9/11, Memories of America’s Heroes

No one will forget the events of September 11th. It was one of those helpless situations where the entire world witnessed the terrorist attack unfold, but could do nothing to help. I have asked a few people, of different ages, and they all knew exactly where they were on September 11th.

I was at home working when my youngest son burst in through the front door and switched on the T.V. He had watched the first plane crash, but I had missed it. At the time it was a terrible accident, which cost so many people’s their lives, or that is what we thought. The entire world watched the second plane hit.

Something amazing happened on that day. The terrorist did the most evil act in human history. Nobody likes war, but only a coward would hit an easy target. They were not taking on the America military; they were attacking at the heart of the American people. They wanted to fill them with fear, with terror and hopelessness, but they failed. What I saw that day will forever inspire me.

There were heroes that day. The fire fighters, the police, the military, the doctors, the nurses and paramedics, but I think the most amazing thing was the everyday person helping their fellow citizen. People were coming together. I saw it unfold on T.V. Random strangers treating wounded, people that had never met pulling other people away from the falling debris and dust, shopkeepers giving out water and food. It was a city coming together. If the terrorist attack was the height of true evil then the heroes of that day were the embodiment of all that is good in the world.

It was a scene from an apocalyptic movie and was happening in an iconic city. That was a dark day in American history, no, World history. Everyone was physically and emotionally affected by the events that day, but the terrorists failed. They brought an entire city together, they brought a nation together and for a moment in time the whole world came together.

I was retired at the time of September 11th, but I wanted to do my bit. I had served twenty-two years in the British Army and I wanted to do my part, which is why I went to Iraq as a contractor for the next six years.

In England we had the London bombings, my son-in-law took the train to work, had he been two minutes late he would have been on the train that was attacked. 9/11 inspired me to go back and do my part, but it wasn’t just me, people from all over the world wanted to do their bit.

That day the American people showed courage, bravery and that they could overcome anything. It was also a sign that terrorism would never win. No one will forget the heroes of 9/11.

Military Wife Speaks Out About Families

When the men( or women) in  our lives go off to war , the wives and husbands left behind have their own battle to fight. It starts the week before they leave; there’s a tension(with a underlying fear) that falls on the family,and a realisation that you may lose them; never see them again,and all the arguments about the chores they never got around to; getting home late as they had to have one more beer and all their infuriating habits are forgotten.

I was left behind to cope with my daughters tantrums; her crying and rebelling and my eldest boy who withdrew into his room,  these problems can be expected people deal with stress and loss differently and its only natural that the kids missed their father and were frightened for him.

I suddenly found myself having to deal with the stuff that my husband usually dealt with, trying to keep normality in the house hold, literally everything was down to me and like every Military wife /husband i did it,but it was hard as I had to deal with my own feelings of lonliness, worry and the constant fear of the knock on the door with the dreaded news.

Sunday was definitely the worse day for me I suppose it was because Sunday was our day spending it together going for walks in the forest,visiting antique fairs or just lazing around the house cuddling up and watching TV.

The long nights listening out for every noise in case somebody broke in; tip toing downstairs in the dark with a heavy object just to make sure.  Lying in bed not being able to sleep thinking of my partner feeling sad, lonely and in need of a hug.

I was a bit upset and stressed my car had broken down and I had to get it towed home, the same day my son was opening a window it jammed and his hand went  through the glass so I had to deal with that; how do I board up a window?  did my turn as duty nurse sorting out his cut hand. Later that day I spoke to my mother in law explaining to her what had happened just needing a bit of support and she said those imortal words WELL YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE GETTING IN TO WHEN YOU MARRIED A MILITARY MAN. No you dont, nothing can prepare you .

My hat goes off to all the men and women left behind,I really believe they should receive a medal recognising the part they play. They keep things running smoothly, so that the fighting men and women can concentrate on their job rather than worrying about their families.

Ambush on the Road to Baghdad Out Now

Ambush on the Road to Baghdad is now out! It is a quick read and you can download free from this link here "Smashwords" below is the blurb for the book.

Blurb

Ambush on the Road to Baghdad is the personal experience of a contractor working convoys in Iraq. The book highlights what coalition forces have to face on a daily basis and what they have to go through to survive. This is the second book about the war on Iraq by the U.S bestselling author Simon Chambers.