Our generation’s Pearl Harbor

I’m originally from Jim Thorpe. On 9/11 I was serving in the Air Force as a recruiter in Universal City, Texas. At the time, I’d been in the Air Force for 16 years so I was on my last tour of duty before retiring. That day started out like any other, normal, warm and sunny Texas day.

I got to my office around 8 a.m. and my wife called me saying that a plane hit the World Trade Center, I asked her what kind of plane and she was unsure. I assumed it was a small Piper Cub plane that got lost in the clouds or something, and about 10 minutes later there was a crowd gathering outside of my office because I worked right next door to the Time Warner Cable company.

Inside their front windows they had five large TVs on the wall so people were staring at them. I went outside and looked in their windows with the others and it was at that time that the second plane hit. We all just gasped and I said, “We are now under attack.”

I went next door and started making phone calls. I had an applicant processing that day at the Military Entrance Processing Station for the Air Force. I had to go pick him up because they shut down all operations. I got him home and then I immediately went home.

I lived on Randolph AFB a few miles from my office. We had stickers on our cars that the gate guard would normally see and wave us through. That all changed in an instant that day. It took me three hours to get back onto the base because of the chaos. I had to show my ID card. There were security guards everywhere. About 50 yards inside the gate was a Humvee with a guard aiming a .50-caliber gun in case anybody tried to get through without proper access.

The days and weeks after 9/11 were tough, not only watching the news, but seeing the military ramp up operations to defend and fight for our country.

I was extremely proud of the patriotism showed by the local community. Flags were everywhere. More people were interested in enlisting and helping in any way they could - it showed our resolve.

Sadly, that day was my generation’s Pearl Harbor. It opened my eyes that there are still and will always be evil people out there and we must continue to defend our freedom. I was proud to serve in uniform and I’m still serving as a civilian for our Air Force. That day changed me in a way that I will never forget. We must not forget those who lost their lives that day and in the following years on the battlegrounds of Iraq and Afghanistan. They are the true heroes.

Jim Miller

Cibolo, Texas

Tragic reminder

I was at work that morning, probably like a lot of people. The weather was perfect.

I recall hearing about it from my boss and we went on the internet to see the images, which were raw and real. They were hard to process in that most of us had not lived through an attack of this magnitude in our lifetimes.

It changed me in the sense that it opened my eyes to just how much these terrorist organizations truly wanted to harm us here. Seeing the destruction firsthand was a tragic reminder that we were not immune to an attack on our soil and that all of us got a wake-up call as far as vigilance goes from that day forward.

Jeff Minnich

Palmerton

Surreal

My wife, Jean, and I had a golf vacation for a week planned in Niagara Falls, Canada, starting Sept. 11. Our hotel was at the Sheraton at the Falls in Canada.

We left Lansford on Sept. 10 and traveled to my brother-in-law and his wife’s home in Lewisburg and spent the night. We left between 8 and 8:30 a.m. and headed north on Route 15 to New York.

My wife and I talked for about the first hour and then decided to turn the radio on around Mansfield. The newscast said the planes hit the towers and described the first tower coming down. I thought it was a play like Orson Welles reading “War of the Worlds” in 1938, and then realized it was for real.

I drove to a truck stop in Dansville, New York, and all the truckers were watching the news on the TVs in the store. Some drivers had just gotten off the phone with their dispatch and were told not to attempt to cross the border.

I called my brother-in-law and he had already seen the news and told me if I wanted to, come back to his place. I called the hotel and explained that I might not be able to cross the border and was told not to worry about it. I decided to try it.

My plans had been to cross at the Rainbow Bridge directly into Niagara Falls, Canada, but on the way up I kept hearing the news reports that they started to close the bridges and decided to go to the northernmost bridge crossing, Lewiston-Queenston crossing.

When we got to the U.S. Customs at the border, they had agents in camos and they told us that they were not stopping anyone from leaving the country. They checked our driver’s license and then told us to have a good time.

Getting into Canada took us about an hour. Once we arrived at the Customs checkpoint, they did go through the car and then let us proceed. Since we had been in Canada numerous times, I knew how to get back down to our hotel.

The whole week we had been in Canada we were able to see the Rainbow Bridge from our hotel window and it was always bumper to bumper getting back into the U.S. We left at 5 a.m. and it was only us and another vehicle on the Bridge. It took us 5 minutes to get through Customs.

My wife and I also believe that the plane that crashed in Shanksville had passed over us that morning.

Rudy and Jean Balas

Lansford

Where was I on 9/11?

An easy question with a very simple answer: The Czech Republic, which was a “closed” country at the time, exiting a historic Catholic Church. One of the tour members had a satellite phone and was in touch with his New York office who advised him of the attack.

Momentarily traumatized, we were quickly gathered together and shuttled to our hotel. We were met by the local Czech police authorities who assured us that they knew we were Americans, we were secure and safe in their closed country, and we were free to move around under their protective eyes.

Days later, we met, we talked and we decided to continue our touring since all air travel was suspended. We did hook up with other Americans who had lost their hotel spaces but they tagged along with us, since back then, Americans stuck together!

The 10 days or so later a very regulated flight home from Germany was sparsely populated and quiet. The landing at Newark Airport gave an unforgettable view of the still smoldering site of what was the twin towers, which will be forever etched in my mind!

It felt especially good to be home!

Bob Rossi

Drums

Never forgotten

I had just finished working a 12-hour shift at my place of employment. I was ready to enjoy the day off so I talked to my mother for a little while before deciding to lie down and get a little rest.

It was not long after that mom woke me to see what had happened. I was devastated and in shock, as I am sure many were. I started to ask how something like this could happen and who would do such a horrible thing, but then I realized something. I have seen things of this nature. I am a veteran of military service with the U.S. Air Force and had served during Desert Storm and Operation Provide Comfort in the Middle East. Being deployed there was an experience for sure, but also one that opened my mind as to how I would look at certain things and really appreciate what I have and what our country stands for.

It is easy for many to be judgmental of people from those areas of the world, but unless you have been there and witnessed their cultures and beliefs, you cannot understand. Their culture and beliefs are nothing to be taken for granted and should be respected as such. The same goes for our country and its beliefs.

Following the attack on 9/11, I, along with my mother, enjoyed visiting memorials and functions honoring that day. My mother enjoyed many as she is very patriotic. The colors of red, white and blue meant much to her, not just as a proud parent of a veteran, but one that loved our country and what it stood for.

As time passed, I got to meet the builder and creator of the “Heroes Truck,” a professional quality show vehicle done to honor our country.

I also met a terrific lady. She was originally from Russia and here working as an attorney. Katarina came to the U.S. to better herself and to bring her dream to reality. She worked in New York City, and on the day of 9/11 was there on her way to work. She witnessed the horrible tragedy that fell upon our country. She was in shock but took cover the best she could only to be covered in the dust and debris.

Katarina set up numerous fundraising events and provided help to those in need. Challenging but yet rewarding, she was proud of what she was doing. We would often talk and share ideas and thoughts on many things revolving around the 9/11 attack.

We attended the Northeastern Rod and Custom Show held at the Philadelphia Convention Center and saw a beautiful custom built chopper by Paul Tuttle Jr. of American Choppers fame. It was done in honor of the 9/11 attacks. While viewing it, Katarina broke down and began to cry. When they realized she was there that day, Paul and his father showed Katarina much love and respect.

As the years passed by, the dark horrors of 9/11 began to show and affect Katarina. Cancer had come because of all the toxic dust and debris from it. Being tough and determined, she had to beat it. We eventually got engaged and began to plan for our future. While attending a car cruise in New York, Katarina took ill once more. She was rushed to the hospital. The cancer had returned and was coming on strong. We enjoyed our daily talks and she stayed determined on beating it once again.

One morning, very early, I got a call from her from the hospital. We talked and shared our love. Before hanging up, she said all would be OK for me and told me to stay strong. It was the last time I heard my lover’s sweet and caring voice.

I often look at my time with Katarina and my mother, until her passing, my military service, the 9/11 attacks and much more. That made me who I am today, a stronger and more knowledgeable person in many ways. I’ve learned never to take anything for granted as I could be gone so very quickly. I have a large respect for all those lost on 9/11, for those defending our country and those affected in many ways on that day. God bless our country and the many will never be forgotten especially in my eyes and thinking.

Timothy J. Hartzog

Staff Sergeant, U.S. Air Force

Lehighton

Everything changed

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, began with me driving from my home in Kunkletown to the Kresge Funeral Home in Brodheadsville to meet Bill Kresge. Together we were going to drive to Mount Zion Cemetery near Sciota for a graveside funeral service. The funeral was for the infant daughter of a young woman who had been a school friend of my daughter. Regretfully, over the 20 years I have forgotten their names.

As I left my home that morning I was, as was my morning routine, listening to the Imus in the Morning radio program from New York City. It was from Don Imus and his crew that I heard the first unbelievable mentions of what was happening in New York. As I met up with Bill Kresge and we drove to the cemetery, our ears were glued to the radio as the reality of what was happening just kept getting more horrific.

After the graveside service I returned home and we watched the news on TV for a while before I drove to Zion’s Stone Church in West Penn Township, where I had begun serving as pastor just over a year prior.

That evening we held a prayer service at Zion’s Stone Church that was well-attended even though we could only get information out by word-of-mouth, social media not being then what it has become now.

We had never imagined that such a thing was possible here in the United States. Yes, there had been other attempted terror attacks in New York, but nothing on this level. We believed that we were safe. For many years everything changed. To this day surely airport security remains on higher alert but I believe that, somewhere along the line, we grew more complacent again.

Blessings and peace to us all.

Pastor Michael A Frost

Kresgeville

Most memorable day

I was working on 9/11 for a police department, probably less than 8 miles as the crow flies to the towers. I started my shift at 8:30 a.m. as the bureau commander for the police records division. Shortly after starting my work day, one of the police dispatchers came into my office and told me that a plane hit one of the towers. He said the police intrastate radio was exploding with radio traffic. I told him to keep me informed. Shortly after that conversation, he came back to tell me that a second plane crashed into the second tower, which I could not believe.

This was the start of one the most memorable days of my 28-year career. After the plane crashed, the police department went into an emergency mode and everybody worked a 12-hour shift instead of the normal 8-hour shift. I grabbed a camera bag, binoculars, along with another officer and attempted to drive to a county park that overlooks NYC. The entrance was blocked by approximately 250 cars with people then walking to the top of the park.

We drove to another location that offered us a view of the burning towers. I took about a dozen photos of the towers burning.

Our town is in a unique position that we are a bedroom community with six train stations for commuters. Fast forward to about 4:30 a.m. on the 12th when I grabbed a marked vehicle and headed home, or so I thought. I asked if anyone had checked the train station parking lots. I was able to check the lots from two towns east of us and two towns west. Every parking lot was full. At that point I pulled over and broke down, realizing that many people died or were missing or unable to get home.

The next day was strange, not having any planes flying into the four airports and not seeing the towers standing except for the plumes of smoke where the towers once stood.

When it was all over I knew at least 20-25 Port Authority police officers and high ranking officials who had died or were missing. To this day I cannot watch anything related to towers.

Michael Warivonchik

Retired Detective Lieutenant, Montclair Police Department

Now living in Andreas

Shock and uncertainty

As a senior at the University of Pittsburgh I often woke early to walk in Schenley Park. On that day, I forgot my Walkman (an ancient device with headphones that allowed me to listen to the radio only). I walked anyway in an oddly quiet city park and stopped in at the Rite Aid on my way home.

The cashier was fumbling behind the counter, dropping change and taking forever - worse, he had talk radio blasting. After my annoyance settled, I asked the cashier what was happening. He responded, “I don’t know, I think two planes collided and the debris hit the World Trade Towers.” I walked home trying to get my dad on my Nokia cellphone.

Over and over the automated voice reminded me, “All circuits are busy now.” When I finally got him on the phone I was nearly home, but I asked him what was happening on the news. He had no idea - he was on the golf course. We walked to a TV screen at the same time. We watched 5, 6, 7, minutes, saying nothing. The rest of the day was a blur.

My roommates asked what happened. I told them, “There’s going to be a war.” They laughed it off and were thrilled classes were canceled.

Classes were canceled and the city evacuated because no one knew which tall building would be next. When the early reports said a plane was down in Pittsburgh (Flight 93 actually fell 80 miles to the East) my mother called in a panic. The rest of the day was a blur, but I went to church to pray. It was packed. I saw a homeless man - someone gave him a sandwich. Work was canceled because someone said malls would be next, and I was a retail worker in a local mall. The next day, the newspaper was full of full-page, full-color advertisements from every country on Earth, proclaiming England, India, Germany, Japan, etc. were all thinking of us, praying for us and felt one with us.

I hope I never live through anything like 9/11 again. And I hope I never live through 9/12-9/18 again either. As time went on people went from shocked to angry. My professor was accosted at a bus stop and had a knife to his face because “his people” were responsible for this. He was mistaken as Muslim. He was Jewish. I will never forget that day or the following weeks for as long as I live.

Kate Baumgardt

Palmerton

Safe family

I was at college at Central Penn College in Harrisburg. My mom called me to tell me to turn on the TV. I turned it on right before the second plane hit.

I had girls living in my building that had family working at the towers. Thankfully every one of them were either running late, missed their train, or were sick that day. We watched the coverage.

I had to work security on campus that night. Central Penn is located near Three Mile Island Nuclear Power, Harrisburg International Airport and Fort Indiantown Gap. To be patrolling that night and not see any airplanes was scary. Every now and then you would hear the A-10s being scrambled from The Gap, but you never saw them.

Katie Hoffer

Palmerton

A terrible thing

We were on our way to a doctor’s appointment for my husband, Alton, when our son Dean came running across and asked if we had the TV on.

We didn’t because we were getting ready to leave. He told us what happened.

By the time we got to the doctor’s office in Palmerton, everybody knew about it.

The doctor said he was going to see the morning patients and close the office. It was a terrible thing to see on TV.

I think it’s still terrible and it’s not getting any better.

LILA MAE KLEINTOP

KUNKLETOWN