped and applauded us with cheers.  I thought i was going to die at that point.  What am I doing ran thru my mind over and over as i took each step foward up Broadway.  The dust made everything very quiet as you walked like walking in a snow storm.  Thiis snow storm had buring paper falling everwhere.  I made it to the rubble of the fallen south tower and started to go into the debri expecting to find people crying for help.  Silence is all I heard

i remember seeing another firefighter covered in soot as i heard what sounded to me like wind chimes.  The other firefighter froze and said  go  lets go and he took off as i did not understand what he was saying until i realized the north tower was falling also.  It sounded like a freight train getting louder as my mid tried to understand what was happening.  I froze and wondered how it was going to feel to die.  I couldnt move as the tower came down in front of me.

The power of the winds knocked me to my knees as the air went thick.  I thought this is it.  The sound came to an end as i tried to stand up wondering if i was safe.  I couldnt breath as my dirty fingers pulled dust from my mouth in clumps.  I wanted out of there and started to move away.  I seen another firefighter on his knees struggling to get to his feet and wanted to leave him but i couldnt.  When he stood up I knew his face It was my best friend  Lt. Tom McGoff from eng 217  His only comments to seeing me was Kev...are we in hell.

Kevin OBrien  retired SOC 2002/3    NEVER FORGET