We were just finishing up a 6 month deployment, and on the way home. We just got to the Suez Canal when the Captain came on the 1MC (PA System) and said there has been an incedent in New York and that we were told to alter course and turn around. None of us knew what was going on. Alot of us had family waiting for us at home for our well deserved return. A day or so went by before we were brought up to speed on what had happend. For the next 2 weeks, we did nothing but do Battle Station Drills over and over again, untill we heard man Battle Stations, this is not a drill. Over the next few days, we exhausted our entire missile payload(Not sure if the amount is classified, but it was over 20) into Afghanistan. We were the first boat to launch in a war scenario since WWII. We also shot Winchester, which means all missiles launched with no miss fires or abort launches. We did the same 2 years later in Iraqi Freedom. It is rare for a Submariner to actually do what he is trained to do. Especially twice (Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom) and it was a privilege. Hope you enjoyed the story of my events during 9/11. By the way, my rate was Torpedo Man.