WORLD TRADE CENTER, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
The heros are, of course, the fallen firefighters of FDNY and law enforcement brethren of NYPD and PAPD. Over 300 firefighters and paramedics were killed, which is more than the total we have in uniform in the Arlington County Fire Department (ACFD).
SHANKSVILLE, PA AND THE PENTAGON, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA
The heros here are the passengers of flight 93, two of which were Tod Beamer and Mark Bingham, who purposefully crashed their plane into a field in western Pennsylvania, thus saving my life and the lives others. I am convinced that this fourth plane had been planned to become the second one to hit the Pentagon--the typical "secondary device" that terrorist bombers so often use to kill rescuers and therefore wreak further havoc upon the communities on which they prey.
Starting at 0900, I was teaching a CPR class at the Arlington Fire Training Academy, which is not far from the Pentagon. We were already aware of the goings-on at the WTC. My pager went off recalling all off-duty personnel at 0946 hours. Wearing my civies, consisting of jeans, a Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Academy golf shirt (which would confuse people, because I work for Arlington) and sneakers, I responded by myself in reserve Tower 75 (a ladder truck) to Fire Station #1. From there I was taken to pick-up new Medic 105 (an ambulance), at the Radio Shop, which I responded in to the Pentagon by myself. The radio technician asked if I wanted the unit swept-out. I said, "I don't think that's important right now."
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Mimi Konoza
The initial call was received by our Emergency Communications Center (ECC) at about 0936. The collapse occured 37 minutes into the incident, at approximately 1014. I arrived on the scene before the collapse.
The Heliport side of the Pentagon would become known as the "River" Division, eventhough the River side of the building is on another side. Separate Triage and Treatment areas would end-up in three distinct geographical areas--South Parking, Metro/North Parking and "River" or Heliport side, due to the enormous size of the structure.
From there I hopped the guardrail and looked for the blue "Incident Commander" vest. That IC had me report to "EMS Control". I was assigned to assit with setting up Yellow (delayed treatment) Sector by Dr. Vafier. At first I was the assistant sector officer. But, once Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) was activated, Lt. Galvez had to leave and I was left in charge.
Photo courtesy of the Washington Post
Once the sector was all set and ready to receive patients. We had a few moments to realize just how surreal the sight was. Just as in the movie "Independence Day" when the White House blows-up...It's just not supposed to happen! Well this happened, eventhough we never imagined this happening to the Pentagon.
To the left of the aerial ladder I found my firetruck, Engine 108, stuck in the mud. It's pump was happily howling away supplying water to one of the elevated streams. It never complained about being dirty.
The firefight was now in defensive mode until dawn. Low-light conditions made it unsafe for interior operations.
Shortly after sunrise, on the morning of the 12th, we watched from our Sector in the middle of Washington Boulevard as a large American flag was unfurled from the roof of the Pentagon by firefighters and soldiers. I, myself a firefighter, had worked for 20 hours straight shoulder to shoulder with soldiers. They poured their hearts into their work. You couldn't ask for a greater bunch of people to work with.
Us Fire Department and civilian medics would relinquish command of our treatment sector over to the military at 0630 on the 12th. Amazingly the Pentagon Civilian and Military Health Clinics were back in operation and Fire Department EMS was no longer needed.
We ended-up treating only three patients with minor leg injuries--firefighters and Red Cross workers. It wasn't easy waiting and waiting and waiting eagerly for victims to be found alive--NONE WERE.
This scene has been artistically rendered on a pin, which we have all been given to wear on our lapels with pride. (photo AP/UPI)
Later in the week we were greeted by candlight vigils at various intersections; when we would respond past them on the way to our "regular" emergency calls they would wave and cheer!
CHEERS
On Friday night at 3 AM we ran a medical call in one of the neighborhoods--when we brought the patient out to the Medic Unit we were met by a small group clapping and cheering us.
We all ended-up working basically every other day at the Pentagon for three exhausting weeks. Then the scene was turned-over to the FBI.
It's nice to see the resurgence of patriotism. Everyone is flying the American flag in some way, shape or form.
