9/11

Kosovo Firefighters at a 9/11 Memorial

Ever wonder if you'd ever remember where you were when 9/11 took place?  It's one of those old adages that started back in the 1800s after Lincoln was assassinated.  For years people would talk about where they were and what they were doing when they first heard the news.  To many the next one was Pearl Harbor, then Kennedy's assassination - then of course 9/11.  I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing because it just so happened that I was in the middle of a Muslim Country - Kosovo - when we got the news about the planes and the World Trade Centers.  Everybody's got a story about that day.  Mine's just another - with a twist.  

The world generally felt sorry for us.  I mean 'Really.' Fly planes into buildings?  Make a statement by hitting the financial, military structures, then mess up when a brave bunch of Americans decided that whatever the intent of the hijackers of flight 93 was, they weren't going to let them go through with it so they took over the plane and the Muslim terrorists flew it into a field in my home state of PA?   So the (probable) plan to fly into the Capital building or the White House didn't pan out.  "Let's Roll" Todd Beamer.  Google his name...

The Mayor at that time - Guiliani - said something significant today.  When asked what could the Firemen do to get the people out of the building, the Chief said, "I can save everyone below the fire."

The Mayor then knew the truth with nothing more need being said - he was going to have to watch people jump to their deaths above the fire because there was no way to save them.  No one could get up the stairs and helicopters couldn't get close because of the heat...And I'm supposed to be tolerant? 

We got alot of attention from our Allies in Kosovo and from the civilian authorities.  We also got a little uptight too.  Rumors spread all over that we would be heading to Afghanistan directly from Kosovo since we were close and the trouble brewing there had to be handled.  We had our own mission (2nd Brigade) though since trouble was still brewing in Kosovo and the Former Republic of Yugoslavia so the 3rd Brigade of the 101st went instead - with alot of Army Rangers.    One of the impressive things that happened was as the 3rd Brigade was flying North from Fort Campbell the airline pilots of the planes purposely flew over New York City and the site where the Trade Centers used to be just so the Soldiers could see what they were going over there for.  The site was still smoking...

Senior Imam in Kosovo. 
Meeting in Pristina

Some of the pictures I posted here were taken after the attack.  We had a huge service attended by many Allies.  The picture with the flowers and Red Cross are the Camp Bondsteel Kosovar Firefighters at a Memorial they conducted in honor of the New York City Ladder Teams.  The video is of the British BlackWatch Piper Team as they did a parade around Camp Bondsteel and the Kosovo Firemen put an American flag draped casket on top of the fire truck that the Pipers led around the post. 

The other picture is of me with the Senior Imam of Kosovo.  We had a regularly scheduled meeting with the Allied Clergy (my boss over there was from Sweden).  We met in the Imam's Office building next to the Mosque.  There were Greeks, Poles, Germans, etc. present, as well as a number of Imams from around the country.  There was tea and alot of talking when the Imam all of a sudden stopped the meeting and told me to come and sit by him.  I guess he wanted everyone to hear what he was going to say - and that was simply, "I am sorry for what happened to your Country."  "Those people do not represent Islam."   I accepted the apology of course.  And we drank some more tea.  Burning question remains though:  Where are all these moderate Imams today?

They did feed us - but no way I was gonna eat that guy..

Postscript:  The 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne remained in Kosovo to protect the Muslims from the Yugoslavs - people forget that...