[BrianR]

I was out and about inspecting unused guardshacks for the Navy and when I finished and returned to my workplace, I found everyone glued to the TV and the receptionist told me I'd better get in there. My first thought was I had missed a training lecture but the raw emotion flowing out of that room told me something bad was up.

I went in just as the second plane hit the other tower. My words were... "Oh SHIT!" then silent for another hour while I absorbed the events.

All at the same time, we ran for the phone, called our detailers and tried to get onto a a Med Fleet ship. Unsuccessfully, it turned out, as the rest of the armed forces had the same idea. We burned up the phone lines in Washington until they cut em off.

I wish I could have gotten back on my previous ship but it sailed that day.