Haunting first-person account of the events of 9.11 from a firefighter, published in a firefighter’s newsletter.

I am pulling a heavy six-inch hose through the muck when I see Mike Carter, the Vice-president of the firefighters union, on the hose just before me. He’s a good friend, and we barely say hello to each other. I see Kevin Gallagher, the union president, who is looking for his son who is unaccounted for. Someone calls to me. It is Jimmy Boyle, the retired president of the union, the man who gave us such great leadership in my time in the job. “I can’t find Michael,” he says. Michael Boyle, his son, was with Engine 33, and the whole company is missing. I can’t say anything to Jimmy, but just throw my arms around him.

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