How I remember it.

How I remember it.

“Matt, can I borrow your poncho for the next week? Mine has a hole in it, and I won’t be able to exchange it until next week.”

“Sure, but why do you need it all week?” asked Matt.

“I have ammo supply point (ASP) guard all week, so I am staying there after the demo range today.” Replied Yuma. ?

It is the morning of September 11, 2001. Today will be full of blowing things up at the demolition range. 1st platoon Alpha Company 1st Ranger Battalion Rangers are preparing for a long week of training. New Ranger privates Matthew Commons and Yuma Barnett are hurrying to prepare their rucksacks and range gear. Being a Ranger private in the early 2000s was no picnic. Lots of running, pushups, situps, buffing floors, cleaning brass fittings, and training. Always training. Training for a war many were convinced would never arrive.

“Oh man, sucks to be you. It is going to rain all week. Have fun guarding the ASP.” Matt replied, all while giggling. Thankful he had not drawn guard this week.

“No, shit, Matt. Hints why I’m asking for the poncho. Laugh it up. Your time will come. Are you ready to go draw weapons from the arms room?”

“Not yet. I have to pack a few more things. I’ll meet you over there.”

“Roger that.” Said Yuma as he left their barracks room and entered the 1st platoon hallway heading to the arms room.

For a Ranger private entering the 1st platoon hallway is a scary venture. You never knew what squad leader, team leader, or, god forbid, tab spec four you may encounter. Lucky for Matt and Yuma, they lived in room 103, which was close to the exit doors of the barracks. If Yuma were fortunate, his journey to the arms room would be uneventful. Yuma entered the hallway and made haste for the exit. Just as he was about to exit, it happened.

“Hey, private! Where the f&%K are you going? Are you packed and ready for the range?” ?It was a specialist: a tab spec four and one of the 1st platoon E4 mafia leaders, Specialist Moose.

“Specialist, I am going to the arms room to draw my weapon, and yes, specialist, I’m all packed,” Yuma replied quickly and concisely, hoping that the Moose would let him go about his business.

“Okay, since you are going to the arms room, draw my SAW for me. When you get back, be prepared to lay your ruck out so I can ensure you are not bullshitting me.” Moose left it at that, turned, and went back into his room.

Yuma wanted to tell Moose to draw his own damn weapon, but that is not how things work. Yuma made his way through the back of the Aco headquarters, passing the anti-tank section area en route to the arms room. Yuma filled out all the paperwork to draw his and Moose’s weapons. Yuma exited the headquarters building as he had entered, making his way past the large wood Aco sign painted red. Through the steel double doors of the barracks, past the CQ desk, and back into the 1st platoon hallway. The hallway was not as he had left it. When he went to the arms room, the hallway was busy with Rangers preparing for the day and week of training. Now it was dead quiet, and the Rangers that did remain in the hallway peered through room doors, all looking at TVs.

Yuma entered his room, and there stood Matt, Drew, and Nick. They were all staring at the television. Yuma, very confused, looked at the TV, expecting to see a Brittney Spears music video. Only Brittney had the power to make the Ranger platoon pause a few minutes while doing range prep. Yuma set his and Moose’s weapons down and looked at the TV. It was not Brittney. The screen was showing New York City and what appeared to be a building on fire.

“Matt, what is going on?” Asked Yuma.

“I’m not sure. I think a plane crashed into the World Trade Center in New York.”

They all stood there and just stared at the TV. Suddenly what appeared to be a plane crashed into the other building that was not yet smoking. At about this time, we also began to realize that this was not a random act but a deliberate attack.

“We are going to war!” Yelled someone into the hallway.

And as they say, the rest is history.

Never forget.?