Rescue group Airmen remember September 11th

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Luke Johnson
  • 943rd Rescue Group
DAVIS MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  This year marks the 10th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. This turning point mobilized a country not seen since the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

On Sept. 11, 2001, many of the Airmen now with the 943rd Rescue Group were either on active duty, a Traditional Reservist (a servicemember serving one weekend a month, two weeks a year as a minimum) or did not even consider joining the military till they saw the events that unfolded before them on that day. Despite the many reasons Airmen from the 943rd RQG serve, the tragedy of September 11th became a focal point for their service.

Master Sgt. Tammy Moore, 943rd Maintenance Squadron Training Manger was coming home from a deployment when she first heard about the devastating attacks on our country.

"I was active duty; a Senior Airmen at the time, on my way home from Kuwait supporting Operation Southern Watch," said Sergeant Moore. "I was in a C-17 just outside of Boston when I first heard the news about the first tower. Initially they thought it was some type of mid-air collision."

When her plane landed at Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., they piled into a tiny billeting office and watched as the towers collapsed; the Pentagon attack and the plane crash in Pennsylvania.

"The defining moment for me was standing in that room and having a sense of panic," said Sergeant Moore. "I didn't know when it was going to stop or what was going to come next. I was kind of waiting for that next bad thing to happen and thankfully nothing happened after that."

A year later, she separated but there was something inside of her calling her back to serve.

"I was going to the University of Arizona. I spent so much time watching everything on TV about the war and it broke my heart. It tore me up that I was not there helping," said Sergeant Moore. "One night, I was watching something on TV about Afghanistan. I looked at the screen and stood up and said 'I'm going.'"

Master Sgt. Edward Dawson, 305th Rescue Squadron Senior Aerial Gunner, was flying training missions at here the night prior to the September 11 attacks.

"I was at home and turned on the TV and saw the tape of the first airline hitting the World Trade Center, and then I saw the live footage of the second plane hitting the second building," said Sergeant Dawson. "I called the squadron to see what they needed us to do, and they said the base was on lock down."

Sergeant Dawson got all of his gear ready and was prepared for whatever was to happen next.

"A couple of days later, we were tasked to fly around the base during the hours of darkness and look for anything suspicious with security forces on board," said Sergeant Dawson.

At the end of September 2011, Sergeant Dawson volunteered for a Southern Watch deployment.

"In February the following year, I signed into the unit training assembly weekend and the commander told us we were all being activated and had to show up Monday morning ready to go to support Southern Watch and also Operation Enduring Freedom operations," said Sergeant Dawson.

Staff Sgt. Ryan Gilbert, pararescueman with the 306th Rescue Squadron, was a civilian living in San Diego with his sister when she called him down stairs to watch TV.

"The pictures and the video they were showing really caught me off guard," said Sergeant Gilbert. "I remember being angry and saddened by what I was seeing. I took it personally that someone was attacking our country."

After he enlisted in the Air Force in 2003, the events of September 11th became the focal point of why Sergeant Gilbert was serving in the military.

"September 11th started meaning more to me once I joined the Air Force," said Sergeant Gilbert. "When I got deployed it was the answer to why we were deploying; it was because someone attacked our country, and we were going to do whatever we needed to so that this would not happen again."

The events of September 11th hit home for Staff Sgt. David Adams, pararescueman with the 306th Rescue Squadron, when he was in pararesuce training and an instructor spoke about the significance of that day and what it means to serve.

"He explained to us that it was an attack our own soil, and it was not till then that it really clicked," said Sergeant Adams. "I thought that this is serious business and at that point I really wanted to do well and contribute to fighting for my country and all that we stand for."

For more information about the 920th RQW, log on to the wing's Web site: www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.