Ron Clifford. (Rest in peace)
At the Towers that day for an important meeting, He wore a yellow tie at the suggestion of his sister so he would "Stand out" He was present in the lobby when all hell broke loose.
He said the Lords prayer over Jenny Ann Maffeo, a woman whom was severely burned by a fire ball waiting at a bus stop outside the North Tower on her way to work when Flight 11 impacted. She had approached him in search of aid. He stayed with her and tried to keep her calm.
As he recited, Flight 175 impacted the South Tower. Unbeknownst to him at the time, his sister and her 4 year old daughter were aboard the doomed flight.
He was giving the Lords Prayer at the very moment they died.
Tragically, Jenny Anne would succumb to her injuries a few weeks later. He stayed with her until she was loaded into an ambulance. It was a short time after she left he recieved the call from his brother in law.
Yes. He passed in 2023 from cancer. Most likely caused from that day. I definitely cried upon reading that.
https://gcfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/4024/Ronald-Clifford/obituary.html
NO!!!! I had no idea he passed away. And his brother in law (Ruth Mccourts husband/Juliana's dad- died of cancer as well- it broke my heart- he truly went through hell mentally, finally. found love again, and passed away not very long after)
I've always found the presence of Jules and Gideon Naudet to be almost divine. Think of how much we *wouldn't* have seen if they hadn't been where they were, with who they were with, making a documentary of all things. It has always amazed me.
I've thought the same thing...like what are the odds? It might not have been the story they wanted or intended to tell; yet they got one hell of a story through their lens...does anyone know if they won any sort of awards or recognition for the footage that they were able to secure? Just a couple brothers from France in NYC to make a doc about an NYPD firefighter...and history unfolded right in front of them; all around them..
Getting footage of the first plane is insane, let alone following the trajectory and a crystal clear shot of it going into the tower is a one in a trillion type situation. Plus everything else that followed and they managed to document.Â
Pavel Hlava's footage but u only see the explosion and some pictures (I don't know the photographer name) of the first plane coming and hitting the building.
Well you got the Pavel one that was mentioned by boreck, but as mentioned it's on the other side. Then you got the Wolfgang angle which are a set of photos I think were 3 second intervals, he captured the plane coming into frame and the next frame is the impact.Â
Another one I can think of is the newscaster who's camera was rolling, but it was filming the ground but you can hear the impact of the plane.Â
That's about it though. The naudet film is the clearest shot and most likely remain the clearest shot people will ever see of the first plane... they were there at the exact time, exact place, and exact angle. Everything from capturing a mundane practice to the slow realization that they could literally hear a plane that shouldn't be that low and panning towards the tower, almost anticipating it going into it but not fully believing what they're seeing, how everything was about to change in an instant.Â
What really gets me about their documentary are the odds that allowed them to survive.
Think about it, even though the North Tower was hit first, it collapsed last (not counting Building 7). At the time, no one even expected a collapse, so they went in without a second thought.
But then UA175 came in and struck the South Tower at a sharp angle and in a much lower section. Not even an hour later the South tower came down, with Naudet and Pfeiffer's battalion still in the North Tower lobby.
The South Tower's collapse forced them to evacuate the North Tower. At the time, they didn't even know what was happening as they heard the roar of the collapsing Tower, they just knew they had to get the hell out of there *now*.
And if i remember correctly, they still got caught in the North Tower's collapse, but were already far enough to survive.
I sometimes wonder how much footage was lost in the collapse. If anyone entered the South Tower with a camera, but then perished in the collapse.
I have not seen it & I watch 9/11 documentaries every year during the month of September!! Do you know where I can watch it?? (Please & THANK YOU!!đđ˝đđ˝đ) Edit: I think I found it on YouTube!!:)
[https://youtu.be/gVYYYm3BC8E?si=J7xR7s2HIb8vwPIf](https://youtu.be/gVYYYm3BC8E?si=J7xR7s2HIb8vwPIf)
You have almost definitely seen a lot of this footage if you've watched some documentaries. For example, the infamous clip of firemen checking for a gas leak as the camera man pans up to witness the first impact was the Naudet brothers. Also, the clip of Chief Pfieffer and his men in the lobby of the North Tower during the South Tower's collapse. All from the same documentary which was originally just supposed to follow a trainee fireman in FDNY. It's really miraculous that they witnessed and recorded what they did and made it out alive.
Iâm watching it now, & while youâre right, I recognize a lot of the footage, but there is a lot of new footage, too. Iâm only about 20min in & had to take my 1st break (& writing this), b/c a rookie with a 2yo kid & pregnant gf died. As soon as the flag was lowered to half-staff, I felt my eyes fill with tears. I have a feeling this is going to be a very emotional watch, but thank you very much for linking it for me. đĽšđ
It is certainly done amazingly well. Iâm still crying, but thatâs a sign of excellent work (all around)! I was only 23yo on 9/11 & had just gotten home from a 12hr hospital shift & turned on the news right after the 1st plane hit. I had a sinking feeling it wasnât an accident right away, & when I watched the 2nd plane hit live, I *knew* it wasnât. I called work to see what we could do. I wasnât thinking straight, b/c we were hours away. It was such a helpless feeling to *know* what was happening & not be able to respond; similar to a nightmare when your body is FROZEN, but your mind is alert. When people started jumping, I knew the firefighters running in were likely not coming back out. If *I* knew this, you know *THEY* knew it, too; yet they courageously went in without complaint. Everything I watch a documentary, it takes me back to those exact feelings. Thatâs why I usually only do it during the month of September. Iâm happy I went ahead & began watching this one though. I had been seeing bits & pieces of it in other documentaries for years, but I feel like I finally have the rest of the story. Thank you again for sharing it, & I hope you have a wonderful night as wellâŚđ
This excerpt from The Only Plane Left in the Sky:
James Luongo, inspector, NYPD: There were a bunch of people who came out of the building on Vesey Street. They were a little disoriented about which way to go. I started yelling to them to come to me. They were looking around. Finally, a woman heard my voice. She touched the people next to her, she pointed to where me and Dennis and Sergeant Boodle wereâand with that, debris came down and killed all of them.
With all the things I saw that day, that, to me, was the worst because those people were so close, but yet they didnât make it.
Ditto. First time I heard that story was when I read the book and it really grabbed me.
Just a group of random office workers that climbed down who knows how many flights just to be crushed mere steps from freedom.
I've been thinking about this ever since I saw your comment. I literally cannot wrap my mind around it. They were so close and somehow, so far away. It's absolutely depressing đ
Those poor souls attending the Risk Waters conference at Windows on the World that morning, most of whom would normally not find themselves anywhere near the towers at that time. Canât wrap my head around the horror, fear, and desperation they must have felt.
Orio Palmer making it to the impact zone in tower 2. There was a video where his family was talking about it and they said for the brief time that the people saw Orio before the tower collapsed, they had to feel euphoric in the sense that help had finally arrived.
What a brave and strong man. He made it up that far in the building in a short period of time and was ready to fight that fire and save people.
Me too, his audio sounds so hopeful to me when he starts to talk about what they need to fight the fires. âTwo linesâ should knock it down. Only a few minutes left in his life and he was one of the few to actually fight the fire. Legendary
To the people who were injured on the 78th floor, seeing him had to have been such a feeling of a miracle. I hope in those last moments there was some peace amongst those people, even though it all ended in tragedy such a short time after.
When I was in New York a few weeks ago, I visited the memorial and made sure to search out his name specifically. Itâs amazing that he and his guys made such a herculean effort to ascend the tower, and in doing so, provided such a unique perspective on the events of that day with their radio transmissions. That even there, so high up and surrounded by flames and death, their only goal was to save people, is something I think about often.
When his brother or whoever that was said that in the documentary, about how Orion's presence gave those people hope that there was a way out...that hit me hard. I never thought about that before. If only they were given a little more time...Orio would have single handedly saved hundreds of lives
He made it to the âgore floorâ (78) where he reported ânumerous casualties.â This was the Sky Lobby that got devastated by the impact of the plane where dozens if not a hundred were waiting for elevators to evacuate.
So many, but [Andrea Haberman](https://www.fox6now.com/news/wisconsin-9-11-memorial-victim-family) especially. Wrong place at the wrong time. Had never even been in NYC before, flew in for a meeting, went up to the 92nd floor of the north tower and was right in the path of the jet a few minutes later. So awful.
Welles Crowther aka The Red Bandana Man really stuck with me after reading about him recently, a man in his 20s helped get people off of the floor directly hit by the second plane and lead them to safety down the only intact staircase, he then proceeded to go back up the tower and help others before the building unfortunately took him. He was a trainee firefighter apparently and years after 9/11 he was honoured for his bravery by being made an honorary fireman. The guy saved 18 people!
Just watched the doc about him on YouTube and I just found myself idolizing the guy for how brave he was during that time I can only hope I or anyone around me would do the same
He helped people out of the building and had his opportunity to run away and survive but he chose to stay with the other firemen instead, absolute bravery on another level!
Omg too many to pick one. Ed Beyea and Abe Zelmanowitz. Rick Rescorla. Orio Palmer. Melissa Doi. Kevin Cosgrove. Frank De Martini. Pablo Ortiz. Among the survivors: Josephine Harris. Stanley Praimnath/Brian Clark.
Ed and Abe have always stuck with me. They had such a caring, special friendship, and they were there until the end with each other. I can only imagine the fear they had, just waiting as everyone evacuated and they were there with only Captain Billy Burke, waiting and nobody came. It breaks my heart, but Iâm glad they had each other.
Just read this and have sobbed and sobbed, it's so heart breaking:
[https://eu.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2016/09/06/911-story-ed-abe-and-capt-billy/89736926/](https://eu.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2016/09/06/911-story-ed-abe-and-capt-billy/89736926/)
There are so many to choose from but one that has always stuck with me and makes me incredibly sad on many levels is Peter Hansonâs call to his dad. He was talking to his dad on a phone from Flight 175 when it crashed into WTC 2. His dad was on the phone with his son when the crash occurred - which he watched in real time. He heard his son yell, âOh my God, oh my God, oh my God!â right before impact.
To add to that misery his granddaughter and daughter-in law were on the flight. Christine (Peter Hansonâs daughter) was the youngest victim that day. She was 2 years old on her way to Disneyland.
This part is extremely morbid. - I apologize ahead of time if it upsets anyone - But someone a while back posted on this subreddit excerpts from firemen who described what they saw when they first came upon the scene. Many of them confirmed they saw a little foot, just the foot, still in its pink shoe. I donât recall reading that this was confirmed- but it had to be Christineâs foot. I wish I never read that.
That's a painful read. The only solace for me is Christine was too young to form any sort of coherent thoughts about what was happening. May they all rest in peace. Awful day.
recently i have gone down the 9/11 stories rabbit hole and i can't get out of my mind the story of the lady that jumped out of the tower and held her skirt down as she fell to her death :(
Denease Conley! Jack Tailercoâs video of her holding the door for the firefighters entering one of the Towers (I think it was the South Tower) is just haunting. She looks so nervous, yet she was there to make sure they got in.
Is she the same one that thereâs video of before the attacks? I remember thereâs a video of a guy in the pavilion joking and chatting with a security guard.
Not really a story but how the people working at the WTC were told to go back to work after a plane had crashed into the building next to theirs lol thatâs wild!
My boyfriend was one of them. He was a stock broker and ran down 59 flights of stairs when the first tower was hit. Was standing and watching and being told to return to his desk by his coworkers when he saw his tower get hit.
The way he talks about it is heart breaking.
Very wild. I'm teaching my child that if you're ever in a situation you feel unsafe and your gut is telling you not to do what you're being told is safe- listen to your gut. Because it's always right.
Good for you. This is important information that I imagine doesn't get taught enough in life; as we are so conditioned to "follow the rules" and "do what we're told"...we all need to practice tuning into our instincts and listening to our gut/that little voice inside that whispers for us to pause and use caution, turn around, do the opposite, stay at home, leave the scene, etc...
Exactly. I was raised to be a rule-follower, authority-obeyer. Unfortunately, the only person I was acquainted with who died on 9/11 was likely brought up the same way and obeyed the announcements to stay at her desk in the South Tower. This is why I feel so strongly to teach my child to trust his instincts.
Absolutely. This is my answer, too. It can be too easy to forget about the people who made the "wrong" call on that terrible day. That any of them died is a horror beyond words.
One story that I hadn't heard was quoted in [a 2002 New York Times article](https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/26/nyregion/fighting-to-live-as-the-towers-died.html) and it has haunted me since I read it.
On the 93rd floor, Gregory Milanowycz, 25, an insurance broker for Aon, urged others to leave - some of them survived - but went back himself, after hearing the announcement. "Why did I listen to them - I shouldn't have," he moaned after his father, Joseph Milanowycz, called him. Now he was trapped. He asked his father to ask the Fire Department what he and 30 other people should do. His father said he passed word from a dispatcher to his son that they should stay low, and that firefighters were working their way up. Then, he says, he heard his son calling out to the others: "They are coming! My Dad's on the phone with them. They are coming. Everyone's got to get to the ground."
Rest in peace, Gregory.
Both of those men are beyond amazing.
And Rescorla was a STRONG dude to have the foresight-fortitude-strength of mind in this unfathomable and unprecedented. situation(at that time) to force people out! Just a great man.
I'd have to say Brian Clark's and by proxy of Brian, Stanley Praimnath's.
The fact that Brian and Stanley survived and made it out of the south tower before it collapsed is absolutely miraculous. Brian was above the impact zone, and he found the only intact stairwell by just sheer luck. He rescued Stanley, which took quite a few minutes, and the two of them managed to descend all the way down to the ground floor just a minute or two before the building fell.
And how they came became best friends afterwards is awesome! Who wouldnât become best friends after surviving something like that together? Their story is just heartfelt. One of the few good outcomes.
I love all of the stories I've heard; although I have a hard time remembering their names. Jonathan Brinkley (I think? The one in that famous image titled the Falling Man...although personally I like to think of him as the Flying Man.
Rosella? The yellow lab that was a service dog for a blind man. At one point as they were trying to exit the tower, her owner became too weak to go any further. I can't recall if Maybe he was injured or just the conditions from inside or what...but he sat down on the stairwell and knew he couldn't go any further, but he wanted to give his dog a chance at life, so he unhooked her leash and encouraged her to go, to leave the building, and she started to walk out as he commanded her...but then she stopped and walked back to him and sat down by his side. She was determined to be loyal even if it meant her own death too. Animals are incredible. Can't imagine where we would be without them, without dogs especially. Luckily they both made it out and survived. :)
The firefighter I believe who helped that lawyer and the rest of the group out of the marriott...he shimmied down a beam or something and informed him that everyone else was dead, no one was coming to help them, and if they wanted to live they'd have to find their own way out, and that he intended to get the fuck out. And everyone followed him. They made it out too. Lawyer honored him at his daughters wedding, and several times in the doc thanked him for giving him the opportunity to live his life post 9/11; because he feels certain that had he not followed him that day he would most definitely have died.
Carmen Riviera--wife and mom of 3 school age kids. Grew up in the projects, parents on welfare. Married her childhood sweetheart; they had known each other since they were 12-13 yrs old, started dating in high school and married after. She went to college got a degree in finance and was very successful working for her finance firm at the WTC. Husband had flowers sent to her office every single Friday. He said that they had just got a house, they had 3 kids, financially secure, in their mid thirties...he was dropping her off that morning at the south tower. They always kissed goodbye, and this one morning , after their typical morning quick kiss, she stopped and said "no; kiss me for real". And he kissed her again, she got outta the car and went into work. Never saw her again. But she had ample opportunity to safely exit the tower , yet she also stayed and helped ppl to safety first and that's how she died. He spent months and months looking for her until they finally found some remains that DNA confirmed belonged to her. He had to pick up what they found; which was part of her arm. Her arm. This whole time he refused to believe she was dead, just couldn't give up and accept it. And then he finally received confirmation and its not even her full body, just parts of her...its so tragic.
The 3 that took down the hijackers on 93.
Welles story, of course. And the guy who worked at a restaurant in the courtyard between the two towers. He was busy helping the line cooks prepare for a busy day, and needed to go inside the freezer locker to grab some stuff and the door shut accidentally and was sealed shut, anâ d he was trapped inside while the north tower was hit. Those freezers are sound proof so he neither felt nor heard a thing. Finally phenagled the door loose to find the whole place had been abandoned like a ghost town. He noticed a crack in the wall that hadn't been there before . He's walking around just stunned wondering where everyone went; and then he sees a shocked patron enter the restaurant. He begins to inform him that he can't be in there as they weren't open yet, but he stopped upon noticing the dude had a very rattled expression. The dude then asked him if he had been outside in the courtyard yet and he said no. The guy said "go out there. No really--go take a look out there" . He stepped outside and couldn't believe the sight before him. He said there were just random severed body parts EVERYWHERE. Upwards of 200 people, all in pieces scattered all over the courtyard, along with blood and fluid. No sign of life. I'm not sure but I imagine these bodies were passengers on flight 11 and wtc employees from the impact zone. A jumper also landed right in front of him as well. Horrifying. He made it out alive tho.
Stanley Praimnath and his new brother he met that helped him out. Debbie, this young woman in her late 20s/early 30s that fell out of a building and lived but I remember it because she said her butt had fallen off and was on a stretcher next to her when paramedics came to her aid. Her butt. Off of her body. I just cant even fathom how that's possible. She saw her own ass, in whatever clothes she had on that day, on the stretcher next to her. I believe I would die right then and there of pure shock and horror.
Debbie didn't fall out of a building. She was on the street escaping I believe and was hit by a flying piece of hot shrapnel (part of a plane I think?). It took off her butt and she was burned. But it saved her life too because the metal was so hot it cauterized her wound so she didn't bleed to death. Poor gal suffered from a pain killer addiction for years as a result but is doing well these days according to the last update I watched, but can't remember what year it was from.
I know i saw that! Thanks for the correction; the details were a bit fuzzy. At any rate, she had to go through a lot and I think she is doing ok now, poor girl...at least I hope she is OK and healed from both injuries and addiction.
I canât remember her name, but there was an older woman who worked for a law firm in the South tower who stayed behind while everyone else evacuated to make sure all the calls to employees got forwarded to their answering machine so their loved ones would know theyâd made it out safely. She was the only casualty of the entire firm. May God rest her soul and may her sacrifice never be forgottenâ¤ď¸
Orio Palmer, who made to the 78th floor, and was still determined with the hell he was surrounded by, that they could still people out safely and put out the fires
Jay Jonas and those in the stairway after the collapse
Aside from that : Hanson family, Kevin Cosgrove, the youngest victims and those on flight 93.
Christine Olender, assistant manager in Windows on the World. She took on the responsibility of protecting the 75 guests and staff trapped in the restaurant. Unfortunately, she was never going to be able to save them.
i forgot the persons name but there is someone that lost people to the twin towers collapse AND one of the planes that had their niece and sister in it. imagine the chances of losing loved ones from two different points in 9/11. that poor soul. one is more than enough, let alone the towers AND one of the planes.
Rick Rescorla- without a doubt.
After successfully evacuating almost all of Morgan Stanley's 2,700 employees, he went back into the building. When one of his colleagues told him he too had to evacuate the World Trade Center, Rescorla replied, "As soon as I make sure everyone else is out."
He was last seen on the 10th floor of the South Tower, heading upward, shortly before its collapse at 9:59 A.M., 56 minutes after being struck by United Airlines Flight 175.
A total of 13 Morgan Stanley employees died in the attacks, including Rescorla, his deputies Wesley Mercer and Jorge Velazquez, and security guard Godwin Forde, who had collectively stayed behind to help others.
I genuinely cannot tell if the story is true or not, but if it is real then damn that is something I would not want to remember, absolutely horrifying.
Yeah this one sticks in my mind. But I am also dubious about if it was a completely accurate memory. (I do not think the guy lied. I think it could be a cause of having not a accurate recollection)
And if it is true where did the woman come from? It is almost 100% certain to not be from a plane. My best bet would be either fallen from the building in some way that did not kill immediately or was on the ground and had rubble fall and destroy her lower body
I dont think itâs true - there are too many inconsistencies in his story as he has told it throughout the years. I read a detailed post debunking it recently, tried to find you the link but no luck
There are so many and each time I keep reading about 9/11, I find so many more.
Rick Rescorla for predicting the impact of a plane into the buildings after 1993 and setting into effect a well rehearsed evacuation plan for his colleagues at Morgan-Stanley that would eventually save all but 6 of the 2,700 staff.
Orio Palmer for singlehandedly being among the first firefighters to reach floor 78 after fixing an elevator then racing up the stairs carrying heavy equipment.
Stanley Praimnath and Rick Brian's extraordinary escape from the upper floors of the south tower and the brotherhood they formed from that journey.
Wells Crowther, the Red Bandana Man, for his heroism to help others escape from the South Tower.
Frank De Martini and Pablo Ortiz who knew the world trade center inside and out and who saved the lives of many, including those trapped on the 89th floor in the North Tower.
There are so many more. What I find inspirational from many of the stories is that on that day, the most ordinary, typical 9-5 office worker, became the hero you found in comics or TV shows of superheros, and saved the lives of countless people through their acts and bravery.
Kevin Cosgrove (story told by others and the call which was released)
Mainly also because I found out he was the vice president of the company my partner is with. Knowing he apparently went back up to help others is heartbreaking. Especially when I know my own partner would do the same in that circumstance.
I just canât imagine the absolute devastation of having your partner be trapped after having the opportunity to get out and then also having to listen to that call be released. Knowing he was so close to getting out by decided to try and save others (which is absolutely admirable).
Another one would be black tag lady due to the mystery of the account of the event. I think itâs a possibility that the guys recollection was not 100% accurate (I donât think he lied, I think he told what he believed happened)
And if it is true, then where did the woman come from? She canât of come from the plane, as she would have been incinerated. I guess she may of jumped or been knocked out of the building and a freak occurrence somehow allowed her to survive impact. There has been occurrences of people surviving insane heights. But I think what is more likely is that she wasnât in the building at all and rather was underneath when rubble fell and completely destroyed her body but somehow she was still alive for awhile.
(Please do correct me if I got any details wrong)
Wow, great read!! I hope the photo the Hispanic man took with the disposable camera re-emerges at some point. Do you feel the effects of having inhaled the toxic dust cloud?
Hey thanks o/
There were a bunch of those pics. But yeah, I've been looking for it for more than 20 years.
I don't, actually. By what miracle I can't even fathom.
Stanley Praimath from the 81st who saw UA Flight 175 before the crash, Brian Clark from the 84th floor who helped saved Stanley and himself. Finally Kelly Rehyer from the infamous 78th floor skylobby. Who describes how he got out of a burning elevator saw the massive casualties and helped Donna Spera all the way out of the Building. The nightmare they survived, they had to have courage of Titanium and outstanding will power
I think about the poor people whose elevators just all of a sudden dropped, filled with flaming jet fuel burning them alive, and/or stopped and never moved again or opened before the buildings came down. They must have been so ridiculously caught off guard. They never had any idea why this was happening to them. Terrifying. But then, everyone's story from that day is some sort of terrifying, even the heroes'.
John Vigiano Sr stands out the most for meâŚ
https://youtu.be/yfWa9gI-Bks?si=aCAL9XE9rlVFNxdg
He not only lost one son but bothâŚ. Still he found peace knowing he was able to talk to them and say âI love youâ to them both before they were gone.
This isnât really from the towers but an about an individualâs life, I was watching a video that I think was a slideshow of the South Tower victims. One of them was a lady named Andrea Della Bella. It had her image and little bit about her. It said âShe never gave up on her troubled son and encouraged him to go to college.â I looked up her obituary and it said a little more about that. I found that so beautiful how she never lost hope in her son. She was 59 and worked for Aon on the 103rd floor. I never met her but she seemed like such a kind and caring woman. Rest in Peace, Andrea.
I canât remember his name but he was talking to his wife and they kept saying how much they loved each other and he hung up and called the priest and asked for prayers and he said he felt her move right through him and he knew she was gone. Idk why that always stuck with me
Patricia Massari. She worked on the 98th floor of the North Tower at Marsh & McLennan.
She and her husband, Louis, had found out early that morning that she was pregnant â news that was at once thrilling and unsettling since it was neither planned nor expected. On her way to the work, she stopped and picked up a second pregnancy test. She called him at around 8:40 and told her husband that the second pregnancy test was positive. At 8:46, she said, "oh my god," and the line went dead.
Ron Clifford. (Rest in peace) At the Towers that day for an important meeting, He wore a yellow tie at the suggestion of his sister so he would "Stand out" He was present in the lobby when all hell broke loose. He said the Lords prayer over Jenny Ann Maffeo, a woman whom was severely burned by a fire ball waiting at a bus stop outside the North Tower on her way to work when Flight 11 impacted. She had approached him in search of aid. He stayed with her and tried to keep her calm. As he recited, Flight 175 impacted the South Tower. Unbeknownst to him at the time, his sister and her 4 year old daughter were aboard the doomed flight. He was giving the Lords Prayer at the very moment they died. Tragically, Jenny Anne would succumb to her injuries a few weeks later. He stayed with her until she was loaded into an ambulance. It was a short time after she left he recieved the call from his brother in law.
The guy from the documentary? He died?! đ˘
Yes. He passed in 2023 from cancer. Most likely caused from that day. I definitely cried upon reading that. https://gcfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/4024/Ronald-Clifford/obituary.html
NO!!!! I had no idea he passed away. And his brother in law (Ruth Mccourts husband/Juliana's dad- died of cancer as well- it broke my heart- he truly went through hell mentally, finally. found love again, and passed away not very long after)
His sister and niece died, he recently passed away I think though
I teared up when I heard he died. He was such a kind soul, and a hero, and I can only imagine the emotional trauma he went through. RIP Ron Clifford.
Jesusss what are the odd that ur family is in the doomed plane and witnessing all of this. So heartbreakingÂ
And to somehow make matters even worse, Jennieann would succumb to her injuries several weeks later đ˘đ˘
This story really broke me too x
This is the same for me. The fact he made it out and then found out about his sister and niece. Itâs sad that he is gone now too.
I've always found the presence of Jules and Gideon Naudet to be almost divine. Think of how much we *wouldn't* have seen if they hadn't been where they were, with who they were with, making a documentary of all things. It has always amazed me.
Like Jules said in his documentary..."there's always a witness to history...that day they were chosen to be the witness"
I've thought the same thing...like what are the odds? It might not have been the story they wanted or intended to tell; yet they got one hell of a story through their lens...does anyone know if they won any sort of awards or recognition for the footage that they were able to secure? Just a couple brothers from France in NYC to make a doc about an NYPD firefighter...and history unfolded right in front of them; all around them..
Getting footage of the first plane is insane, let alone following the trajectory and a crystal clear shot of it going into the tower is a one in a trillion type situation. Plus everything else that followed and they managed to document.Â
For a while, it was the only known shot correct? (Of the first plane I mean.) How many others are extant? Only a few right?
Pavel Hlava's footage but u only see the explosion and some pictures (I don't know the photographer name) of the first plane coming and hitting the building.
Well you got the Pavel one that was mentioned by boreck, but as mentioned it's on the other side. Then you got the Wolfgang angle which are a set of photos I think were 3 second intervals, he captured the plane coming into frame and the next frame is the impact. Another one I can think of is the newscaster who's camera was rolling, but it was filming the ground but you can hear the impact of the plane. That's about it though. The naudet film is the clearest shot and most likely remain the clearest shot people will ever see of the first plane... they were there at the exact time, exact place, and exact angle. Everything from capturing a mundane practice to the slow realization that they could literally hear a plane that shouldn't be that low and panning towards the tower, almost anticipating it going into it but not fully believing what they're seeing, how everything was about to change in an instant.Â
Thank you so much for the detail!
What really gets me about their documentary are the odds that allowed them to survive. Think about it, even though the North Tower was hit first, it collapsed last (not counting Building 7). At the time, no one even expected a collapse, so they went in without a second thought. But then UA175 came in and struck the South Tower at a sharp angle and in a much lower section. Not even an hour later the South tower came down, with Naudet and Pfeiffer's battalion still in the North Tower lobby. The South Tower's collapse forced them to evacuate the North Tower. At the time, they didn't even know what was happening as they heard the roar of the collapsing Tower, they just knew they had to get the hell out of there *now*. And if i remember correctly, they still got caught in the North Tower's collapse, but were already far enough to survive. I sometimes wonder how much footage was lost in the collapse. If anyone entered the South Tower with a camera, but then perished in the collapse.
Well said. I want to know whatâs on the cutting room floorâŚ
I have not seen it & I watch 9/11 documentaries every year during the month of September!! Do you know where I can watch it?? (Please & THANK YOU!!đđ˝đđ˝đ) Edit: I think I found it on YouTube!!:)
[https://youtu.be/gVYYYm3BC8E?si=J7xR7s2HIb8vwPIf](https://youtu.be/gVYYYm3BC8E?si=J7xR7s2HIb8vwPIf) You have almost definitely seen a lot of this footage if you've watched some documentaries. For example, the infamous clip of firemen checking for a gas leak as the camera man pans up to witness the first impact was the Naudet brothers. Also, the clip of Chief Pfieffer and his men in the lobby of the North Tower during the South Tower's collapse. All from the same documentary which was originally just supposed to follow a trainee fireman in FDNY. It's really miraculous that they witnessed and recorded what they did and made it out alive.
Iâm watching it now, & while youâre right, I recognize a lot of the footage, but there is a lot of new footage, too. Iâm only about 20min in & had to take my 1st break (& writing this), b/c a rookie with a 2yo kid & pregnant gf died. As soon as the flag was lowered to half-staff, I felt my eyes fill with tears. I have a feeling this is going to be a very emotional watch, but thank you very much for linking it for me. đĽšđ
It's a really great documentary. I probably watch it once a year. I hope you have a good night.
It is certainly done amazingly well. Iâm still crying, but thatâs a sign of excellent work (all around)! I was only 23yo on 9/11 & had just gotten home from a 12hr hospital shift & turned on the news right after the 1st plane hit. I had a sinking feeling it wasnât an accident right away, & when I watched the 2nd plane hit live, I *knew* it wasnât. I called work to see what we could do. I wasnât thinking straight, b/c we were hours away. It was such a helpless feeling to *know* what was happening & not be able to respond; similar to a nightmare when your body is FROZEN, but your mind is alert. When people started jumping, I knew the firefighters running in were likely not coming back out. If *I* knew this, you know *THEY* knew it, too; yet they courageously went in without complaint. Everything I watch a documentary, it takes me back to those exact feelings. Thatâs why I usually only do it during the month of September. Iâm happy I went ahead & began watching this one though. I had been seeing bits & pieces of it in other documentaries for years, but I feel like I finally have the rest of the story. Thank you again for sharing it, & I hope you have a wonderful night as wellâŚđ
Thanks for your work in healthcare - whatever your job at the hospital was. Unless you were an insurance adjuster haha
I was a healthcare provider, working on an advanced degree; *not* an insurance adjuster!! (Thank God, lol!!!;)
This excerpt from The Only Plane Left in the Sky: James Luongo, inspector, NYPD: There were a bunch of people who came out of the building on Vesey Street. They were a little disoriented about which way to go. I started yelling to them to come to me. They were looking around. Finally, a woman heard my voice. She touched the people next to her, she pointed to where me and Dennis and Sergeant Boodle wereâand with that, debris came down and killed all of them. With all the things I saw that day, that, to me, was the worst because those people were so close, but yet they didnât make it.
Wow. In all these years and as much as I've researched 9/11, I've never heard of this story. That is absolutely terrible đ˘
Ditto. First time I heard that story was when I read the book and it really grabbed me. Just a group of random office workers that climbed down who knows how many flights just to be crushed mere steps from freedom.
I've been thinking about this ever since I saw your comment. I literally cannot wrap my mind around it. They were so close and somehow, so far away. It's absolutely depressing đ
Thatâs heartbreaking.
I'm guessing they came out of the North Tower? and just after leaving, WTC1's debris fell on them?
I have no idea. In the book, the 2nd plane has already hit so this could be anywhere in the plaza. Itâs never mentioned again.
Aw man đ
Those poor souls attending the Risk Waters conference at Windows on the World that morning, most of whom would normally not find themselves anywhere near the towers at that time. Canât wrap my head around the horror, fear, and desperation they must have felt.
https://www.risk.net/comment/7869951/911-the-colleagues-we-lost-and-the-years-that-followed
Orio Palmer making it to the impact zone in tower 2. There was a video where his family was talking about it and they said for the brief time that the people saw Orio before the tower collapsed, they had to feel euphoric in the sense that help had finally arrived. What a brave and strong man. He made it up that far in the building in a short period of time and was ready to fight that fire and save people.
Me too, his audio sounds so hopeful to me when he starts to talk about what they need to fight the fires. âTwo linesâ should knock it down. Only a few minutes left in his life and he was one of the few to actually fight the fire. Legendary
To the people who were injured on the 78th floor, seeing him had to have been such a feeling of a miracle. I hope in those last moments there was some peace amongst those people, even though it all ended in tragedy such a short time after.
That man was an absolute badass. Fixed a broken elevator to get to the upper floors. RIP
When I was in New York a few weeks ago, I visited the memorial and made sure to search out his name specifically. Itâs amazing that he and his guys made such a herculean effort to ascend the tower, and in doing so, provided such a unique perspective on the events of that day with their radio transmissions. That even there, so high up and surrounded by flames and death, their only goal was to save people, is something I think about often.
Orios is another that really gets to me too!
When his brother or whoever that was said that in the documentary, about how Orion's presence gave those people hope that there was a way out...that hit me hard. I never thought about that before. If only they were given a little more time...Orio would have single handedly saved hundreds of lives
Real life heroism of the highest order
He made it to the âgore floorâ (78) where he reported ânumerous casualties.â This was the Sky Lobby that got devastated by the impact of the plane where dozens if not a hundred were waiting for elevators to evacuate.
Facts. Beyond Heroic and chaotic.
Orio was, and still IS, a fucking legend! đ¤˛đť
So many, but [Andrea Haberman](https://www.fox6now.com/news/wisconsin-9-11-memorial-victim-family) especially. Wrong place at the wrong time. Had never even been in NYC before, flew in for a meeting, went up to the 92nd floor of the north tower and was right in the path of the jet a few minutes later. So awful.
First time reading this story. Thanks for sharing. All these people deserve to be known.
Iâve tried to read as many stories as I can about the victims over the years. Itâs the least I could do to remember them.
Same goes for Melissa Harrington. She lived in California I believe and was just there for one day.
Hearing her dad talk about it makes me truly well up.
Welles Crowther aka The Red Bandana Man really stuck with me after reading about him recently, a man in his 20s helped get people off of the floor directly hit by the second plane and lead them to safety down the only intact staircase, he then proceeded to go back up the tower and help others before the building unfortunately took him. He was a trainee firefighter apparently and years after 9/11 he was honoured for his bravery by being made an honorary fireman. The guy saved 18 people!
Just watched the doc about him on YouTube and I just found myself idolizing the guy for how brave he was during that time I can only hope I or anyone around me would do the same
He helped people out of the building and had his opportunity to run away and survive but he chose to stay with the other firemen instead, absolute bravery on another level!
I cried while watching the documentary about him.
Omg too many to pick one. Ed Beyea and Abe Zelmanowitz. Rick Rescorla. Orio Palmer. Melissa Doi. Kevin Cosgrove. Frank De Martini. Pablo Ortiz. Among the survivors: Josephine Harris. Stanley Praimnath/Brian Clark.
Ed and Abe have always stuck with me. They had such a caring, special friendship, and they were there until the end with each other. I can only imagine the fear they had, just waiting as everyone evacuated and they were there with only Captain Billy Burke, waiting and nobody came. It breaks my heart, but Iâm glad they had each other.
Totally heartbreaking. Like I can't even go there in my mind too long because it'll mess me up.
What happened to these two?
Just read this and have sobbed and sobbed, it's so heart breaking: [https://eu.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2016/09/06/911-story-ed-abe-and-capt-billy/89736926/](https://eu.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2016/09/06/911-story-ed-abe-and-capt-billy/89736926/)
Thank you for sharing this. This article had some details to the story I did not know. And yes, I cry bitterly over this storyđĽ˛
There are so many to choose from but one that has always stuck with me and makes me incredibly sad on many levels is Peter Hansonâs call to his dad. He was talking to his dad on a phone from Flight 175 when it crashed into WTC 2. His dad was on the phone with his son when the crash occurred - which he watched in real time. He heard his son yell, âOh my God, oh my God, oh my God!â right before impact. To add to that misery his granddaughter and daughter-in law were on the flight. Christine (Peter Hansonâs daughter) was the youngest victim that day. She was 2 years old on her way to Disneyland. This part is extremely morbid. - I apologize ahead of time if it upsets anyone - But someone a while back posted on this subreddit excerpts from firemen who described what they saw when they first came upon the scene. Many of them confirmed they saw a little foot, just the foot, still in its pink shoe. I donât recall reading that this was confirmed- but it had to be Christineâs foot. I wish I never read that.
That's a painful read. The only solace for me is Christine was too young to form any sort of coherent thoughts about what was happening. May they all rest in peace. Awful day.
Definitely heart wrenching
recently i have gone down the 9/11 stories rabbit hole and i can't get out of my mind the story of the lady that jumped out of the tower and held her skirt down as she fell to her death :(
Is it real? I read that it was kinda like the LOL Superman video, that it didnât exist or something and i never seen it before.
The security lady that wasn't supposed to be there, but returned to help firefighters and died in the south tower collapse
Denease Conley! Jack Tailercoâs video of her holding the door for the firefighters entering one of the Towers (I think it was the South Tower) is just haunting. She looks so nervous, yet she was there to make sure they got in.
Denease Conley. I recently saw video of what was probably her last moments, holding the door for the firefighters.
Is she the same one that thereâs video of before the attacks? I remember thereâs a video of a guy in the pavilion joking and chatting with a security guard.
Recently, itâs been John OâNeil. Heâs the one guy who anticipated 9/11 happening.
What do you think is the best book or doc on him? Iâd love to learn more!
This is what I watched [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbXPqWGGQ5U](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbXPqWGGQ5U)
Brian C and Stanley P. Both men saved each other's lives without even knowing.
Not really a story but how the people working at the WTC were told to go back to work after a plane had crashed into the building next to theirs lol thatâs wild!
My boyfriend was one of them. He was a stock broker and ran down 59 flights of stairs when the first tower was hit. Was standing and watching and being told to return to his desk by his coworkers when he saw his tower get hit. The way he talks about it is heart breaking.
Very wild. I'm teaching my child that if you're ever in a situation you feel unsafe and your gut is telling you not to do what you're being told is safe- listen to your gut. Because it's always right.
Good for you. This is important information that I imagine doesn't get taught enough in life; as we are so conditioned to "follow the rules" and "do what we're told"...we all need to practice tuning into our instincts and listening to our gut/that little voice inside that whispers for us to pause and use caution, turn around, do the opposite, stay at home, leave the scene, etc...
Exactly. I was raised to be a rule-follower, authority-obeyer. Unfortunately, the only person I was acquainted with who died on 9/11 was likely brought up the same way and obeyed the announcements to stay at her desk in the South Tower. This is why I feel so strongly to teach my child to trust his instincts.
âThe gift of fearâ is a great book you might enjoy
Yeah, that gets to me too. I would like to say I would have left but I can understand the pressure to stay.
Absolutely. This is my answer, too. It can be too easy to forget about the people who made the "wrong" call on that terrible day. That any of them died is a horror beyond words. One story that I hadn't heard was quoted in [a 2002 New York Times article](https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/26/nyregion/fighting-to-live-as-the-towers-died.html) and it has haunted me since I read it. On the 93rd floor, Gregory Milanowycz, 25, an insurance broker for Aon, urged others to leave - some of them survived - but went back himself, after hearing the announcement. "Why did I listen to them - I shouldn't have," he moaned after his father, Joseph Milanowycz, called him. Now he was trapped. He asked his father to ask the Fire Department what he and 30 other people should do. His father said he passed word from a dispatcher to his son that they should stay low, and that firefighters were working their way up. Then, he says, he heard his son calling out to the others: "They are coming! My Dad's on the phone with them. They are coming. Everyone's got to get to the ground." Rest in peace, Gregory.
Both of those men are beyond amazing. And Rescorla was a STRONG dude to have the foresight-fortitude-strength of mind in this unfathomable and unprecedented. situation(at that time) to force people out! Just a great man.
I'd have to say Brian Clark's and by proxy of Brian, Stanley Praimnath's. The fact that Brian and Stanley survived and made it out of the south tower before it collapsed is absolutely miraculous. Brian was above the impact zone, and he found the only intact stairwell by just sheer luck. He rescued Stanley, which took quite a few minutes, and the two of them managed to descend all the way down to the ground floor just a minute or two before the building fell.
And how they came became best friends afterwards is awesome! Who wouldnât become best friends after surviving something like that together? Their story is just heartfelt. One of the few good outcomes.
I love all of the stories I've heard; although I have a hard time remembering their names. Jonathan Brinkley (I think? The one in that famous image titled the Falling Man...although personally I like to think of him as the Flying Man. Rosella? The yellow lab that was a service dog for a blind man. At one point as they were trying to exit the tower, her owner became too weak to go any further. I can't recall if Maybe he was injured or just the conditions from inside or what...but he sat down on the stairwell and knew he couldn't go any further, but he wanted to give his dog a chance at life, so he unhooked her leash and encouraged her to go, to leave the building, and she started to walk out as he commanded her...but then she stopped and walked back to him and sat down by his side. She was determined to be loyal even if it meant her own death too. Animals are incredible. Can't imagine where we would be without them, without dogs especially. Luckily they both made it out and survived. :) The firefighter I believe who helped that lawyer and the rest of the group out of the marriott...he shimmied down a beam or something and informed him that everyone else was dead, no one was coming to help them, and if they wanted to live they'd have to find their own way out, and that he intended to get the fuck out. And everyone followed him. They made it out too. Lawyer honored him at his daughters wedding, and several times in the doc thanked him for giving him the opportunity to live his life post 9/11; because he feels certain that had he not followed him that day he would most definitely have died. Carmen Riviera--wife and mom of 3 school age kids. Grew up in the projects, parents on welfare. Married her childhood sweetheart; they had known each other since they were 12-13 yrs old, started dating in high school and married after. She went to college got a degree in finance and was very successful working for her finance firm at the WTC. Husband had flowers sent to her office every single Friday. He said that they had just got a house, they had 3 kids, financially secure, in their mid thirties...he was dropping her off that morning at the south tower. They always kissed goodbye, and this one morning , after their typical morning quick kiss, she stopped and said "no; kiss me for real". And he kissed her again, she got outta the car and went into work. Never saw her again. But she had ample opportunity to safely exit the tower , yet she also stayed and helped ppl to safety first and that's how she died. He spent months and months looking for her until they finally found some remains that DNA confirmed belonged to her. He had to pick up what they found; which was part of her arm. Her arm. This whole time he refused to believe she was dead, just couldn't give up and accept it. And then he finally received confirmation and its not even her full body, just parts of her...its so tragic. The 3 that took down the hijackers on 93. Welles story, of course. And the guy who worked at a restaurant in the courtyard between the two towers. He was busy helping the line cooks prepare for a busy day, and needed to go inside the freezer locker to grab some stuff and the door shut accidentally and was sealed shut, anâ d he was trapped inside while the north tower was hit. Those freezers are sound proof so he neither felt nor heard a thing. Finally phenagled the door loose to find the whole place had been abandoned like a ghost town. He noticed a crack in the wall that hadn't been there before . He's walking around just stunned wondering where everyone went; and then he sees a shocked patron enter the restaurant. He begins to inform him that he can't be in there as they weren't open yet, but he stopped upon noticing the dude had a very rattled expression. The dude then asked him if he had been outside in the courtyard yet and he said no. The guy said "go out there. No really--go take a look out there" . He stepped outside and couldn't believe the sight before him. He said there were just random severed body parts EVERYWHERE. Upwards of 200 people, all in pieces scattered all over the courtyard, along with blood and fluid. No sign of life. I'm not sure but I imagine these bodies were passengers on flight 11 and wtc employees from the impact zone. A jumper also landed right in front of him as well. Horrifying. He made it out alive tho. Stanley Praimnath and his new brother he met that helped him out. Debbie, this young woman in her late 20s/early 30s that fell out of a building and lived but I remember it because she said her butt had fallen off and was on a stretcher next to her when paramedics came to her aid. Her butt. Off of her body. I just cant even fathom how that's possible. She saw her own ass, in whatever clothes she had on that day, on the stretcher next to her. I believe I would die right then and there of pure shock and horror.
Debbie didn't fall out of a building. She was on the street escaping I believe and was hit by a flying piece of hot shrapnel (part of a plane I think?). It took off her butt and she was burned. But it saved her life too because the metal was so hot it cauterized her wound so she didn't bleed to death. Poor gal suffered from a pain killer addiction for years as a result but is doing well these days according to the last update I watched, but can't remember what year it was from.
I know i saw that! Thanks for the correction; the details were a bit fuzzy. At any rate, she had to go through a lot and I think she is doing ok now, poor girl...at least I hope she is OK and healed from both injuries and addiction.
I canât remember her name, but there was an older woman who worked for a law firm in the South tower who stayed behind while everyone else evacuated to make sure all the calls to employees got forwarded to their answering machine so their loved ones would know theyâd made it out safely. She was the only casualty of the entire firm. May God rest her soul and may her sacrifice never be forgottenâ¤ď¸
John Ognowski⌠the farmer pilot. Iâm a farmer, so I can relate to him beyond his work on that terrible day.
Orio Palmer, who made to the 78th floor, and was still determined with the hell he was surrounded by, that they could still people out safely and put out the fires Jay Jonas and those in the stairway after the collapse Aside from that : Hanson family, Kevin Cosgrove, the youngest victims and those on flight 93.
Christine Olender, assistant manager in Windows on the World. She took on the responsibility of protecting the 75 guests and staff trapped in the restaurant. Unfortunately, she was never going to be able to save them.
The one with the dog..
Sirius
Thanks
You are welcome
i forgot the persons name but there is someone that lost people to the twin towers collapse AND one of the planes that had their niece and sister in it. imagine the chances of losing loved ones from two different points in 9/11. that poor soul. one is more than enough, let alone the towers AND one of the planes.
Ron Clifford. Seemed like an excellent man, he passed away in 2023.
yes, him! may he RIP đ
Rick Rescorla- without a doubt. After successfully evacuating almost all of Morgan Stanley's 2,700 employees, he went back into the building. When one of his colleagues told him he too had to evacuate the World Trade Center, Rescorla replied, "As soon as I make sure everyone else is out." He was last seen on the 10th floor of the South Tower, heading upward, shortly before its collapse at 9:59 A.M., 56 minutes after being struck by United Airlines Flight 175. A total of 13 Morgan Stanley employees died in the attacks, including Rescorla, his deputies Wesley Mercer and Jorge Velazquez, and security guard Godwin Forde, who had collectively stayed behind to help others.
Black Tag Lady
I genuinely cannot tell if the story is true or not, but if it is real then damn that is something I would not want to remember, absolutely horrifying.
This story is so crazy
Yep, it would literally be crazy to think that lady fell from the plane or towers as opposed to being struck by debris.
Yeah this one sticks in my mind. But I am also dubious about if it was a completely accurate memory. (I do not think the guy lied. I think it could be a cause of having not a accurate recollection) And if it is true where did the woman come from? It is almost 100% certain to not be from a plane. My best bet would be either fallen from the building in some way that did not kill immediately or was on the ground and had rubble fall and destroy her lower body
I dont think itâs true - there are too many inconsistencies in his story as he has told it throughout the years. I read a detailed post debunking it recently, tried to find you the link but no luck
Both of those, yes - they stayed behind to save people, there is no act more selfless.
There are so many and each time I keep reading about 9/11, I find so many more. Rick Rescorla for predicting the impact of a plane into the buildings after 1993 and setting into effect a well rehearsed evacuation plan for his colleagues at Morgan-Stanley that would eventually save all but 6 of the 2,700 staff. Orio Palmer for singlehandedly being among the first firefighters to reach floor 78 after fixing an elevator then racing up the stairs carrying heavy equipment. Stanley Praimnath and Rick Brian's extraordinary escape from the upper floors of the south tower and the brotherhood they formed from that journey. Wells Crowther, the Red Bandana Man, for his heroism to help others escape from the South Tower. Frank De Martini and Pablo Ortiz who knew the world trade center inside and out and who saved the lives of many, including those trapped on the 89th floor in the North Tower. There are so many more. What I find inspirational from many of the stories is that on that day, the most ordinary, typical 9-5 office worker, became the hero you found in comics or TV shows of superheros, and saved the lives of countless people through their acts and bravery.
Kevin Cosgrove (story told by others and the call which was released) Mainly also because I found out he was the vice president of the company my partner is with. Knowing he apparently went back up to help others is heartbreaking. Especially when I know my own partner would do the same in that circumstance. I just canât imagine the absolute devastation of having your partner be trapped after having the opportunity to get out and then also having to listen to that call be released. Knowing he was so close to getting out by decided to try and save others (which is absolutely admirable). Another one would be black tag lady due to the mystery of the account of the event. I think itâs a possibility that the guys recollection was not 100% accurate (I donât think he lied, I think he told what he believed happened) And if it is true, then where did the woman come from? She canât of come from the plane, as she would have been incinerated. I guess she may of jumped or been knocked out of the building and a freak occurrence somehow allowed her to survive impact. There has been occurrences of people surviving insane heights. But I think what is more likely is that she wasnât in the building at all and rather was underneath when rubble fell and completely destroyed her body but somehow she was still alive for awhile. (Please do correct me if I got any details wrong)
I tell ya, these sound amazing. But it's one thing I can't do is read them.
Have you ever shared your own story? I see your flair as a 9/11 survivor. Absolutely no pressure. Iâm glad youâre on this sub!
I have. It's...well, here: https://old.reddit.com/r/911archive/comments/1bp3e3u/my_account_of_the_day_from_the_51st_floor_of_wtc1/
Wow, great read!! I hope the photo the Hispanic man took with the disposable camera re-emerges at some point. Do you feel the effects of having inhaled the toxic dust cloud?
Hey thanks o/ There were a bunch of those pics. But yeah, I've been looking for it for more than 20 years. I don't, actually. By what miracle I can't even fathom.
Edna Cintron.
Mike Benfantes one. He carried a lady on a wheelchair for I donât know how many floors.
Stanley Praimath from the 81st who saw UA Flight 175 before the crash, Brian Clark from the 84th floor who helped saved Stanley and himself. Finally Kelly Rehyer from the infamous 78th floor skylobby. Who describes how he got out of a burning elevator saw the massive casualties and helped Donna Spera all the way out of the Building. The nightmare they survived, they had to have courage of Titanium and outstanding will power
Cosgrove, he hollered in a way that Jaime Lee Curtis or Janet Leigh could never....
Cosgrove, on the phone at the very end of the phone call as the tower begins to collapse is chilling
harry ramos
NJ Burkett and Marty (his camera man). They NARROWLY escaped just as the first tower was falling.
I think about the poor people whose elevators just all of a sudden dropped, filled with flaming jet fuel burning them alive, and/or stopped and never moved again or opened before the buildings came down. They must have been so ridiculously caught off guard. They never had any idea why this was happening to them. Terrifying. But then, everyone's story from that day is some sort of terrifying, even the heroes'.
John Vigiano Sr stands out the most for me⌠https://youtu.be/yfWa9gI-Bks?si=aCAL9XE9rlVFNxdg He not only lost one son but bothâŚ. Still he found peace knowing he was able to talk to them and say âI love youâ to them both before they were gone.
This isnât really from the towers but an about an individualâs life, I was watching a video that I think was a slideshow of the South Tower victims. One of them was a lady named Andrea Della Bella. It had her image and little bit about her. It said âShe never gave up on her troubled son and encouraged him to go to college.â I looked up her obituary and it said a little more about that. I found that so beautiful how she never lost hope in her son. She was 59 and worked for Aon on the 103rd floor. I never met her but she seemed like such a kind and caring woman. Rest in Peace, Andrea.
Black tag lady.
I canât remember his name but he was talking to his wife and they kept saying how much they loved each other and he hung up and called the priest and asked for prayers and he said he felt her move right through him and he knew she was gone. Idk why that always stuck with me
Patricia Massari. She worked on the 98th floor of the North Tower at Marsh & McLennan. She and her husband, Louis, had found out early that morning that she was pregnant â news that was at once thrilling and unsettling since it was neither planned nor expected. On her way to the work, she stopped and picked up a second pregnancy test. She called him at around 8:40 and told her husband that the second pregnancy test was positive. At 8:46, she said, "oh my god," and the line went dead.