I spent most of my time growing up in the borough of Queens. … Until 9/11, crossing a bridge or emerging from a tunnel into Manhattan meant I had entered an almost mystical “other” realm. … That veil evaporated with the ugliness, savagery, and sheer hor- ror of radical Islam’s assault upon the workers in those twin vertical towers of freedom, self-determination, and capitalism. For a couple of years, Man- hattan lost its magic for me. The sky- scrapers of midtown were revealed to be an accumulation of over-tall build- ings; the subways no longer magical tubes to “somewhere else” but simply gritty, noisy conveyances; … and the sun streaming along the streets be- came harsher, more brittle.
But there was an amazing, con-
current change in the people; we seemed to discover each other. I found myself making eye contact with strangers walking the other way (pre-9/11, an absolute no-no); cab- bies … were more friendly; waiters’ professional cheerfulness seemed less forced and more genuine. And with near 10 years’ passing, it still seems that way, to me anyway. —Maj. Mark Curiale, USAR-Ret.
[On Sept. 11] I was a second lieutenant military intelligence officer about to head off to my Officer Basic Course at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. I wanted to join the military for a short time [and] then join [a federal agency]. But, on Sept. 12, 2001, I went home and told my wife that I was going to transfer to the in- fantry, we were going to war, [and] I felt that I needed to lead troops in combat. Almost one year later, to the day, I was as- signed to lead 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. A few months later, I found myself in Kuwait preparing to cross the border into Iraq. My time spent in the invasion of Iraq made me change my outlook on life in several ways. First, life is fragile, someone full of life can be silenced and sent to our Lord in a heartbeat. Second, life is not black-and-white; right and wrong are not as easy to distinguish [as] I had believed my whole life. Third, there are other spiritual beliefs out there in the world, and just because someone calls God by another name doesn’t mean that I have it right and they have it wrong. … In November of 2006, I … embarked on my second tour to
Iraq, now to quell the rising insurgency there. The most de- fining time of my life was in Iraq as [a company commander] leading 142 of America’s finest paratroopers to victory against al-Qaida in Iraq. When I returned home in 2008, I had become very discon-
nected from the civilian side of my life and began divorce pro- ceedings with my wife. Unfortunately, I have trouble relating to those who have not gone to combat, those who have not taken lives for their country. Less than a year later, I was on a plane heading to …
Afghanistan. I spent a fruitful year facilitating Afghan-led elec- tions, training Afghan National Army officers, and targeting Taliban leaders who were trying to derail progress there. … I am proud of what I have been part of for the last 10 years. This is not where I thought I was going to be in life. … However, I am optimistic about our mission in Afghanistan, my career, and my life; a life that has been shaped by the trials of the last 10 years during the global war on terrorism. —Maj. Stewart Lindsay, USA
When I retired, as a result of the economic downturn brought on by the attack, I was unsuccessful in landing another engineering position in either the public or private sector. … After about two years of unem- ployment and with much apprehension, I [earned] my certifi cate to sub- stitute teach. … I have thrived under the pressure that comes with the classroom environment, and if the events and aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, had not unfolded as they did, I would not be looking back on this tragedy as a provider of the opportunity to do what I really cherish.
—Cmdr. Richard Ferrazzuolo, USPHS-Ret. 90 MILITARY OFFICER MONTH 2005 PHOTOS/IMAGES: TKTK
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