ARIZONA
"Where were you on 9/11?" as remembered by those in Arizona that day.
A Border Patrol employee remembers how security tightened in Arizona following the attacks.
1. "I was working for the US Dept. of Immigration (Border Patrol) and I arrived at Sector Headquarters at 0600 MST. A coworker casually mentioned that on the way in he'd heard about a plane crashing into the World Trade Center. I knew about the B-25 bomber that had accidentally flown into the Empire State Building back in '45 and I remarked,
'Hopefully the building wasn't full of people yet.'
Later I was walking with my coffee when a second employee breathlessly told me that I had to come into the break room. I looked around, and realized that we were the only two people within shouting distance. Normally by this time the building would be filling up with government employees.
Our break room was a 20x20 room that normally seats about 25 people. It was full; standing room only. And quiet, no one was talking. Everybody's attention was riveted to the small TV sitting on top of the refrigerator.
The scene has been played over and over these many years, and yet it still stuns. Thick black smoke billowing from the upper face of the North Tower, a smoking, flaming wound in a formally perfect glass facade. It was obvious that the damage was profound, the death toll was going to be high.
And then somebody gasped. You could see a second plane boring in on a direct course to impact the South Tower. The helplessness in the room was overwhelming. All of us tried to will that plane to change directions, to not carry out its deadly design.
It was not to be.
That morning at the Border Patrol was like seeing a branch hit a hornet's next. Within seconds, the whole room realized that the U.S. was under attack and started leaving en masse from the room, off to start the process of locking down the border.
- Agents sped off to the ports of entry and to the boundary fence between Mexico and the US.
- Calls went out to nearby law enforcement, advising them of our actions.
- Employees were recalled from home. If you were on vacation or had days off, too bad. This took precedence over anything and everything.
The confusion in those first hours was rampant, but the training kicked in. Our organization (along with many other Government agencies) had a Continuity of Operations Procedure that was originally designed for natural disasters. A lot of that playbook was called on for 9/11.
Not knowing what other plans the Bad Guys had for our country, the Agency activated an alternative Command Post, in case of additional attacks. They beefed up patrols along the border and closed the ports of entry to all but the most pressing needs. Entry into and out of our compound was restricted,
Our nearby military bases followed suit within hours. Planes were patrolling along the border and a radar balloon was flying 24/7. Search and Rescue was on full alert. Checkpoints in and out of our area were activated.
You can't call it chaos. Within a very short time most everyone knew what was expected of them in the short term. For the next month or so things would stay really tense for everyone concerned."
- A. L.
'Hopefully the building wasn't full of people yet.'
Later I was walking with my coffee when a second employee breathlessly told me that I had to come into the break room. I looked around, and realized that we were the only two people within shouting distance. Normally by this time the building would be filling up with government employees.
Our break room was a 20x20 room that normally seats about 25 people. It was full; standing room only. And quiet, no one was talking. Everybody's attention was riveted to the small TV sitting on top of the refrigerator.
The scene has been played over and over these many years, and yet it still stuns. Thick black smoke billowing from the upper face of the North Tower, a smoking, flaming wound in a formally perfect glass facade. It was obvious that the damage was profound, the death toll was going to be high.
And then somebody gasped. You could see a second plane boring in on a direct course to impact the South Tower. The helplessness in the room was overwhelming. All of us tried to will that plane to change directions, to not carry out its deadly design.
It was not to be.
That morning at the Border Patrol was like seeing a branch hit a hornet's next. Within seconds, the whole room realized that the U.S. was under attack and started leaving en masse from the room, off to start the process of locking down the border.
- Agents sped off to the ports of entry and to the boundary fence between Mexico and the US.
- Calls went out to nearby law enforcement, advising them of our actions.
- Employees were recalled from home. If you were on vacation or had days off, too bad. This took precedence over anything and everything.
The confusion in those first hours was rampant, but the training kicked in. Our organization (along with many other Government agencies) had a Continuity of Operations Procedure that was originally designed for natural disasters. A lot of that playbook was called on for 9/11.
Not knowing what other plans the Bad Guys had for our country, the Agency activated an alternative Command Post, in case of additional attacks. They beefed up patrols along the border and closed the ports of entry to all but the most pressing needs. Entry into and out of our compound was restricted,
Our nearby military bases followed suit within hours. Planes were patrolling along the border and a radar balloon was flying 24/7. Search and Rescue was on full alert. Checkpoints in and out of our area were activated.
You can't call it chaos. Within a very short time most everyone knew what was expected of them in the short term. For the next month or so things would stay really tense for everyone concerned."
- A. L.
Written Stories
2. "I was 19, attending class at a local community college in Phoenix. When I woke up, I turned on the radio and half-listened to the broadcast as I got ready for the day. I had worked a late shift and had a 9 am class, so I wasn't totally processing anything I was hearing. The show was mostly taking calls from listeners by then.
Nothing actually sank in until I got to my first class and watched CNN with everyone. That's when the enormity of what was happening sunk in. My first thoughts were of leaving that classroom and finding the nearest recruiting office to sign up that day. I was halfway to convincing myself when class let out to do just that.
I sat in my car, trying to figure out what to do.
If my father hadn't had his first heart attack a short time before, I probably would've gone to a recruiting office. That combined with his MS (multiple sclerosis) and my two younger siblings at home convinced me to hold off for the time being. I ended up enlisting 3.5 years later."
- B. S.
Nothing actually sank in until I got to my first class and watched CNN with everyone. That's when the enormity of what was happening sunk in. My first thoughts were of leaving that classroom and finding the nearest recruiting office to sign up that day. I was halfway to convincing myself when class let out to do just that.
I sat in my car, trying to figure out what to do.
If my father hadn't had his first heart attack a short time before, I probably would've gone to a recruiting office. That combined with his MS (multiple sclerosis) and my two younger siblings at home convinced me to hold off for the time being. I ended up enlisting 3.5 years later."
- B. S.
3. "I was 19 and I had just finished my overnight shift at a gas station in Phoenix. I was in bed when my father, a conspiracy theorist, barged into my room and woke me up saying,
'It's happening, they're attacking the US, they just flew a plane into the World Trade Center.'
I got up from my bed and joined him in the living room where CNN was blaring. I sat down in disbelief as the second plane crashed into the second tower. I don't remember much else after that but tears and fear, with the loud news and my father's worst case scenarios. It was a very traumatic event for me."
- T. D.
'It's happening, they're attacking the US, they just flew a plane into the World Trade Center.'
I got up from my bed and joined him in the living room where CNN was blaring. I sat down in disbelief as the second plane crashed into the second tower. I don't remember much else after that but tears and fear, with the loud news and my father's worst case scenarios. It was a very traumatic event for me."
- T. D.
4. "I was 8 years old in Kayenta, AZ, sitting in my 3rd grade class when my older brother came and checked me out. On the way home he kept rambling on about New York, the tallest building, and a plane. I didn’t have the slightest clue what he was going on about. We went inside and I was excited about not having to be in class... then I saw the TV. CNN was on and they were replaying the planes crashing into the building. It was surreal; I had no idea at the time that planes could even do that. I remember the aerial footage, smoke coming out of both buildings, visible fires, and hearing panic in the voices of those reporters. Eyes were glued to the TV the rest of the day."
- Alannah Yazzie
- Alannah Yazzie
5. "I was only 5 at the time, but I remember it clearly. I woke up to get ready for kindergarten and walked into the kitchen to have my cereal. We always had the TV on in the morning for background noise, but I noticed my mom was standing in front of it today which was strange. I stayed with her and watched the tower be hit, she ended up calling the school and reporting my sister and I out for the day. My Mom didn't think anywhere was safe. I don’t think I realized the magnitude of the situation until a few years later."
- Michael Pappas
- Michael Pappas
6. "I joined the military January 2, 1992 and I was medically discharged on September 5, 2001. My girlfriend was at the airport in San Diego flying out to see me when she called and told me to turn on the TV. That's when I saw the second plane hit.
I was numb and lost. I had spent the past ten years in the military preparing for a moment like this. In December 1999 I switched from the army to the Air Force. I was high speed and low drag and I wanted to serve, to protect, to defend, to do my job. A job I couldn’t do anymore, one I was deemed incapable of doing. I felt like I had abandoned my friends.
9/11 was a slap in the face and a break from my old life. I was adrift in shock and shame. All I could do was watch, there was no action to take. I wasn’t mobilizing, there was no call to arms. I was a civilian, waiting to be protected rather than providing protection."
- JoDi Merrill-Russell
I was numb and lost. I had spent the past ten years in the military preparing for a moment like this. In December 1999 I switched from the army to the Air Force. I was high speed and low drag and I wanted to serve, to protect, to defend, to do my job. A job I couldn’t do anymore, one I was deemed incapable of doing. I felt like I had abandoned my friends.
9/11 was a slap in the face and a break from my old life. I was adrift in shock and shame. All I could do was watch, there was no action to take. I wasn’t mobilizing, there was no call to arms. I was a civilian, waiting to be protected rather than providing protection."
- JoDi Merrill-Russell
7. "The morning of 9/11 my mother, sister, and I were loading up the last of our belongings in preparation to move across the country. My father had taken a job in the Midwest and was already out there in preparation for us to join him.
We had no idea what happened until my dad called to tell my mom. 90% of our belongings were on a moving truck and we pulled a radio out of a box to listen to the news. No TV, no furniture, just my mom crying and my sister and I trying to process what was happening."
- Josh Brende
We had no idea what happened until my dad called to tell my mom. 90% of our belongings were on a moving truck and we pulled a radio out of a box to listen to the news. No TV, no furniture, just my mom crying and my sister and I trying to process what was happening."
- Josh Brende
8. "I was a 4th grader getting ready for school while my mom was crying and watching news footage. I remember her saying,
'I bet it was Bin Laden. He hates America!'
As a kid I assumed it was some angry guy named Ben who just sat in a tower hating everyone, like the Grinch.
That day at school they brought in therapists and talked to us surprisingly candidly about what happened. One of the kids had family in NY but luckily no one was hurt. Still, for an hour or so she was absolutely inconsolable.
I remember that day as being full of great fear but also a surprising amount of support. It definitely messed me up for a bit though. My parents were the types who weren't above yelling at Sikhs following the attack, and I had to unlearn a lot of hate that started building up at a young age."
- S. C.
'I bet it was Bin Laden. He hates America!'
As a kid I assumed it was some angry guy named Ben who just sat in a tower hating everyone, like the Grinch.
That day at school they brought in therapists and talked to us surprisingly candidly about what happened. One of the kids had family in NY but luckily no one was hurt. Still, for an hour or so she was absolutely inconsolable.
I remember that day as being full of great fear but also a surprising amount of support. It definitely messed me up for a bit though. My parents were the types who weren't above yelling at Sikhs following the attack, and I had to unlearn a lot of hate that started building up at a young age."
- S. C.
9. "I had just settled in at my desk for work when a coworker arrived saying he heard about the first plane on the radio. I checked a news site online and there was no mention of it, so I assumed it was a Cessna or something. The next time I checked I learned it was an airliner, so we turned on a TV, saw the second plane strike, and were glued to it the rest of the day."
- S. L.
- S. L.
10. "I was a senior in high school in Phoenix, taking my morning shower before school. When I got out my mom mentioned that one of the towers of the World Trade Center had just been hit by a plane. I sat on the bed, getting ready and only half-watching the news. It just seemed to be some freak accident at first. The reporters thought it was a small plane and were discussing the different things that could have caused it to happen. When the second plane hit, we knew it wasn't just an accident.
I sat glued to the TV, thoughts running wild.
At school, everything seemed a bit surreal. We spent the entire day watching the news, seeing the rest of the events unfold, discussing it with others, processing what happened. Phoenix was a long way from NYC, but we were still a major city. We worried about other cities getting hit, we didn't know if it was over, we didn't know what would come next, if anything. There was this lingering, somber atmosphere that was nearly tangible.
It was heartbreaking watching the news. People running, screaming, the smoke and ash, the buildings collapsing, people jumping and falling to their deaths. There was so much terror.
Also, there was a silence in the sky. I was used to heavy air traffic and with no planes flying overhead, it was eerie and a constant reminder of what had happened.
But there was also the feeling of community, compassion, and togetherness. People really came together. There was a sense of contentedness that was felt across the country. There was a renewed sense of patriotism. It was a defining time and one that has really stuck in my memory, like most who were old enough to remember. It's crazy to think it's been so long since it happened. It really doesn't feel like very long ago."
- A. F.
I sat glued to the TV, thoughts running wild.
At school, everything seemed a bit surreal. We spent the entire day watching the news, seeing the rest of the events unfold, discussing it with others, processing what happened. Phoenix was a long way from NYC, but we were still a major city. We worried about other cities getting hit, we didn't know if it was over, we didn't know what would come next, if anything. There was this lingering, somber atmosphere that was nearly tangible.
It was heartbreaking watching the news. People running, screaming, the smoke and ash, the buildings collapsing, people jumping and falling to their deaths. There was so much terror.
Also, there was a silence in the sky. I was used to heavy air traffic and with no planes flying overhead, it was eerie and a constant reminder of what had happened.
But there was also the feeling of community, compassion, and togetherness. People really came together. There was a sense of contentedness that was felt across the country. There was a renewed sense of patriotism. It was a defining time and one that has really stuck in my memory, like most who were old enough to remember. It's crazy to think it's been so long since it happened. It really doesn't feel like very long ago."
- A. F.
11. "I was in the 2nd grade. My aunt and uncle were watching my brother and I because both of my parents were out of town on business. Woke up for school and saw my uncle watching the live TV coverage with the banner:
'AMERICA UNDER ATTACK'
The image of both towers still standing with one billowing smoke will never leave my mind. I asked my uncle what was going on and he told me not to worry, it was just an accident.
My family had just moved from the tri-state area to Arizona a few years prior and because the company my mom worked for had their headquarters in New Jersey she frequently had to go back and forth and was there on this particular trip. I don’t remember a whole lot other than my aunt and uncle stayed with us longer than planned because there were no flights for my mom to get on, so she and a few coworkers rented a car and drove across the country, but I remember she called every night telling me that she was almost home.
I was too young to process how scary a time that must have been for both of my parents, but particularly my mom having been so close to all of the chaos."
- P. K.
'AMERICA UNDER ATTACK'
The image of both towers still standing with one billowing smoke will never leave my mind. I asked my uncle what was going on and he told me not to worry, it was just an accident.
My family had just moved from the tri-state area to Arizona a few years prior and because the company my mom worked for had their headquarters in New Jersey she frequently had to go back and forth and was there on this particular trip. I don’t remember a whole lot other than my aunt and uncle stayed with us longer than planned because there were no flights for my mom to get on, so she and a few coworkers rented a car and drove across the country, but I remember she called every night telling me that she was almost home.
I was too young to process how scary a time that must have been for both of my parents, but particularly my mom having been so close to all of the chaos."
- P. K.
12. "My mom called me from upstate NY and told me,
'Something very bad is happening to our country.'
I watched from just after the first plane hit. I lost an elementary school friend in the towers and an uncle to suicide after he was let go from the financial sector in the aftermath. I’ve returned once to see Ground Zero and found my friend’s name on the memorial."
- Anonymous
'Something very bad is happening to our country.'
I watched from just after the first plane hit. I lost an elementary school friend in the towers and an uncle to suicide after he was let go from the financial sector in the aftermath. I’ve returned once to see Ground Zero and found my friend’s name on the memorial."
- Anonymous