MSNBC-National Geographic still screenshot; 9/11 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City.
0846 – Flight 11 crashed into the north face of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
America is at war.
0850-0854 – Flight 77 is hijacked.
Archive for the ‘Memorial’ Category
9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 0846
Friday, September 11th, 20209/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 0800
Friday, September 11th, 2020
0814 – United Airlines Flight 175, a Boeing 767 carrying 56 passengers and nine crew members, departed from Logan International Airport, bound for Los Angeles International Airport, with five hijackers onboard.
0820 – American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757 carrying 58 passengers and six crew members, departed from Washington Dulles International Airport in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, Virginia, bound for Los Angeles International Airport, with five hijackers aboard.
0842 – United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757 carrying 37 passengers and seven crew members departed from Newark International Airport, bound for San Francisco International Airport, with four hijackers aboard.
0842-0846 – Flight 175 is hijacked.
9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 0700
Friday, September 11th, 2020
0735 – terrorists Atta and al-Omari board American Airlines Flight 11, along with the rest of the Flight 11 hijackers.
0759 – American Airlines Flight 11 departs towards Los Angeles International Airport.
9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 0600
Friday, September 11th, 2020
0600 – terrorists Mohammed Atta and Abdulaziz al-Omari traveled to Logan International Airport from Portland International Jetport in Portland, Maine.
0652 – fellow terrorist Marwan al-Shehhi called Atta at Logan to confirm the plans of the attack.
FirstSpear Friday Focus – 9/11
Friday, September 11th, 2020As of today US Military, Government and Law Enforcement personnel have been continuously deployed domestically and globally for over 6,938 Days beginning with Operation Noble Eagle on 14 September 2001 preventing and prosecuting terrorists, the FirstSpear Team would like to take this moment to extend our profound gratitude to them, their families and loved ones as they continuously bring punishment and retribution to those enemies of freedom.
In the words of the late Major Douglas A. Zembiec, USMC:
“Never forget those that were killed. And never let rest those that killed them.”
BCM – Remembering 9/11
Friday, September 11th, 2020
September 11, 2001. 402 first responders give their lives in the effort to save the over 3,000 innocent people trapped in tower one and tower two. Nineteen years later, BCM honors their selflessness and remembers the weight of their loss.
In Memoriam – Melvin Hill, Veteran of First Combat HALO Mission
Saturday, August 15th, 2020It has come to our attention that MSG Melvin Hill (USA, Ret) has passed away at age 81. He was not only an Army veteran but served in Special Forces and MACV-SOG during the Vietnam war where he was the team leader for the first combat HALO mission. He was awarded the Silver Star for that mission.
Melvin Hill was born March 26, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York and joined the Army in 1955. During his career he served with:
18th Regimental Combat Team (Airborne)
Airborne School – HALO instructor,
Special Forces (joined in 1964)
MAV-SOG (Two tours)
After his retirement Mel worked at the US General Services Administration, Washington, DC for 14 years.
Melvin Hill served two tours in Vietnam. His first tour was in 1966 with MACV-SOG, Khe Sanh, RVN, Spike Team Oklahoma. He returned in 1970 to MACV-SOG, Command and Control North (CCN), Recon Company, Recon Team Florida.
Melvin was the team leader for the first MACV-SOG, High Altitude Low Opening (HALO), Combat Jump. He was awarded the Silver Star for that HALO jump (28 November 1970).
Hill is seen here with Cliff Newman who also participated in that fabled jump along with Sammy Hernandez.
The citation for his Silver Star reads:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Melvin Hill, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 28 November 1970, while serving as Team Leader of a Combined Reconnaissance Team, Republic of Vietnam. At 0200 hours Sergeant Hill fearlessly led his team from the tail gate of a C-130 aircraft at an altitude of 17,000 feet on the first free fall into hostile territory in the history of the United States Army. This awesome free fall carried him through two cloud layers and light rain to penetrate deep in the enemy’s rear area. The team landed in rugged terrain, but, due to the intensive training and rehearsal conducted by Sergeant Hill, sustained no injuries. Having cached their parachutes, the team moved through the high-threat area toward their target to accomplish their reconnaissance mission. During their five-day stay behind enemy lines, the team gathered sufficient hard intelligence to mark this mission a success. As a result of Sergeant Hill’s training, motivation and fearless leadership, his team was able to accomplish a harrowing mission which testifies to his courage and moral fiber. Sergeant First Class Hill’s conspicuous gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.
Biographical information and photos from Special Operations Association and Special Forces Taps groups on Facebook.
SCUBAPRO Sunday – Operations Red Wings
Sunday, June 28th, 2020On 28 June 2005, U.S. Special Operations suffered our its biggest loss since WWII. Please take a moment today and think about the fallen and their families. Long Live the Brotherhood
Lt. (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y.
Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson, 29, of Cupertino, Calif.
Machinist Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Eric S. Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nev.
Senior Chief Information Systems Technician (SEAL) Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, N.H.
Quartermaster 2nd Class (SEAL) James Suh, 28, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two, Virginia Beach, Va.
Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny P. Dietz, 25, of Littleton, Colo.
SEAL Team Ten, Virginia Beach, Va.
Chief Fire Controlman (SEAL) Jacques J. Fontan, 36, of New Orleans, La.
Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Erik S. Kristensen, 33, of San Diego, Calif.
Electronics Technician 1st Class (SEAL) Jeffery A. Lucas, 33, of Corbett, Ore.
Lt. (SEAL) Michael M. McGreevy Jr., 30, of Portville, N.Y.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SEAL) Jeffrey S. Taylor, 30, of Midway, W.Va.
3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare, 29, of Danville, Ohio.
Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature, 35, of Clarks Grove, Minn.
Sgt. Kip A. Jacoby, 21, of Pompano Beach, Fla.
Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of Shelbyville, Ind.
Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, of Washington Depot, Conn.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Stafford, Va.
Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach, 40, of Jacksonville, Fla.
HQ Company, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky.
Master Sgt. James W. Ponder III, 36, of Franklin, Tenn.
