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Sept. 11 events still fresh in minds of Pentagon survivors

  • Published
  • By Beth Young
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  The events of Sept. 11, 2001 forever changed America and its people and although the nation will never forget the tragedy and all that followed, it is no longer something that is thought of daily for most Americans. Although, for two Team Hill members here, even five years later the events of that warm September morning are still fresh in their minds.

Col. Penny Bailey, 84th Combat Sustainment Wing deputy director and Col. Randy Tymofichuk, 75th Maintenance Group commander, consider themselves not just witnesses as most the country was, but as survivors of 9/11as they both were stationed at the Pentagon on that day.

"Is there guilt of why the Lord saved me and not others? Absolutely," Colonel Bailey said. "But all I know is he did, and I will forever be grateful."

Moments before the attack, Colonel Bailey was on the Army side of the Pentagon, where the plane crashed, when she had the overwhelming urge to go back to her office to check on her daughter who was sick at home.

"As soon as I got into the office, we felt the effects of the airplane hitting the building," she said.

Colonel Bailey said that retelling her story still has not gotten any easier. Time has not faded the memories for Colonel Tymofichuk either.

"I think about it every day when I put on my uniform," he said. "For people who have a direct connection to it, the memory is still pretty vivid. For most of the American public, time moves on; they move on."

While the terrorist attacks where a tragic loss of life, much of what Colonels Tymofichuk and Bailey carry with them are the positive aspects of what came after.

"Right after it happened, our country came together. People of every faith and thought said, 'How can I help?'" Colonel Bailey said. "It brought out the best in all of us - so many wonderful stories."

Days following the attacks support could be seen practically everywhere, as Americans displayed flags and messages.

"That renewed level of patriotism -- it never went away," Colonel Bailey said. "It just got a little quieter."

Another aspect the colonels say has lasted the years after 9/11 is the heightened support of the military.

"While there may be opposition to the war, I think what you see in the general American public is they are still very supportive, and they understand the roles and responsibilities of the military, and they continue to support them," Colonel Tymofichuk said. "You can go out in public in your uniform, and people will still come up and thank you."

Colonel Bailey compares this to the treatment of Vietnam War veterans, who were not received as warmly.

"Our country learned," she said. "Our people are to be commended because no matter what side of this issue they are on, they appreciate our troops and fly their flags. My kids are able to say my mom and dad are in the military without fear. My country bettered herself."

Both colonels witness America learn many lessons from the terrorist attacks and the events that came after.

"I think my country has grown tremendously -- her knowledge of other cultures," Colonel Bailey said. "Our country is strong because we have accepted diversity. And we constantly relearn. We are reminded that we are part of a global society, not just American society. We've relearned about diversity being our strength."

"What 911 does for us, is it demonstrates that we have the capacity and resolve to really truly fight for what we believe in -- our way of life, freedom, the opportunity to express different opinions and live without fear," Colonel Tymofichuk said.

Although the country experienced this together as a whole, the colonels say that the event was different for everyone. Colonel Tymofichuk said that it gave him a stronger sense of purpose in his military career.

"I have more focus in terms of what my job means," he said. "The one thing that I remember most distinctly is when I got home that evening, I got a phone call from work telling me to report to duty the next morning. The building was still on fire. Phones and computers where down, and there was a quarter inch of soot over everything but there was no way we going to demonstrate to them that we weren't going to come back and try to function."

One thing that stays with Colonel Bailey personally is what didn't change for her.

"I am still in love with my country," she said. "I still appreciate the hope and opportunity that she provides everyone. The reason I wanted to be a soldier is that as far as I remember I have been in love with my country. I wanted to thank God for letting me born in America, and thank America for letting me know my Lord. In my young girl mind, being a soldier was a way to do both."

Colonel Bailey said that she would like to see 9/11 made into a day to recognize the rescuers - firemen and policemen, and that they are in harm's way every day.

"It continues to be important that we find an opportunity to recognize the event," Colonel Tymofichuk said. "I hope folks take an opportunity to take a few minutes and reflect and think about exactly what we stand for and what we have to lose."

As the 5th anniversary nears, Americans, without doubt, will be reminded of the events of that warm September morning and how far the county has come.

"It can't help but stay with us," Colonel Bailey said. "It's now part of us, part of our culture. If we have to remember it, remember it for the good."