story4081.xml
Title
story4081.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-11
911DA Story: Story
Our day is usually started in the break room near our dispatch center. As I entered the room for a cup of coffee I saw the first plane hit the World Trades Center. I first thought it was a re-enactment of some sort. As the story developed, the second plane hit. I told the dispatchers and essential crews to stand by for a heightened alert within our county. Minutes later, when the incident was claimed to be terroristic, we locked down dispatch and brought all off duty crew members in to a briefing.
My job as Emergency Management Coordinator many times brings me to have to confront death and emotion. However, as people began jumping from the towers and as the first tower collasped, I realized I was watching the deaths of fellow firefighters, police officers and EMS Workers. Death is hard enough to deal with when you work with the public, but is very emotional when brothers in service pass before your eyes.
May we never forget!
With God's Grace,
Bill Pippins, Jr.
Dexter, Missouri
My job as Emergency Management Coordinator many times brings me to have to confront death and emotion. However, as people began jumping from the towers and as the first tower collasped, I realized I was watching the deaths of fellow firefighters, police officers and EMS Workers. Death is hard enough to deal with when you work with the public, but is very emotional when brothers in service pass before your eyes.
May we never forget!
With God's Grace,
Bill Pippins, Jr.
Dexter, Missouri
Collection
Citation
“story4081.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 13, 2026, https://www.911digitalarchive.org/items/show/12442.