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24601

(4,114 posts)

90. I worked In a building near Baltimore. Three of us were there, processing for a three-week deployment to Southeast Asia.

Reply to BigmanPigman (Original post)

Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:18 AM

Sep 12

Following a week of preparation, we would have flown on Friday. Our mission was cancelled upon confirmation of a 3rd plane, which hit the Pentagon. With all air traffic grounded, my deployment partners ended up driving about 400 miles back to their base in a rental car.

Non-emergency personnel were evacuated and remained home until 9/14. Without a staggered release, it took hours to clear the parking lots. My duties pivoted immediately to supporting US Central Command planning. Organizations remaining on duty implemented day and night shifts, putting up blackout curtains to mask which parts of our buildings were occupied. My office didn't have to since our basement location had no windows.

Since I was going to be out of the area, my wife and our 2 young kids had been packing to fly to the Midwest and spend time with her parents. They stayed home.

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Where were you on 9/11? [View all] BigmanPigman Sep 10 OP

sound asleep in So Cal. didnt wake up til the "action" bit was over nt msongs Sep 10 #1

I was on San Diego BigmanPigman Sep 10 #7

Me too. I worked down there temporarily during that time so stayed in a motel during the week. Got up on 9/11 beaglelover Sep 11 #71

Same. A friend from England called me to tell me to turn on the news. chowder66 Sep 10 #19

Getting ready to leave deRien Sep 10 #2

I was in the control room of a department of energy national lab drray23 Sep 10 #3

I recently saw a video of a Bush official BigmanPigman Sep 10 #11

Wow! As soon as you said right next to one that collapsed, and walked through... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #33

At my college registrar's office to change classes, nobody at the front desk but the TV on in the next room. meadowlander Sep 10 #4

Those hospital workers waiting BigmanPigman Sep 10 #12

In the end, people either got out or they didn't. There just weren't that many in between to need all the donations. JHB Sep 11 #42

Watching the Today Show, drinking coffee, on the phone with my sister-in-law. no_hypocrisy Sep 10 #5

Wow. As someone who's spent decades going over the GWB to visit relatives...just wow! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #59

There was a semi-legit fear planes no_hypocrisy Sep 11 #75

I sure wouldn't blame people for thinking that! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #81

1 Mile away from the Pentagon montanacowboy Sep 10 #6

Working at a gas station that day berniesandersmittens Sep 10 #8

7 months pregnant with my first daughter. Dulcinea Sep 10 #9

In my classroom. Heard the news, got a tv hooked up & my students & I watched the second tower get hit ancianita Sep 10 #10

I'm still pissed off at my school district for NOT BigmanPigman Sep 10 #13

I feel you, BP. My kids were 16-17 year olds. IIRC, Chicago Public Schools shut down later that day. ancianita Sep 10 #14

Only recently "60 Minutes" aired an episode BigmanPigman Sep 10 #20

From looking up Chris O'Leary on MSNBC today, I found out the CEO of O'Leary's group is that ancianita Sep 10 #21

That's how it was here in San Antonio. LeftInTX Sep 11 #41

Understandably, especially with young kids! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #60

They banned TVs and news from our local schools that day. They didn't want a repeat of the Kennedy trauma. LeftInTX Sep 11 #40

Sounds like the "they" you refer to, do a lot of censorship. Not cool. It's up to parents what kids see, NOT govt ancianita Sep 11 #46

It was the local school districts. One of the "theys" was my husband. He was the HS principal. He ordered TV's off. LeftInTX Sep 11 #49

Red River, New Mexico czarjak Sep 10 #15

My brother phoned to tell me a plane crashed into the tower. Swede Sep 10 #16

Recommended. H2O Man Sep 10 #17

Was originally scheduled for meeting in Windows on the World unc70 Sep 10 #18

Woah electric_blue68 Sep 11 #35

It was my 2nd day of college at NYU mr715 Sep 10 #22

Wasn't south of Washington Square closed off after the attack? BigmanPigman Sep 10 #23

I was standing on Bleecker and Mercer, so a few blocks south mr715 Sep 10 #24

I know where that is! BigmanPigman Sep 10 #29

Woah! And TY for coming to visit us in support. electric_blue68 Sep 11 #36

Can't remember how quickly they did this but they only let residents, area workers, shop owners below the South side... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #37

Yeah, I have see it was stopped south of Wash. Sq BigmanPigman Sep 11 #43

I guess you can never know untill it happens, and hope that you never face something like that! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #63

Pretty sure the 14th street boundary was a week or two after the attacks RPM Sep 11 #56

South of Canal RPM Sep 11 #55

To clarify.. electric_blue68 Sep 11 #64

Woah. When I went down to look at the site either the firsst time, or when I got off x weeks later at a subway they'd... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #62

At work, in the middle of my morning routine. Xavier Breath Sep 10 #25

On a DOD facility. My job. johnnyfins Sep 10 #26

Started my day waking up listening to WXRT in Chicago. They did a great job. Two popular DJs spent the whole mucifer Sep 10 #27

I woke up listening to WBBM. boonecreek Sep 11 #31

At my job at a psychiatric hospital Chautauquas Sep 10 #28

I was in a work group meeting. boonecreek Sep 11 #30

B4 I read/reply to the thread What Art School did you go to?... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #32

I studied illustration at Parsons and The New School for academics. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #48

At work in Boston edbermac Sep 11 #34

I made audio tapes of Howard's show that day. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #70

I was at work, on Long Island, 30 miles east of the Towers. The departmental secretary started exclaiming "Oh My God".. JHB Sep 11 #38

I forgot that DU was up and running in 2001. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #72

Yes. I'd first signed up that July, and had been visiting for months following links from Bartcop JHB Sep 11 #78

That's sort of what I expected. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #80

Pruning shrubs. It was nice weather like it was today and the past few days in Texas. LeftInTX Sep 11 #39

Was living in Brooklyn, not far from it's downtown... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #44

At work, "doing the job" JustABozoOnThisBus Sep 11 #45

Beijing China Blue Full Moon Sep 11 #47

Wow, and half way around the world! electric_blue68 Sep 11 #66

This message was self-deleted by its author Blue Full Moon Sep 11 #68

I had just arrived in the UK for a work trip. Happy Hoosier Sep 11 #50

In my office in the Federal Building in Denver CanonRay Sep 11 #51

Getting ready for work. Still had a TV in the bedroom at that time. maxsolomon Sep 11 #52

I was working nights for a very large hospital corporation in Dallas. markodochartaigh Sep 11 #53

Woah. Certainly could make Sense given all the Unknown Factors then. electric_blue68 Sep 11 #65

That day was a career milestone day for me... Moostache Sep 11 #54

Heading the other direction RPM Sep 11 #57

I had just gotten into my car to go to work. Aristus Sep 11 #58

I was at home watching the morning news. Mosby Sep 11 #61

At The Airport... ProfessorGAC Sep 11 #67

Just some added expetiences/thoughts... electric_blue68 Sep 11 #69

You remember details so well. BigmanPigman Sep 11 #74

Aww, thank you much! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #86

Driving into DC on I-270 ga_girl Sep 11 #73

My son was in lower Manhattan, working at the Village Voice FakeNoose Sep 11 #76

Teaching high school ...we had just got channel one JT45242 Sep 11 #77

Phew, for your brother! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #88

Just got out of x-ray and the staff was standing by the television. I thought it was training. Norrrm Sep 11 #79

Getting ready for school when my mom was watching the news sakabatou Sep 11 #82

Did they cancel school that day? BigmanPigman Sep 11 #83

No cancelation sakabatou Sep 11 #85

14th Street Bridge, Washington DC. bottomofthehill Sep 11 #84

Woah! Scary stuff! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #87

It was scary, the smoke from the Pentagon was one thing bottomofthehill Sep 12 #89

Oh, wow! Had not heard about the car bombs! electric_blue68 Sep 12 #91

That was the crazy part. There were no car bombs bottomofthehill Sep 12 #92

Clarifying - I hadn't heard later on about car bomb rumors. electric_blue68 Sep 12 #93

I worked In a building near Baltimore. Three of us were there, processing for a three-week deployment to Southeast Asia. 24601 Sep 12 #90

I was working as a 9-1-1 dispatcher that day near Whiteman AFB xmas74 Sep 12 #94

I don't blame you! BigmanPigman Sep 12 #95

Base was locked down, xmas74 Sep 13 #104

I've listened to 6 hours of the audio BigmanPigman Sep 13 #105

Woah, that Documentary was amazing, intense! Ty. electric_blue68 Sep 12 #96

I "borrowed" a VHS tape of this from BigmanPigman Sep 13 #97

I'm glad you shared it here.... electric_blue68 Sep 13 #98

I have 2 "I LOVE NY" bumper stickers. BigmanPigman Sep 13 #99

Yep, I do know which one. electric_blue68 Sep 13 #100

I was at work, on the gas distribution crew. Americanme Sep 13 #101

Getting ready to drive on a run to northern Indiana. Emile Sep 13 #102

I was in Manhattan PJMcK Sep 13 #103

I'm angry, too. BigmanPigman Sep 13 #106

My Sept 11 memories: pat_k Sep 13 #107

The calls from passengers on the various flights BigmanPigman Sep 13 #108