Where were you during 9/11? What has changed in 20 years?

A week prior I inquired about the Army, and 14Sept i signed the papers.

I was stationed at Ft. Hood, and 1 plt/410th MP CO was the ADVON for all of Operation Bright Star.  We left Hood on Sep 10 and landed in Mubarak Military City by ourselves on Sep 11.  The Air Force told us the plane behind us had been told to return to origin.  We were all by our lonesome in an Egyptian military compound.  We all thought it was part of the exercise, didn't know what actually happened for 2 days.  Once we figured out it was legit, we commandeered a building and locked it down.  We all thought it was a ForcePro part of the exercise......Well we were WAY WRONG!! 

I was out of the service at that time, however I did have indeed a unique perspective on the day. It was my "Day Off" as Production Director of 6 Radio stations. I awake to my roommate telling me to get downstairs NOW.

I was at first pissed cause I thought he was watching a movie. Once it hit of course I was in full gear on my way to work.

Upon arrival I found out that my Cousin was ... possibly in the 1st tower. (We did not hear from him for over 12 hours, but he was safe). So in a small radio market, bringing Live updates on air, with a personal connection.

Short version of a very long day. While my Cousin was safe, found out 1 week afterwards that I still lost 2 friends that day, both in the second tower.

I was stationed at Andrews AFB, I was out shopping with the family when the news flash came across the TV. We were shocked and in disbelief when we saw the second plane hit the tower. I sent my family home and I went directly to work to see if there was anything I could do. I know when our unit asked who wanted to deploy to assist with the war effort my entire work center put their names in the hat.

I was a SGT with the 101st ABN aviation battalion and we had just gotten back from doing night FARP operations.  We worked during the morning to re-set the equipment and were expecting to be released early due to working all night.

I was stationed at Nellis AFB as an A1C. The first plane hit as I was getting ready to head in to the shop. I wasn't at work for maybe a few minutes and the second plane hit... within minutes, we were in Delta, on lock down. We started preparing F-16s/F-15s for west coast patrol, and Rescue started gearing up to deploy. That night we had to have our deployment bags ready. We were not a deploying unit, but we were assigned to AEF's for Rescue support. 

Shaving in the bathroom after PT, Clarksville, TN, stationed at Fort Campbell!

I was receiving acupuncture treatment at the time.  The doctor came in saying there was a freak accident.  A jet liner just crashed into the World Trade Center.  Moments later the doctor came in again saying another plane crashed and said I don't think it's an accident.  

I was a PFC stationed in Ft Lewis, WA.  We were in the “back yard” on a field exercise.  My PSG was listening to Howard Stern when we found out what was happening in the North East.  At first we thought Howard Stern was joking but quickly realized he wasn’t.  We continued our field problem until it was scheduled to be over.  After returning home, I saw the video and quickly realized my military career was going to change.  There is not a single person who I have ever ran into who does not remember what they were specifically doing on the morning of 9-11.