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i lived about 4 blocks south of the WTC at the time. i was on the subway when it happened. when i got on the subway, all was right with the world. i got off at my stop and as i reached the street i saw a fellow with whom i worked. as we began walking together he said, "did you hear a plane hit one of the twin towers?"

i asked what kind of moron would do that and offered that is must have been a small private plane. didn't even look over my shoulder to see if i could see smoke.

i got up to my office and everyone was huddled around the tv. that is when i got my first glimpse of the damage. the second plane had already hit. i was floored. i rushed back to my computer, made some calls to family and told them i was fine. i also logged on to FR and posted some gibberish about what the hell was going on.

i went back and watched the towers as they collapsed. the one thing i remember saying to everyone in the room was, "do you have any idea how many police and firefighters were in those buildings? a lot."

i then began to walk uptown to my dad's place. i knew i would never make it home. the streets were filled with people just trying to get somewhere...anywhere! a couple of us from work tried to give blood but the line was around the block already and they informed us they would only be taking the rare blood types and to try again later.

i was out of my apartment for a week. no running water. i snuck past a checkpoint by walking along the water because i needed to see that my place was still there and i really needed some clothing. it was weird seeing military vehicles on wall street.

i then took stock of my life and had no idea what the heck i was going to do. for a variety of reasons i knew i could not sit in an office forever, but i knew i could not leave manhattan.

long story short, in july of 2003 i took the oath as an officer with the NYPD. the sting of 9/11 was still with the guys who had been there firsthand. the stories they tell are fascinating and harsh and sad and uplifting. it was a tough day.

Good job, joining the NYPD was a brilliant step! I hope that all’s going well for you and that you and your fellow officers will not have to face another day like 9/11. All of use live better knowing that there are people like you out there to serve and protect.

I desperately wanted to serve in either a military, EMS, or police role after 9/11, but medically speaking it was completely out of the question for me (see #190). Couldn’t do it physically and could never be allowed to do it by any of the agencies or services. So I have to applaud and support all those others who are able to do so for all of us. God bless you all.

...the sting of 9/11 was still with the guys who had been there firsthand.
the stories they tell are fascinating and harsh and sad and uplifting.
it was a tough day.

Well-done for joining the NYPD.
I hope you serve long and safely.

As for those NYPD 9-11 stories, here's my best recollection of one.
I'm sorry I can't recall his name, but the NYPD 9-11 story that
wiped me out emotionally was of the fellow that was turning in
his retirement papers, heard the call about the towers...
and then went back in to re-acquire his badge before hurrying
to the towers on his last day.

Hollywood couldn't (and these days WON'T) write a script that
heart-rending.