New generation of soldiers grew up in the wake of 9/11

Photo By 1st Sgt. Justin A. Naylor | Spc. Robin Williams, a Laguna Beach, Calif., native and an intelligence analyst with 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Advise and Assist), 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division-North, talks on the phone at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Sept. 6 while serving on a deployment there. Williams, who is 20, spent a large part of his life growing up with the memory of 9/11.  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

09.12.2011

Story by Sgt. Justin A. Naylor 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Spc. Robin Williams was only nine years old when the World Trade Center was attacked.

Fourth grade had just begun, and as he sat waiting for a bus to take him to school he remembers overhearing the radio of a nearby car and listening as DJ described the scene of the attack to his listeners.

At nine years old, you’re not very aware of the world around you, and I didn’t really understand what had happened until much later, Williams recalls.

Now, 10 years later, Williams is serving as an intelligence analyst in Iraq, and like other soldier his age, he has spent a large part of his life growing up in the shadow of 9/11.

“I never really knew what it was like before 9/11,” said the Laguna Beach, Calif., native.

As I was growing up, the effects of 9/11 were everywhere. From the Global War on Terror being fought around the world to changes in airport security right here at home, it seems like 9/11 has always had an influence in my life, he said.

Unlike the previous generation of soldiers that enlisted before the attacks, the young Soldiers takes the Oath of Enlistment knowing that the specter of deployments in support of counter-terrorism operations is ever present.

“Growing up after 9/11, I think my generation is keenly aware that there are people out there that want to kill us,” said Williams. “I joined knowing I would be in harms way and I accepted the risk, and I will give my life to prevent another tragedy like 9/11 from occurring on American soil.” Sgt. Jeremiah Creech was already a junior in high school when the Twin Towers were hit.

“I walked into my first period English and everyone had this grave look on their faces and was watching the TV,” recalls Creech. “I saw smoke in one tower and a plane hit the other tower. I remember seeing people jump out of the tower, because they had to choose between burning alive or jumping.”

I felt angry and apprehensive, and I knew this would change everything, he said.

Creech, a Garland, Texas, native now serving as an infantryman, had already planned on joining the military, and 9/11 only served to reaffirm his commitment.

“I felt like me being an able bodied young man, it wouldn’t be right to sit stateside and not serve my country,” said Creech.

Creech is currently serving on his second deployment to Iraq.

“There is not a doubt in my mind that we have made a tremendous difference in stopping attacks like 9/11 from happening again,” said Creech. “It takes a lot of resources to carry out an attack like that, and with U.S. soldiers being here and in Afghanistan, terrorists have to dedicate those resources to fighting us in their own turf.” Creech says that while people may not agree with the solutions that government came up with after 9/11, such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he’s proud to be part of the solution that is in place.

For soldiers, whether they are young or old, junior enlisted or a general grade officer, the effects of 9/11 are always present.

“Our lives in the military post-9/11 are greatly influenced by that day,” said Williams.

We are deployed, deploying or training for deployments so that we can continue to fight the kind of enemies that are willing to attack us like those that did on 9/11, he continued.

Ten years later, the memory of 9/11 might not be fresh as it once was, but its influence remains a daily part of the lives of Soldiers who deploy in support of counter terrorism operations. New soldiers join having grown up in the shadow of 9/11, and with the knowledge that they may be asked to fight the same type of enemies that attacked their country on that day.

• Date Taken: 09.12.2011
• Date Posted: 09.12.2011 06:56
• Story ID: 76870
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ