I was on temporary duty at ROTA Naval Air Station SPAIN, away from my “home” Air Force Base in Colorado when a member of our military flight crew came rushing outside to where myself and 30 of my fellow USAF members were working. He told us how the Trade towers were being attacked and during that time what I remember most is that the hustle and bustle of 30 people trying to accomplish a mission came to a complete halt. We then tried to discount his story but were very quickly escorted indoors where uncertain of further terrorist action we remained “locked down” for 2 days. We made it inside just in time to catch CNN’s coverage of the first tower collapsing.

Members of our team had family that lived and worked very close to the Centers and could not get thru to the United States by phone for a few days. We all got together in a circle, cried and prayed for the unknown number of victims, our families, the President and for the strength of the United States people. The only thing each of us wanted more at that exact moment than anything was to be on American soil to support and help in whatever way we could. We were not able to return to the U.S. for 3 weeks, but when we did we found a very different America than we left.