I was on base. Work stopped. We ended up watching the TV.
Later on, I talked to someone I knew who, along with someone else I knew, ended up crawling through the smoke and fires and debris to get out of the Pentagon. They helped others along the way.
For days, the entire city was hushed. It was unexpected to see it, so out of character.
Following the attack, DEFCON changed of course. So a sudden line of cars to get in were met by cement barriers, armed personnel, and .50 cals. I’d never seen a countryman point a .50 cal AT ME.
Upon going home, flags were everywhere. We were, in a flash and for a moment, one country. I did see jets streaming by sometimes, but otherwise, the skies were clear.
Still later, I saw armed guards pacing O’Hare-where I spent the night. I felt at ease seeing those uniforms and weapons.
And later, I saw the remnants of tributes stacked against the fences of bases in Europe. Teddy bears, flowers, candles, and so forth. I wasn’t ready for the German Shepherds. Mirrors I expected. Dogs, no. By that time, the .50 cals and other weapons didn’t bother me at all.
I was also part of an evac on base for suspicious substances.
I was in a spot where I both saw the planes delivering the yellow humanitarian aid to Afghani people take off and later return.
The guy’s playing Taps now. This screen is a bit blurry.
I went out at luch with some coworkers and we bought American flags to display. A couple of days later, EVERYONE was out of flags. You couldn’t get one anywhere.