[MRCA] [Milsurplus] Rembering 9/11, 25 years later

[KD2GIY]

Gene,
Thank you for that story, it's good to see our hobby was able to help that
woman.

I myself reflect on this day in a thankful way.
I'm thankful I'm still alive because on that day I was in the world trade
center. Specifically the PATH train in the basement. I would take the PATH
train from journal square then walk through the mall in the trade center
then a few blocks to South ferry to go back to Staten Island.

Never again, never should have happened.


Best regards
Dave
KD2GIY

On Fri, Sep 11, 2026, 12:18 PM Gene Smar via MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net>
wrote:

> Twenty-five years ago, I was working from home when my wife called me from
> her work as a nurse at the local hospital. She asked if I were watching TV.
> I said no. She said turn on the TV and hung up.
>
> I saw the smoking North Tower. Minutes later the second plane hit the
> South Tower. I turned on my HF radio to monitor for any emcomm nets.
>
> In early afternoon I heard a call on 40M from a W2 Ham asking if anyone
> could place a phone call to Rockville, MD, my home QTH. I answered and
> offered to make the call. The message was from a woman in NJ whose fiance
> lived in Rockville but worked in the Pentagon. She'd been trying to reach
> him at work and home all morning, but could not get through - "fast busy"
> signal from the jammed telephone circuits between NYC and WDC areas. She
> wanted to know if he was ok.
>
> I dialed his home number and, after a couple of rings, he answered. I
> explained that I was a Ham radio operator and had a message from his
> fiance. He told me he was OK. He didn't go into work that day. He asked me
> to pass along to his fiance that he was safe at home, that he would call
> her that evening if he could, and that he loved her.
>
> I hung up the phone and called the W2 on 40. He responded and I told him I
> spoke with the fiance and passed along his message. He told me he'd contact
> the woman with this reassuring news.
>
> A couple hours later, while I was still listening to 40, the W2 Ham called
> me again. He said the woman was relieved with the news from her fiance and
> was grateful for our help in contacting him.
>
> May the victims all rest in peace.
>
> 73 de
> Gene Smar AD3F
>
>
> Sent from my Radio Shack TRS-80 model 100 laptop
>
> On Fri, Sep 11, 2026 at 11:06 AM, n2lxm--- via Milsurplus
> <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>
> I was a volunteer for the local Red Cross Chapter in Central New Jersey on
> 9 / 11. I got the call to get to the chapter and load up. We were needed in
> the Atlantic Highland’s. We spent hours getting people off of boats and
> onto buses. I could see the smoke across the bay. The look on the people’s
> faces is something I will never forget. May All that were lost that Day
> Rest in Peace. And Bless All those who responded to the Call,
>
>
>
>
>                                                            N2LXM
>                                                          American
>                                                            Patriot
>                                       Proud Father of Two U.S. Marines
>                                                         Semper Fy
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