Where were you when the world stopped turning?

I was an apprentice in a mold shop. I have to say at 19 it certainly didn't have the same impact it would now. I guess I didn't really understand it until I got home and watched it on the news. Then, as I did several times as a stupid kid, I just kinda blew it off. I regret that now. Wish I had known better then

Was just beginning our shift at the Nuke
Entered a Lock Down of our facility and days of confused dazed speculation and emotions

On a job in Paris Arkansas. Staying at a camp ground and working nights. Went to town for work and it was nuts. No gas to be had. The one thing I did right in life was fill up with diesel the night before. They sent us home. Found a hole in the wall to refuel on the way home.

I was working second shift and just woke up, had put the news on at about 9:00. Talking to myself that there was only trash on the news, then the first plane had just hit the tower. At first the news acted like it was a mishap until the second plane hit. I called my father at the farm and we grabbed all ammunition that we had available. They had just announced a plane was heading toward Camp David (just a few miles from me),then changed and said Fort Detrick and that one had already hit the pentagon. I was standing outside when the military flew over heading toward Somerset Pa. It was a very surreal moment in time. In a few minutes, that plane was grounded. President Bush came on and gave one of his most humble speeches and the whole Country stood behind him. The country was united!

Edited by allisbred - 11 Sep 2020 at 11:06am

I was waking up my wife had the TV come on at 5.30. She liked to leave home before 6.30 to be at her school about 7.They started talking about a accident of a plane flying into the tower 1. Was about to turn TV off and listen to local news on the radio. Had both on and saw on TV the live footage of the second plane hitting tower 2.

Was on my way to Fargo for Big Iron Farm show. I was about 50 miles from home, the wife was working nights at that time so she was sleeping.  I called and got her up, told her what was going on and should I come home, decided to keep going but when I go to the show they had tv set up all over to watch the coverage.

Was at work in the technical inspection shop at the Army Aviation Support Facility when the news came over the tv. We all gathered in the break room  and watched the second plane hit and then the towers go down. We were om Threatcon Red for the rest of the day. When we were sent home we were told not to stay by the phone and be ready to come in on short notice. It was good to see the country come together as one and to see the support for our military. I can't even imagine what was going through the minds of some of our American fighter pilots when they were ordered to take down any more hijacked aircraft by any means necessary. Some were flying unarmed fighters and were prepared to sacrifice their own lives to do this.

It's a friend of mine's 30th birthday today.  She is in PA working on helicopters, the same thing she had done in the Army for 6 years.  Nineteen years ago she turned 11.  We were at her mom's house that afternoon to celebrate.  It was an awful somber birthday party for a nice 11 year old.  9/11 could be one of the reasons she joined the army.

We were sitting having coffee when my son called and said "turn on the TV" A nasty surprise for sure.

Dad and I were on our way to Husker Harvest Days.  Wife called to tell us about the first one, figured it was an accident.  Did not turn the radio on, kept going.  Wife calls to tell us of the second plane.  Kept going, but turned the radio on.  The show grounds were nearly abandoned!  Mostly workers, very few lookers!  Everyone had a TV on.  My friend had a 12 row Kinze planter that sounded pretty cool when in transport mode-had never seen it done.  Asked the Kinze guy to put it in transport mode for us-he was more than happy too as he had nothing to do! Very gloom and doom all day, even going home was not sure what to expect once home.  Did notice a gas station a mile away from my house was charging $4.999 that evening!  That station closed up real soon after-I know I vowed to never go back as that seemed like gouging.  That spot is now a strip mall!  Sad day for sure!