Remembering 9/11 and My Dear Friend, Doug

Where were you on the morning of September 11, 2001?

I vividly recall that nightmarish day. I was at work in downtown Washington, DC. Some of my co-workers were watching the live newscasts after the first plane struck the World Trade Center. Everyone thought this was a terrible accident at first, even the newscasters.

The disturbing scene of the colossal ball of billowing smoke over the skyline of lower Manhattan looked like the aftermath of a bomb blast.

Another Day of Infamy

How could this have happened, we all wondered? How could a U.S. commercial jetliner crash into one of the most iconic buildings in America?  

But after the second plane hit, it was obvious that this was no accident. Rather it was the worst attack on the American homeland since Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese in another catastrophic surprise attack during World War II.

President Roosevelt called the Pearl Harbor attack, "A date which will live in infamy." The same could now be said about 9/11.

My office building  -- then on the corner of 18th and L Streets, NW -- was only several blocks away from the White House. Thus, my employer swiftly evacuated the building as rumors spread about other planes potentially targeting the nation's capital.

Thereafter, the Pentagon was hit (pictured below). Fear and chaos spread like blazing wildfire. Panic quickly set in. Everyone was in a state of shock and disbelief. This was a nightmare come true. Moreover, as a native New Yorker, I was deeply concerned about my friends and family who were in Manhattan at the time.

Getting Home

I contacted my wife, who worked in suburban Maryland, and told her I was okay and on my way home. However, due to all of the uncertainty, I chose to flee on foot rather than take the subway -- as I thought the transit system could likewise be targeted. Thus, I speedily walked to Massachusetts Avenue and down "Embassy Row" until I arrived on Wisconsin Avenue at the National Cathedral.

I recall the gridlocked traffic with cars honking and "fender benders" occurring  everywhere amid the chaos. Finally, I was able to hail a taxi and get home -- which was then in the town of Chevy Chase, Maryland, which borders Washington.

Luckily, my wife and I arrived home safely. We then frantically tried to contact our family and friends in NYC as we watched the tragic events continue to unfold on live TV. Later that evening, I recall the eerie sound of jet fighters patrolling the skies overhead.

Meanwhile, I wondered about my family and friends in New York, as well as my co-workers in our New York District Office (NYDO).

The NYDO was located in an auxiliary building on the grounds of the World Trade Center. All of my NYC co-workers were safely evacuated amid the horror.

Then the Twin Towers fell and our NY office subsequently crumbled to the ground too.

While all of my NY co-workers had earlier evacuated, as noted, I prayed for my friends and family who worked in Manhattan, including my younger sister. The phone lines were down and I could not get through to anyone.

Fortunately,  as I learned later, my sister was okay. She had watched the towers fall from her office a safe distance away. However, unfortunately, one of my close childhood friends -- who worked on a high floor in one of the towers -- was unaccounted for.

Man in the Red Suit

A traumatized former coworker from our NY office later told a story about "the man in a red suit" -- which epitomized the horror of that day. The coworker, Larry, ominously observed some of the trapped employees on the higher floors of the World Trade Center as they jumped to their deaths after the planes hit.

But Larry couldn't get one person out of his mind, the man in the red suit.

Why, Larry wondered, would anyone wear a red suit in the financial district? It just didn't make any sense amid all the death and destruction he had witnessed first hand. Larry was haunted by this vision and had nightmares until learning the truth.

As it turned out, the man he watched jump was not wearing a red suit at all. Rather, the man was on fire as he plummeted to his death.

Therefore, the man appeared in a flash of red which looked like a red suit to Larry in his traumatized state. Larry's mind had played tricks on him as he struggled to process the ongoing horror on a mental and emotional level.

Doug's Story

Like many native New Yorkers, I also lost someone close to me on 9/11.

And even though it's been 15 long years now since one of my childhood friends died during the heinous terrorist attacks, I still think about him often and what could have been for a young life cut short.

Doug worked for a financial firm above the 100th floor of the World Trade Center’s south tower. Tragically, Doug was in his office when the planes hit and the towers fell.

Prior to that day from hell, Doug had big plans. He had unexpectedly met his fiancée while commuting to work on the subway. In fact, Doug was engaged to be married in December of 2001. Doug and his fiancée had attended my wedding and I was looking forward to seeing them "tie the knot."

While Doug’s future was bright, his wedding day never arrived. Instead, a memorial service was held in our hometown to honor his life and legacy -- and mourn his untimely death.

Lucky at Love

The New York Times wrote the following about Doug in a tribute entitled, "Lucky Beyond the Odds"...

• "Doug Jason Irgang had the kind of jaw-dropping luck that could win a lottery, or save a life. A financial trader, he was there when the trade center was bombed in 1993."
• "And he was on board the Long Island Rail Road train when Colin Ferguson went on a [shooting] rampage."

"Mr. Irgang was even lucky in love." -- New York Times

• "Riding the No. 4 train to work daily, he noticed that the same young woman was reading his newspaper over his shoulder. This being New York, they barely exchanged hellos."
• "Then one day, the woman scribbled her phone number on the newspaper and told him to call. He did. They were engaged a year and a half later, and set a wedding date for Dec. 22 [2001]."

Doug’s story is just one tragic tale among thousands. These are stories of innocence lost and dreams crushed under the rubble of the once iconic landmark.

Since then a new generation of young people has come of age. Ground Zero in New York City (NYC) has been transformed into a somber memorial to honor the fallen and help families heal. Freedom Tower now graces the pristine NYC skyline next to where the Twin Towers once stood.

Final Thoughts

This weekend, the USA will pause to remember and pay tribute to victims of 9/11 and their families. But, at the same time,  we must also remember that America can ill afford to be complacent, indifferent or detached until the next massive terrorist attack occurs on the homeland.

It's scary, yet important to note, that another major terrorist act may pale in comparison to 9/11. This is due to the potential use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons by radical Islamic extremist groups, like ISIS, whose goal is to destroy the Western World and civilized modern culture.

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NOTE: All views and opinions are those of the author only and not official statements or endorsements of any public sector employer, private sector employer, organization or political entity.