7 Years Ago Today

Everyone knows what today's date marks. But you might not know some of the inside story, so I'm here to relay what some heroes did that day. In February of 1999 I started working at the Pentagon. I was part of the emergency response team and I ran the allergy/immunization & travel medicine clinic. On 9/11/2001, as fate would have it I was at home in Annapolis on vacation with my Mom and Aunt who were visiting. We had plans to go to Rosslyn to the Newseum that day, but my Aunt's car developed a problem so we brought it to the local dealer for assistance. On the way, we heard about the towers. With the first one it sounded like a freak accident. When the second one hit, well I think we knew all hell was breaking loose and this was no accident.

I called my clinic to talk to my Sergeant to see if they knew. She said they were watching it on TV. While I was talking to her, she said they had the call to evacuate the building and I told her to go and I would talk to her later, with a sinking feeling in my gut.

This is one of those times in life where you are eternally grateful you weren't somewhere at the time of a bad event, but also unhappy that you weren't there to help. Having worn the uniform of the US Army myself, I felt a strong sense of duty to be at work. However, my Mom had other ideas and physically barred the door to prevent me from trying to go. We discovered that a threat had been called in to the statehouse (about 5 or so miles from my house at the time) and that all roads in and out of the city were being closed. Not too mention that bridges and roads to the Capitol and the Pentagon were also being closed. So, I acquiesced and stayed home that day. I sat glued to the TV watching to figure where the building was hit, and if I could see anyone I knew to know if they were okay or not. Fortunately for us, they hit the side 3 corridors away from us in the building. The blast took out our contingency clinic (for this type of emergency) and the library and as everyone knows, many offices. Also fortunate that they were just being moved into so not the full cadre of personnel were there. Or, we would have had much more massive casualty numbers.

As it was, the clinic itself did not immediately know the building had been bombed. That building was so well constructed that they never felt it or heard it only 3 corridors away! It wasn't until someone ran into the clinic and told them they must evacuate as something terrible had happened that they called the Pentagon Police and confirmed it.

So, the entire clinic grabbed emergency equipment and evacuated. They were in the North parking lot and could see the smoke and fire on the other side. There is no easy or fast way to get around the building believe it or not. It's not as simple as trudging around the corner. So, the Chief Nurse Major Brown made the decision to move them into place in the inner courtyard and also to the outside where they could help evacuate and triage victims. So that's what they did. The entire clinic walked back through a burning building and set up in the courtyard and outside at the bomb site and started to work.

Several of the Medics went to offices just adjacent to the exit to help get people out. Several had be trapped by debris and it was cleared and they were moved out. The Medics did this without fire gear or a second thought for themselves.

Most people have heard of LTC Birdwell who was so badly burned. He was one of the first victims our clinic treated. Everyone hears about Arlington Rescue and what a job they did, and no one talks about the job my clinic did that day. The clinic was the first, of the first responders.

Several other people from the clinic risked their lives by standing in the bombed section in thick smoke and water up to their knees calling to people to help guide them out. The smoke was so thick you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Due to their efforts, many people were saved.

At one point while everyone was out in the courtyard with victims, another plane flew overhead. They paused momentarily and went back to work. This time it was an F-16. (Go Air Force!) People worked and stayed until very late that day.

One thing I have to say... on that day it didn't matter what uniform you wore. Everyone was working shoulder to shoulder to take care of patients. Generally, there is some friction between the branches and with the civilians. But not on that day. They were a well-oiled machine.

It is virtually unheard of to have soldier's medals awarded to a soldier in peacetime. It has to be a pretty big show of valor, courage and heroism AND has to be verifiable. There were 7 people who got soldier's medals from their actions on that day alone. Several of the civilians also got medals (didn't know we could get 'em did you?). This is not the end of the story, but for now I have to go to work!