[dead]

The security guard was saying, "I need help. My phones don't work, but I need medical attention for this man. I'll stay with him, I'll tend him, but you must promise to get help as soon as you can telephone somebody."

This sentence really got to me. What a brave man!

The detail in this story was excruciating. I used to shop in that Sam Goody, and ate breakfast everyday in one of those little delis across the street, next to the firehouse. Everything he mentioned, except the church, is gone now.

[NittanyLion]

Thanks. What a powerful story.

[Blueflag]

"wow" bump

[finnman69]

Wow. I recently met with someone who knew maybe 30 people who died downtown. Mostly people at Fred Alger. He needed months of therapy as he watched it all happen from the WFC. He also knows someone who got injured in elevators on the way down that managed to be in the path of the second plane. He told me another story of a woman who was impaled by a pipe (plane wreckage)in an elevator going down. The people in the elevator managed to get the door open, and they got her out of the elevator, only to have the door close behind her. She managed to get out of the building. Noone else who was on the elevator got out.

He also blames Clinton for everything.

[Thud]

ping

[Tuco-bad]

WTC collapsed because the towers were built "on the cheap".

When the construction crews were prohibited from spraying asbestos to insulate the steel columns (see: New York Times, April 28, 1970, p. 83), the towers should have been built to a shorter height, around 70 stories.

[TheDon]

Never Forget Bump!

[Incorrigible]

WTC 9 to paralyzed pal: 'You're coming with us'

[537 Votes]

A great movie about Sept. 11 is waiting to be made, but it won't be about politicians and terrorists, it should be about personal stories like this.

[Labyrinthos]

Very intense, very vivid. I've been to the WTC so many times over the years for both business and pleasure, and as I read Mr. Clark's first hand account of the events that unfolded during the morning hours on 09.11.01, I was able to visualize and retrace vitually every step that he took upon exiting the north side of the south tower near the "half price ticket booth." But try as I may, I will never be able to accurately imagine the fear and panic, pain and suffering, sounds and smells, and injuries and deaths that resulted from that horrific event. There were so many true heros that day, from our public servants in uniform, to the private citizens who risked their lives to lead others to safety, to the people of lower Manhattan who gave water, food, shelter, and comfort to those escaping from the collapsing structures. ("True heros" as opposed to Hollywood wackos or overpaid sports stars who are often called "heros" for saving a tree or hitting a game winning home-run.) I want to cry whenever I think about 09.11.01 and the people who perished and those who survived. I need to cry. We all do. I'll never forget.

[mhking]

bump

[Sir Gawain]

"Death is nothing at all" and misc. quotes from fire and rescue workers...some that didn't return

The Real Heroes Are Dead: A love story.

[Senator Pardek]

Very sad. I was not aware of the "Poseiden Adventure" aspect to this tragedy, where some folks make a fatal decision, and head in the wrong direction. If I was there, it's quite plausible that I would be in the camp that would want to head to the roof, and wait for the NYPD choppers.

Every time my heart and mind begin to heal from the attack, I read something like this, and my hatred for these filthy, subhuman demons, who planned or carried out or applauded this, anywhere on Earth, grows 10X stronger...

[Lancey Howard]

Awesome, awesome story.
An amazing post.

"And at that moment my associate Ron who came down with me was overcome with smoke. He had a gym bag or a briefcase with him, and he was sort of putting it in front of his face in an attempt to filter the air. It clearly wasn't working, and Ron, with eyes shut, backed off the floor. He was almost completely overcome by the smoke.
"Again, miraculously, I was in a bubble. I was breathing fine."

This is the part that makes me sit up.
There is way more to this world than that which we normally perceive.

[Lancey Howard]

"We got to the point I couldn't do any more work from my side, and I said, "You've got to jump. You've got to get over this last barrier." Well, he jumped once and fell back down. I said, "Come on, you've got to do this. It's the only way out." I reached in again, and Stanley jumped, and I got him by the collar or the shoulder or somewhere there. He said later that I just pulled him up like Superman. I don't remember having this extraordinary strength, but he says it really did happen that way."

[aomagrat]

Never forget. Never ever forget!

[Lancey Howard]

"You know, Stanley, you may think I saved your life but I think you saved my life, too. You got me out of that argument as to whether I should go up or go down. I'm here, and I'm fine, and it's because of your voice in the darkness that I made it."

I am thoroughly flabberghasted.
This story gives me chills.

[BunnySlippers]

Thanks for this post. Never forget!

I am currently reading a book by a retired fireman called "Report from Ground Zero" ... excellent read. Lots of first hand accounts.

[habs4ever]

A belated lesson for those that work on highrises, but find out where all the fire exits are.Amazing that they were all by themselves using this stairwell.How many more could have been saved if they knew enough to try another exit.And never go up in a fire, always head for ground.So much serendipidity in this tale, and I'm glad he shared it with the rest of us.

[livius]

Stunning story. Thanks.