Veterans Reflect on 25 Years After 9/11

Veterans Reflect on 25 Years After 9/11

On the morning of September 11, 2001, John Byrnes was swimming in a pool beneath Hunter College in Manhattan. Venturing outside for coffee, he heard sirens blaring down Lexington Avenue. In swift succession, Byrnes learned a plane had hit the World Trade Center and witnessed the North Tower collapse on a campus television. Immediately, he headed toward his National Guard armory.

During the subsequent weeks, Byrnes assisted in securing Ground Zero. This experience led him to serve in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Byrnes, along with four other veterans, shared their thoughts with Fox News Digital ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks. Each veteran vividly remembers how 9/11 altered their lives and service trajectory.

Impacts on Veterans’ Lives

Chris Hoff, a former state Department of Corrections employee, felt compelled to re-enlist. He watched the towers fall from the New Jersey shoreline. Hoff returned to the reserves, deploying twice to Afghanistan. His military career ended after suffering multiple concussions during his second deployment. Hoff, whose career was defined by prison and war, found transition challenging. Connecting with the Wounded Warrior Project and equine therapy helped. He now shares his journey to encourage fellow veterans to seek help.

“If I can help just one soldier… get help,” Hoff said, “it’s okay to get help. It truly is. I’m glad I did.”

Personal Reflections and Decisions

Representative Troy Downing, R-Mont., first learned of the attacks while moose hunting in Alaska. After realizing America was under attack, he questioned what he had done to serve this country. Despite growing up under challenging circumstances, Downing went on to teach at New York University and build a successful startup. Without prior military experience, he joined the Air National Guard the day after returning from Alaska. He served in combat search and rescue during deployments in Afghanistan.

For Downing, the withdrawal under President Joe Biden symbolized squandered efforts. He has urged fellow veterans not to let that overshadow their honorable service.

“I just want to make sure that my brothers and sisters in arms, the folks that have served this mission, understand that they served this country and they served honorably,” Downing said, “And not think just because of that one misstep that it was in vain.”

Experiences and Lessons Learned

Brandon Newberry enlisted in the Marine Corps after witnessing the 9/11 attacks at school. His decision stemmed from a desire to protect Americans by taking the fight elsewhere. He was stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, spending nearly seven years in the latter, including time as a government contractor.

Newberry expressed discontent with the withdrawal and believes more could have been done to establish a lasting government before departing. The personal losses during the conflict have left lingering pain.

“I almost feel like everything that I did was almost for nothing because, again, I feel like at this point I failed the Afghan people.”

Adjusting to New Realities

Michael Matthews experienced his Army career altering drastically when his team was hit by an IED in Iraq. The injuries sustained left him hospitalized for months. While Matthews had aspired to a long military career, his injuries redirected his focus to veteran aid and community service.

For veterans like Byrnes, the wars post-9/11 come with vital lessons. Leaders must think beyond immediate goals and acknowledge ineffective strategies. The veterans remain proud of their service despite unclear missions and mixed results.

Matthews summed up the conflict well:

“We’re proud of what we did,” Matthews said. “Even though we may not have fully understood what we were doing or why we were doing it.”