SEPTEMBER 11

I was in Fort McCoy, Wisconsin on 9/11/2001 when I saw the attack on the World trade Center. I was working on the S-1 of the first level of the building, and the Operations shop was located on the second level. The TV was at the Operations shop, and the operations Sergeant call me on September 11. He yelled that the Pentagon was on fire! And then we saw the airplane hit the Twin Towers in New York with the plane diving through the building. We watched in horror as the carnage from the terrorist attacks unfolded before us on TV.

Sometime later, I received orders to deploy to Iraq. I welcomed my first deployment wholeheartedly. My Silent Freedom to serve my adopted country and protect the people took me to the war zone after President George W. Bush declared war against Iraq on March 20, 2003 at 0800 Zulu Time. I deployed with the 101st Airborne Division AASLT. We will never forget the events of 9/11 and those who perished. There will always be brave men and women who willingly risk their lives to protect freedom. Those who perished didn’t sign up to be part of history that day. Yet their loss is felt as greatly as the loss of my fellow soldiers who were casualties of terrorism and war. May God bless the souls of the 9/11 victims on this day and grant them eternal rest.

-Aurea