Each of us remember 9/11 events

  • Published
  • By Col. Steve Arquiette
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  My commentary this week is provided by our Vice Commander, Col. Thomas Sharpy to further reflect on the horrific disaster of 9-11. Col. Sharpy was serving as a Military Aide to Vice President Dick Cheney in the White House and had a very unique experience in the days following the attack on the United States. His experiences only reinforce the need to, as leaders, be on the top of your game 24/7 and to always, always be ready. I hope his article touches each and every one of you the way it has touched me. Remembering Sept. 11.

Throughout our lives we all have events that take place which impact us in such a way that we label them as significant emotional events. Some of these events impact only one person, some impact masses of people, and others have a global impact.
There is no doubt that the events which took place on Sept. 11, 2001, can be categorized as an event that falls into the latter category. Each and every one of us can recall where we were and what we did as the horrific events unfolded on that day. I know that I remember the events of that day very clearly. I had a unique perspective to see the executive branch of our government work, as I was serving as the Military Aide to the Vice President.

When I arrived at work, my naval counterpart, Lt. Cmdr. Doug Cochrane, informed me that a small aircraft had just struck one of the World Trade Center Towers. After a short discussion we decided to head to the White House Situation Room to get an update and find out exactly what happened. 

Doug and I grabbed our necessary satchels and bolted down the stairs with a pace unlike I have ever seen. 

We ended up in the President's Emergency Operations Center. I have been a participant and observer in many exercises and real-world contingencies at all levels of our Air Force, but nothing compared to this day. This was a scenario that tested each one of us in ways that we could never imagine. I was amazed at the calm demeanor Vice President Cheney kept throughout the day. He never once lost his composure, always kept his focus as we precisely executed the President's decisions. Our government continued to operate without pause. 

As the events of the day unfolded, I watched the true leader of our nation emerge. Our 43rd President, George W. Bush, woke up that morning in the eyes of the general public as the winner of a narrowly contested election and addressed the nation that night from the Oval Office as a combat-tested President and leader of our nation. 

It was a day that I will never forget. I watched our nation get sucker punched by an evil enemy, get lifted up by a gutsy President, dust itself off, and get back in the ring. I saw the flag wave and watched our nation pull together and form a bond that can never be broken. If anyone questions our resolve, just ask him or her, what they were doing on that September day in 2001, the look in their eyes will tell it all. 

We were impacted in numerous ways on that dreadful day and our lives have been significantly altered. The operations tempo of Team Travis, Air Mobility Command and our Air Force has been staggering. Whenever the frantic pace gets me down, I think of the many children who woke up orphans on the morning of Sept. 12, and my ability to put aside my hardships and focus on the mission becomes much easier. 

When I hear complaints about our leadership, I remember that leadership isn't something that can be predicted. It's a character trait that becomes evident only when tested. After witnessing the events first-hand, I now have a new standard of what leadership is all about. 

That day should serve as a reminder that one ever knows when that test is coming; but that you should always be prepared...you never know what the stakes may be.


While listening to briefings, we watched in shock as the second aircraft hit the second tower. The gravity of the moment didn't last long, as we knew we were under attack. Everyone in that room had significant training in contingency operations and that training, including my own, immediately swung into action. 

Due to the pace of the situation room, Doug and I returned to our office and began to execute our roles as military aides. I was on the phone with the National Military Command Center when a United States Secret Service agent burst into our office and stated, "Unknown aircraft inbound to our location, fifty seconds until impact, this is not a drill! We need to get you to the Boss!"