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

I was in class at USMC Command and Staff College. A young Marine came in, interrupted the LtCol speaking, and told us to turn on the TV. We watched as the second plane hit the second tower. Then we knew we were at war. Everything changed from that moment forward. The next day I wrote a quote from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar on the whiteboard in our classroom
"...And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war..."

ALREADY RETIRED BY THEN. I WAS BABYSITTING MY 2 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WHEN MY DAUGHTER CALLED AND TOLD ME TO TURN ON THE TV. BROUGHT BACK BAD MEMORIES.

I was stationed at Fort Leavenworth and remember just how quiet it was as I walked to work. Everyone was glued to the TV in our office and I ended up walking outside to get some fresh air. Eventually, soldiers started walking from the barracks with "full battle rattle" and weapons and started to patrol the base. My mom called that afternoon concerned not only for me but for my brother that was almost finished with Air Force training for Security Forces. I told her this is why we signed up and I wasn't sure what could happen the next few days but we would be okay. A few days later I found out an NCO I worked with in Korea was killed in the attack on the Pentagon and left behind her then three year old daughter.

My unit was TDY in England when it happened. I was part of the 76th Army Band, and we were starting a concert tour in England that day. After we heard the news, we took a vote and decided to play our first concert that night. As far as I know, we were the only military band to perform on that date.

I was in the middle of writing an award for a Soldier from my Maint Plt.

I was at the Rifle range near MCAS New River and Camp Lejeune, NC and had just finished qualifying. I was recently promoted to Corporal on the first and was enjoying smoking and joking with the other NCO's at the gut truck (and not having to work butts or go to the target factory) when we heard the news come across the radio. It was surreal, after the second plane hit (or right before) they called a cease fire on the range, we all got into formation, they took a makeshift platoon to patrol and perform guard duty and we stayed on site until later that day when they bused us back to MCAS.

Everything got real serious real quick.

I was on a live fire range in Ft Lewis Washington, WA. with a group from the Ranger Bat on Ft Lewis. They brought everyone out of the field and put them on post security and made us QRF for I Corps. They left us in the field training with our own security.  

I had been in the Air Force just over a year. Had just got off night shift and was about to go to bed and saw it pop up on my computer.

I was in ANCOC at APG during 9/11.  It was the day before our field exercise.  I had to go to the break room to make a copy of something for class when one of our classmates told us that a plan had flown into one of the world trade towers.

I was in ANCOC at APG.  I remember going into the break room to make copies of something for class when one of our classmates told us that a plan had flown into one of the world trade towers.