THE HORROR :

EXCERPT : from The Cell: Inside the 9/11 Plot, and Why the FBI and CIA Failed to Stop It (John Miller and Michael Stone with Chris Miller)

Arriving at the fire department's makeshift command post on West Street in the shadow of 1 World Trade Center, the mayor and the police commissioner witnessed a scene of almost unimaginable horror. Hundreds of office workers were streaming out of both towers under a rain of glass, steel and airplane and body parts; the air was choked with smoke and ash; the street awash in blood.

Surrounded by aides, Giuliani met briefly with the fire department's top commanders-Thomas Von Essen, the commissioner; Bill Feehan, his first deputy; Pete Ganci, the chief of department; and Deputy Chief Ray Downey. Giuliani listened to their plans to evacuate the buildings, while Kerik consulted with police. One familiar face on the scene belonged to John Coughlin, an Emergency Services Unit (ESU) sergeant who had once saved Kerik's daughter from choking.

About 9:40, Giuliani and Kerik, now joined by the fire commissioner and other top administration officials, trooped a few blocks north to set up a forward command post. "God bless you," the mayor said to Ganci on leaving.

"Thank you," Ganci said. "God bless you."

"Pray for us," Giuliani then said to Mychal Judge, the department chaplain, who was standing nearby.

"Don't worry," Judge told the mayor. "I always do."

Fire Department Chief Peter Ganci, First Deputy Fire Commissioner William Feehan, Deputy Chief Ray Downey, John Coughlin, and Father Mychal Judge all died not much later that morning. Father Judge was reportedly hit by a falling body while praying over a dying firefighter.
Posted by Orrin Judd at September 2, 2002 10:20 AM