Real-Life Superheroes

9/11 Oral History: Valerie Combs, Flight Attendant

Learn what 9/11 felt like for a flight attendant, Valerie Combs, who was scheduled for takeoff from Washington DC – site of one of the attacks – on the morning of September 11th. She shares her experience with her daughter and with us.

To Learn More: vimeo.com/441700004

Source: GGC

Lt. Clifford Freer, FDNY

Lt. Clifford Freer, a now twenty-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department, awoke to a catastrophe on September 11, 2001 after two airplanes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. He quickly sprang into action, making his way to the scene where, despite mass confusion, poor visibility from the dust, and the lack of a centralized command post, he went to work alongside hundreds of others, some on duty and others there as volunteers, to do everything he could to help. In this video, he describes how Ground Zero impacted him, as well as the enormity of the rescue operation. Despite the unimaginable work ahead of him, Lt. Clifford Freer showed the world what it means to IGNITE GOOD!™ and, even now, reminds us that Real Life Superheroes never answer violence with more violence. Watch the video to listen to the story in his own words.

To Learn More: vimeo.com/442905016

Source: Global Game Changers

Lt. Col. Curt Nutbrown, U.S. Army

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Lt. Col. Curt Nutbrown was working at the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77, with 184 innocent people aboard, crashed into the western side of the building. Despite overwhelming destruction and many losses, he survived, managing to pull himself and others from the wreckage. Afterward, he would go on to serve as a Casualty Assistance Officer during the rescue efforts and, many years later, become the Founder and Managing Director of The Heroes Support Brigade. Despite the pain he has endured, not just from the attacks, but from the “Ground Zero illness” that resulted from them, he has continued to IGNITE GOOD!™ for the people and country he believes in. That makes him a Real Life Superhero in our eyes! Watch the video to listen the story from the man himself.

To Learn More: vimeo.com/442909497 , amerika-in-augsburg.de

Source: Vimeo, Amerika in Augsburg

Volunteers Pack Meals

Over 4,000 volunteers from the 9/11 Day nonprofit came together on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks to pack nonperishable meals for victims of 2019’s Hurricane Dorian.

To Learn More: amny.com/news/intrepid-9-11

Source: Amny

Hospitality in Gander

Kevin Tuerff tells the story of how his time in Gander, Newfoundland (Canada) inspired him to start Pay It Forward 9/11, an organization that aims to spread kindness through selfless acts.

To Learn More: payitforward911.org/background-history

Source: Pay It Forward 9/11

Rossford Teens Raise $1M

Four teens walked from Ohio to Ground Zero in New York City, NY to raise money for 9/11 memorials. In the end, they raised over 1 million dollars.

To Learn More: toledoblade.com/frontpage/2006

Source: The Blade

Students Honor Local Heroes

Students of First Assembly in North Little Rock, AR have been holding a Heroes Luncheon to honor first responders since 2002.

To Learn More: thv11.com/article/news/education

Source: THV11

The Story of 9/11 Day

The nonprofit organization MyGoodDeed was founded by two friends, Jay Winuk and David Paine. Winuk, who lost his brother during the attack on 9/11, felt inspired to make 9/11 a national day of service.

To Learn More: 911day.org/our-story

Source: 911 Day

Acts of Kindness Restore Hope

Relationships between mentor and child, sponsored by the organization Tuesday’s Children, became an invaluable support system for those who were impacted by the tragedy of 9/11.

To Learn More: cbsnews.com/news/acts-of , tuesdayschildren.org

Source: CBS News

Veterinarians at the Pentagon

After the crash at the Pentagon, it wasn’t just the rescue workers who searched through the wreckage to find people trapped beneath the rubble but also a crew of veterinarians and their dogs.

To Learn More: news.vin.com/default

Source: VIN News

Manal Ezzat

Serving in the Army Corps of Engineers, Manal Ezzat was present on the day that the Pentagon was attacked. Determined to turn the site of tragedy into a site of peace, she helped transform part of the crash site into a chapel for people of all faiths.

To Learn More: bangordailynews.com/2019/09

Source: Bangor Daily News

A Pentagon Tour Guide

Beau Doboszenski was working as a tour guide on the opposite side of the Pentagon when the building was struck by American Airlines Flight 77. He went around the barricades to reach a medical triage station and help give first aid to the victims.

To Learn More: businessinsider.com/7-incredible-stories

Source: Business Insider

F-16 Pilots Prepared

Two National Guard pilots took to the skies in unarmed F-16s after the attacks on 9/11, ready to take down any other hijacked planes if necessary. Their willingness to sacrifice themselves to save others was the ultimate act of heroism.

To Learn More: businessinsider.com/7-incredible-stories

Source: Business Inside

Rick Rescorla

Former Army officer Rick Rescorla was working as head of corporate security for Morgan Stanley when the World Trade Center was attacked. He cleared out thousands of people from his floor and went back to save more, all while singing to keep people calm.

To Learn More: businessinsider.com/7-incredible-stories

Source: Business Inside

U.S. Marines Don Their Uniforms

Two former marines, Jason Thomas and Dave Karnes, put on their uniforms and traveled to New York City immediately after hearing about the 9/11 attacks. They not only helped to clear rubble, but they also helped find two officers that had been buried.

To Learn More: businessinsider.com/7-incredible-stories

Source: Business Insider

Welles Crowther

Welles Crowther, who worked as an equity trader in the World Trade Center, helped get many people out of the building during the attacks on 9/11. He was remembered by many survivors and rescue worker as the “Man in the Red Bandana”.

To Learn More: businessinsider.com/7-incredible-stories

Source: Business Insider

9/11 Survivor Speaks to Students

Janice Brooks, who survived the attacks on the World Trade Center, now visits schools and speaks to children born after the attack, explaining why it is important to always remember that tragic day.

To Learn More: bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-london

Source: BBC News

First Responders Day and Night

Firefighters, police officers, and others who reported for duty at Ground Zero endured grueling shifts and dangerous conditions as they looked for survivors and dug through the rubble.

To Learn More: biography.com/news/september-11-2001

Source: Biography.com

Boating to Saftey

Many people fleeing the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center became trapped as they moved south toward the water, Luckily, boaters from all over arrived to pick them up, rescuing nearly 500,00 people.

To Learn More: biography.com/news/september-11-2001

Source: Biography.com

Sister Provides Counseling

For six months, Sister Cynthia Mahoney returned to Ground Zero to provide free counseling for survivors and bless the remains of the fallen.

To Learn More: biography.com/news/september-11-2001

Source: Biography.com

Flight 93 Passengers Fight Back

After United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked, at least four passengers—Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, and Jeremy Glick—made the heroic effort to fight back against their terrorist hijackers.

To Learn More: biography.com/news/september-11-2001

Source: Biography.com

Michael and John

Real Life Heroes Michael Benfante and his co-worker John Cerqueira carried Tina Hansen and her wheelchair down from the 68th floor of the North Tower, even despite increasingly treacherous conditions.

To Learn More: biography.com/news/september-11-2001

Source: Biography.com

Brian and Stanley

After the second plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center, Brian Clark rescued Stanley Praimnath by helping him past the debris that was blocking his exit. The two men proceeded to descend from the destroyed upper floors and made it out of the tower before it fell.

To Learn More: biography.com/news/september-11-2001

Source: Biography.com

Frank De Martini and Pablo Ortiz

Frank De Martini and Pablo Ortiz were inside the North Tower of the World Trade Center when it was hit. Instead of fleeing, they stayed to help people trapped on the tower’s 88th and 89th floors. Along with some of their coworkers, the two are thought to have saved at least 50 lives.

To Learn More: biography.com/news/september-11-2001

Source: Biography.com

Patricia Horoho and the Pentagon

Patricia Horoho, an Army nurse who was then a lieutenant colonel, set up a triage area outside of the Pentagon. With little more than a first aid kit to work with in the beginning, she’s credited with treating 75 people that day.

To Learn More: biography.com/news/september-11-2001

Source: Biography.com

Flight 11 Flight Attendants

After terrorists seized control of American Airlines Flight 11, flight attendants Betty Ong and Madeline Amy Sweeney managed to contact the airline, helping authorities better understand the situation they were facing.

To Learn More: biography.com/news/september-11-2001

Source: Biography.com

Real-Life Heroes

As this list of people shows, not all heroes wore capes—or even uniforms—during the terrorist attacks on 9/11. There were many civilians who also sprang into action, doing everything in their power to save the lives of others.

To Learn More: biography.com/news/september-11-2001

Source: Biography.com

Long-Term Health Effects

The lives lost on September 11th weren’t the only ones. Since that day, hundreds of civilians and first responders have been diagnosed with cancer and other illnesses as a direct result of the attacks. Medical experts believe that airborne pollutants present in the dust left by the collapsing towers are what’s causing these issues.

To Learn More: nbcnews.com/storyline/9-11

Source: NBC News

Muslim American NYPD Cadet

Muslim American Mohammad Salman Hamdani was a trained EMT and NYPD Cadet, and after seeing the tower of smoke coming from the World Trade Center towers, rushed to the site in order to help others—at the cost of his own life. He was later given a police funeral and hailed as a hero.

To Learn More: pri.org/stories/2012-01-04/muslim-american-nypd-cadet-mohammad-salman-hamdani-left-911-memorial-list

Source: The World

8th Grader Delivers 9/11 Speech

In her speech, 8th Grader Taylor Frennete, who was only ten years old when 9/11 happened, praises the first responders who worked so hard to save lives and reminds us all to be thankful for their service.