Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Sirrina E. Martinez | Sgt. Christen Marchio lowers the flag in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD - On Monday, Sept. 11, Soldiers with the 347th Regional Support Group (RSG), currently deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, participated in memorial events across Iraq and Kuwait. With the passing of the 21st anniversary of one of the most memorable events in American history, many of those who make up Task Force Victory have reflected on their memories of 9/11, and how it shaped their lives.
Much like those who were alive when former President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, if you ask the average American where they were when the first plane hit the World Trade Center, you would be given a vivid description that places you right in the moment with them.
For Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Nicholls, currently stationed at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center (BDSC) in Iraq, his memory involves waking up to the devastating news after the mother of one of his roommates called to tell them what had happened.
“I woke up to the news,” Nicholls said. “I woke up to the mom of one of my roommates telling us we were going to war.”
Although war had not yet been declared, to many Americans, it was an anticipated result of the attacks. His initials thoughts and feelings after hearing the news, Nicholls said, were those of shock and disbelief.
“It was just disbelief,” he said. “It was ‘What do you mean a plane hit a tower?’ It was a shock.”
At 19 years old, Nicholls had already been enlisted into the military for a year, and the friends that he lived with were also Soldiers. Like many others, they were glued to the TV all week, waiting to see what would happen next.
“We watched the news all day like everybody else,” he said. “And, you know, we had some suspicions that it would affect our lives going forward.”
For many young Americans like him, living in a nation at war had not been a norm for Nicholls or his friends. The events of 9/11, he recalls, were covered in great depth, creating a moment in time that his generation will never forget.
“It was an event that our generation will always remember where we were,” he said. “And we will always remember that following week.”
One of the things that permeates his memory the most, Nicholls said, is the way that people across the country came together in the days following the national tragedy.
“One of the things I think of is how our country came together,” he said. “We were unified, one team at that point.”
Nicholls would go on to deploy later in August of 2004 to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to assist other deploying units as rear detachment personnel in future deployments after that. Now, is stationed here in Iraq, this time in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Being here, he said, helps him to remember that there is ‘no place like home,’ and that he is glad to be here with his unit.
“I’m happy that I’m able to come here and do this,” Nicholls said about his current deployment. “…that I can be with my unit…. I’m happy to do my part.”
Another Soldiers currently stationed at BDSC, Master Sgt. Thomas Fox, found himself found himself entering military service after the events of 9/11 unfolded. Fox, who was 17 years old when the tragedy occurred, remembers being at home alone preparing for school that day.
“I was preparing for my first class, I needed a current events topic to discuss during Civics,” Fox said. “I was going to talk about the possibility of Michael Jordan coming out of retirement again, when the broadcast on every channel switched to a live feed of the North tower on fire. Initial reports were that a private jet impacted the tower, and there was speculation as to how that would have happened.”
Not long after, the reality of what was happening sank in even further for Fox, as he watched a second plane hit the other tower.
“I remember the second plane entering from the right side of the screen, and colliding with the south tower,” he said. “It was surreal, because I was in my house alone, but as soon as the second plane hit, everything went quiet. Whether it was the shock of the footage, or the broadcasters being speechless, that is one thing I remember, being silent and alone in my thoughts.”
After the initial shock, Fox grabbed his stuff and drove to school, and ran into the faculty office to tell them to turn on the TV, because planes had impacted the World Trade Center.
“There was a general pause and disbelief,” he said. “But we all eventually tuned in. We watched through the other two flights crashing and continued to observe coverage on and off all day.”
Like Nicholls, Fox recalled the reactions of the community around him, including the shared fear of many Americans that there would be more attacks, and a ripple effect on the economy as a result of speculated oil embargos in response to Al Qaeda’s involvement in the attacks.
“Everyone was hyper-vigilant,” he said.
Fox said that his decision to enlist in the military on January 4th, 2002, was ‘two-fold.’ While he was looking for financial support to help him pay for college, like many other American men and women, he felt the call of duty to his country. How far that call would take him, Fox said, was far greater than he imagined.
“I had no idea how extensive my involvement in the War on Terror (through) Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve would be over the next 21 years,” he said.
Fox first deployed to Italy and Turkey in 2003 in support of OEF, and then immediately after his return in 2004, he was activated in October of 2005 for six months of training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi before deploying to Iraq in 2006 for OIF. While there, Fox was involuntarily extended for five months, before returning in July of 2007. In 2008, Fox was deployed to Iraq again, and in 2014 he was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. Now, he is back in Baghdad, for Operation Inherent Resolve.
Being back here for the 21st anniversary of 9/11, Fox said, is a ‘multi-faceted’ feeling.
“It is a multi-faceted feeling,’ he said. ‘I take pause every day to understand my role in an effort that has spanned the overwhelming majority of my career. I attempt to remain conscious of my actions and service in the Army, and I am somber in my memories as to what led me to this point in my military career.”
Fox said that although he misses his loved ones and appreciates their sacrifices while he is gone, he is proud of the work he has done with his teammates, past and present. His hope, Fox said, is that everyone takes time to appreciate time with those they love.
“I hope that everyone takes time, even a moment, every day to appreciate the time they have with their friends and family,” he said. “Days like 9/11 give ample opportunity for pause, but we should not (only) use days like this to remember to take time.”
For another 347th RSG Soldier, 9/11 was an event that would push her to work towards fulfilling her dream of joining the military. Sgt. Christen Marchio, currently stationed at Erbil Air Base (EAB), Iraq, remembers her boyfriend’s mother coming down the stairs to share the news.
“She said ‘You have to see this. History is being made,’” Marchio said. “As she turned on the TV, I saw smoke billowing out of a high rise building and read the scrolling headlines. I was in shock.”
At the age of 18, Marchio recalls watching the chaos and disorder, overcome with disbelief that something like that would happen in the ‘land of the free.’
While watching what felt like a horror movie unfolding in front of her, Marchio said she was overcome by the desire to head to City to help. Although that wasn’t a possibility at the time, the feeling relit her desire to enlist.
“I was not currently serving when the attacks occurred, but I had always felt a calling that it was my destiny to serve my country and defend those I love and their freedom,” she said. “This act of terrorism on the United States, on our home soil, on our people, only solidified that I needed to serve. I had an overwhelming sense that this was where I belonged.”
Although her enlistment was delayed for many years due to a medical clearance, Marchio continued to push toward fulfilling her dream. She was eventually able to enlist into the Minnesota National Guard on Jan. 10, 2014. Her time in service has brought her on two state active-duty assignments, and on a tour at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from 2020-2021.
Now, being here in Iraq on the 21st anniversary of 9/11, Marchio said she has had time to reflect on what she has done in her career, and the sacrifices made by her and her family for her to fulfill her dream.
“I have made many sacrifices, and so has my family, so that I may fulfilling my calling, to serve my country and its way of life,” she said. “It (9/11) was a humbling day here. I raised and lowered several American flags to honor and remember those who are serving, have served, support our service, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”
| Date Taken: | 09.14.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.20.2022 08:11 |
| Story ID: | 429677 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 221 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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