Courtesy Photo | FORWARD OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq (Sept. 3, 2006) - 1st Sgt. Vincent Mannion and...... read more read more
Spc. Kyndal Hernandez
45th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq (Sept. 3, 2006) - As his unit's trucks leave this logistics hub each day, a first sergeant is driven by the Sept. 11 events in New York City where he experienced the aftermath of the terrorist attacks as a policeman at Ground Zero.
Deployed to Q-West with New York's 773rd Transportation Company, 1st Sgt. Vincent Mannion said he feels a sense of obligation to honor the victims of Sept. 11. Along with other Soldiers from his reserve unit, Mannion will participate in a remembrance ceremony hosted by the 71st Corps Support Battalion.
Mannion described the morning of Sept. 11 as a typical end of a long shift. He and his partner were finishing their plain clothes assignment when a radio message urged them back to the command station.
"We heard sirens and saw fire trucks everywhere," Mannion said. "We knew something big had happened, but we weren't sure what."
When they found out one of the towers had been hit by a plane, Mannion first thought it was another accident. "A few years before, a small aircraft had accidentally hit one of the towers, so that was our first thought," he said.
As they drove to the command station, they heard the second tower had been hit as well.
"At that point, we knew it was not an accident," Mannion said. "We immediately thought the worst and were trying everything we could to get back to command as soon as possible."
Once there, Mannion rushed to change into his uniform. As he was putting on his gear, he watched television coverage as the first tower collapsed.
"I had a lot of mixed emotions at that moment," Mannion explained. "I knew right then and there, the entire world had changed. We wanted to call our families and let them know we were okay, but we couldn't because the job came first."
Mannion said there were thousands of people downtown that morning, and he and his partner feared many lives were lost. They just hoped it wasn't anyone they knew and rushed to guard the subway tunnels.
On the following days, Mannion did his job guarding the tunnels, but constantly offered his help at Ground Zero. Eventually, his offer was accepted.
"At first, we weren't allowed to go down because they said they had enough people to help," Mannion explained. "Of course our job was important guarding the tunnels. We just wanted to do more to help, so when they started to let us down there, we became part of the bucket brigade and the rescue efforts."
The "bucket brigade" consisted of police officers, firefighters and volunteers who would painstakingly sift through the rubble with rakes and buckets looking for any kind of identification – or remains.
"We were digging for anything significant, anything that would give people closure," Mannion said. "It was really sad because there were police officers and firefighters actually looking for their friends, and fathers looking for their sons."
"It was something I will never forget," he added.
The most memorable moments were the tributes to the victims who were found at Ground Zero, Mannion said. Each time victims were found, the brigade of volunteers stopped their work to salute, or pay respect, as the remains were transported out of the "hole" on a stretcher draped with an American flag.
Because of his experience, Mannion said he was compelled to do his part in the War on Terrorism. He has served 23 years in the military, and is on his third deployment – serving in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm and twice during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"I came out here by choice. The Army didn't say 'Hey, you have to go.' I said to the Army, 'I want to go.'"
USAR
| Date Taken: | 09.05.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.05.2006 12:14 |
| Story ID: | 7612 |
| Location: | QAYYARAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 291 |
| Downloads: | 75 |
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