Let's roll,'' Flight 93 victim heard to say minutes before crash Pennsylvania field

AP ^ | September 16, 2001 | JOANN LOVIGLIO

[jern]

By JOANN LOVIGLIO, Associated Press Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - ``Are you guys ready? Let's roll!'' is an expression Todd Beamer used whenever his wife and two young sons were leaving their home for a family outing.

The 32-year-old businessman and Sunday school teacher said the same thing before he and other passengers apparently took action against hijackers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on Tuesday, shortly before the plane crashed in a western Pennsylvania field.

The jetliner, which government officials suspect was headed for a high-profile target in Washington, was the fourth to crash in a coordinated terrorist attack that killed thousands, and the only one that didn't take lives on the ground.

``He was gentle by nature, he was also very competitive, and he wouldn't stand for anyone being hurt,'' said Beamer's wife, Lisa, who was told of his last words by an operator who spoke to him. ``Knowing that he helped save lives by bringing that plane down ... it brings joy to a situation where there isn't much to be found.''

Todd Beamer placed a call on one of the Boeing 757's on-board telephones and spoke for 13 minutes with GTE operator Lisa D. Robinson, Beamer's wife said. He provided detailed information about the hijacking and - after the operator told him about the morning's World Trade Center and Pentagon (news - web sites) attacks - said he and others on the plane were planning to act against the terrorists aboard.

``They may have realized that (the hijackers) were planing to do the same thing with their plane,'' Beamer said Sunday in a telephone interview from her Hightstown, N.J., home. ``So they chose to do what they could to prevent other people from being hurt.''

Before the call ended and with yelling heard in the background, Todd Beamer asked the operator to pray with him. Together, they recited the 23rd Psalm. Then he asked Robinson to promise she would call his wife of seven years - who is expecting a third child - and their two sons, ages 1 and 3.

After receiving clearance from investigators, Robinson kept her promise Friday.

``People asked me if I'm upset that I didn't speak with him, but I'm glad he called (Robinson) instead,'' Lisa Beamer said. ``I would have been helpless. And I know what his last words would have been to me, anyway.''

Beamer said her husband placed the call at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday and told Robinson that there were three knife-wielding hijackers on board, one who appeared to have a bomb tied to his chest with a belt. The other two hijackers took over the cockpit after forcing the pilot and co-pilot out.

The jet was bobbing and changed course several times; the passengers knew they would never land in San Francisco.

``They realized they were going to die. Todd said he and some other passengers were going to jump on the guy with the bomb,'' Lisa Beamer said.

Several other passengers made phone calls from the jet before it crashed southeast of Pittsburgh: Jeremy Glick, 31; Mark Bingham, 31; and Thomas Burnett Jr. 38. Glick and Burnett said they were going to do something.

Todd Beamer dropped the phone after talking to Robinson, leaving the line open. It was then that the operator heard Beamer's words: ``Let's roll.''

Then silence.

Shortly afterwards, the plane crashed, killing all 45 aboard.

``Some people live their whole lives, long lives, without having left anything behind,'' Lisa Beamer said. ``My sons will be told their whole lives that their father was a hero, that he saved lives. It's a great legacy for a father to leave his children.''

[village idiot]

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Presidential Medal of Freedom, medal awarded annually by the president of the United States to individuals selected by him or recommended to him by the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board. Recipients of the medal are those who have made outstanding contributions to the security or national interest of the United States or to world peace, or those who have made a significant public or private accomplishment. In 1963 President John F. Kennedy ordered the former Medal of Freedom renamed and the recommending board altered by adding five members from outside the executive branch of the government to the five members from within it. Recipients have included educators, diplomats, authors, scientists, and business executives.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

"Presidential Medal of Freedom," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001

http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation.

All rights reserved.

snatched this off the web. Would probably have to pay for the article to get more info. Thanks

[victim soul]

Ditto! BUMP!

[Lizavetta]

[Matchett-PI]

#9: "Maybe we can replace the FDR memorial with statues of these heroes."

I'm ___ALL___ for THAT! They were GREAT Americans!

FDR put us on the downward UNAMERICAN spiral towards Socialism.

[jwalsh07]

Lets Roll

It brings tears to my eyes. I hope it becomes the rallying cry of America's warrior's. God bless the warrior's, all of them.

[seadevil]

Every generation of Americans has, at some point, been called upon to stand in the gap. Our hour has come. May all of us draw upon the resolve and strength shown by those passengers, even as they faced certain death, to take that stand for freedom and liberty. To do less would soil their sacrifice.

Let us not forget; we are not at war with Islam. We are at war with barbarians who pervert the sacred teachings of that great religion for their own putrid goals. Their only resemblance to civilized humanity is the fact that they walk upright.

Let us be firm in our resolve to do what must be done. No trials, no courts, no Miranda readings. No, they must be hunted down and disposed of like the rabid vermin they are.

To do less would be to stand aside and let barbarism triumph over freedom. To those to harbor and welcome this tyranny, I say to you; OVER MY DEAD BODY.

To those who, even now, are moving to stand in the gap; welcome aboard...let's send 'em to hell!

[agincourt1415]

Beamer and others on the plane -"They died with their boots on" and they are heros all - "LETS ROLL" - how many fighter and bomber pilots will use this same phrase - how many Airborne Troops - how many Tank Commanders - PRESS ON - YOU BAND OF BROTHERS!

[KC Burke]

I also liked Burnett's words, which were something like: "..and three of us are going to try and do something about it." (or words to that effect)

I reminds me of two things. First our small forum, is "trying to do something about it" and Christ's words "...whenever two or more of you are gathered in my name..."

[AgThorn]

Read it again. One of the terrorists had a bomb strapped to his chest according to Beamer.

I did read it again, and already apologized for reading it too quickly ...

What's the matter? Does this "blow a hole" in your pet theory that the plane was shot down and the government didn't tell us?

What basis do you make this unfounded statement?

(Sorry if I'm jumping on you unnecessarily, but I'm sick of the C.T.s still running their mouths in the silly way they do, even during this crisis. But if it got Michael Rivero banned, I guess it was worth it).

Accusation unfounded, correction already posted, Apology necessary and accepted. What's a C.T.? Who's Rivero?

[Pearls Before Swine]

re: bomb being a fake, on-ground witnesses reporting banking consistent with fight for controls

Yep, that is also possible. Still, to attack people armed with razors and while you also believe they have a bomb in a hi-jacked plane they intend to crash is definitely a Hobbesian choice.

[cherry]

can we have somebody make up BUMPER STICKERS similar to the ones for sore-loserman....if we here plaster our cars enough people will eventually ask about it...ANYONE?

[metalurgist]

They are going to get the Congressional Medal of Freedom, every one of those aboard.

[Irma]

Amazing story of courage....thanks for the flag, Dog!

[San Jacinto]

What's a C.T.? Who's Rivero?

C.T.= conspiracy theorist

Michael Rivero= C.T. numero uno on this board

[AgThorn]

OK ... although I was guilty of a quick read, missing the reference to bomb, it is excess C.T.'ing that I guess I am a bit overly sensitive to as well ... just so much to read.

Don't know about Rivera, but we sure don't need too much C.T.'ing - let's just stick with the facts.

[calvin sun]

It's amazing how courage comes to bear in ordinary folk.

This comment reminds me of a quote attributed to Admiral William (?)Halsey (or at least spoken by James Cagney as Halsey in the movie "The Gallant Hours"

"There are no great men. There are only ordinary men forced by circumstance to become great."

[Humidston]

As well as the usual forces, I have little doubt we may be fighting over in good old America as well! (And I LOVE the bumper sticker idea referenced on this thread!)

LET'S ROLL!!

[Fury]

Agreed. I believe that details of this flight (the passengers who fought to prevent the flight from reaching its' objective) would be the most concerning and frustrating to bin Laden et al. It demonstrates that many American's will not cower when faced with adversity and that they will also fight back, even if that means they sacrafice their own life. With that said, the folks on that plane are heros. And their Islamic extremist adversaries will have died with their mission not completed. They are a disgrace to their families and to Islam. I like to think that they were suprised and indeed horrified when the passengers rushed them.

[mel]

In the past, I have frequently heard America has no heroes, and i remember not even being able to easily roll of the names of heroes, but in the past days, with tears in my eyes, but a pride in my chest, i have been able to say these are American heroes to the greatest degreee. Let's Roll.