On 9/11 anniversary, Columbia area fire officials recall Ground Zero work with task force

Twenty-two years ago on Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists flew planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 tried to wrest control back from hijackers before the plane crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

Area fire department chiefs and staff; city, county and state leadership; and the public all were welcomed Monday at the Boone County Courthouse war memorials by the U.S. Exercise Tiger Foundation to participate in a service recognizing the lives lost from the attacks and its aftermath, including the global war on terror.

The service started at 7:47 a.m. with the ringing of a bell by Columbia Fire Department staff member Will Lyons. He also would ring the bell again at 8:03 a.m., 8:37 a.m. and at the end of service to recognize when each of the four planes crashed.

While the USTF usually honors those in the military who have served in battle, it was first responders on 9/11 who were serving on a different kind of battlefield, said Walt Domanski, chief of staff and public affairs officer.

"It was in the skyscrapers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.," he said, also recognizing the canine units that helped at Ground Zero.

Much like with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963, no one can forget where they were when they learned about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, said Susan Haines, USTF director and CEO.

"Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve," she said, quoting former President George W. Bush. "I believe this is still true today."

Remarks also were provided by Justin Aldred with the Boone County Commission, Betsy Peters with the Columbia City Council and state Rep. Adrian Plank with the Missouri House of Representatives. Plank expressed to the first responders that he is committed to supporting them in any way possible in the legislature.

Fire chiefs share memories

One person who saw Ground Zero first hand in New York 22 years ago was Chuck Leake, Boone County Fire Protection District assistant chief and training bureau director. He was and still is a member of Missouri Task Force 1. 9/11 was the task force's first ever federal deployment.

"We trained since 1995 with Missouri Task Force 1 for a possible mission. Trained about potentials we could be deployed for. Never once did I think we'd be going to New York City," he said. "I am proud of all 62 Missouri Task Force 1 members that answered the call. Every day when we went to work, there were thousands of people there thanking us for coming from Missouri."

He called the passengers on United 93 the truest of heroes. For Task Force 1, other first responders and the U.S. military, it is their job to offer aid and respond to threats. The passengers of United 93 stood up and said "no" to the terrorists, he said.

"They weren't Army Rangers, they weren't Marines, they weren't Navy SEALs. They were people just like you all that stepped up and said 'let's roll,' " Leake said. "The American people will always step up. When something happens to your brothers and sisters, you will step up."

Columbia Fire Chief Clayton Farr Jr. still was a department fire marshal in 2001 and it was a typical day like any other. An attack like the one on 9/11 still was considered unimaginable, he said.

"Those events that morning changed the way we do our jobs, changed the way we view danger and it changed the way we train, think and operate. What has not changed is our dedication to serving our community and the world," Farr said.

Columbia Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Jenkins helped Task Force 1 prepare to deploy and was with the convoy transporting then-Missouri Gov. Roger Wilson to Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster.

"We talked about what was happening and how our country will step up. That was evident by the remarks of President Bush," he said.

Southern Boone County Fire Chief James Bullard agreed with Farr and his assessment that the attacks changed everything a fire department and first responders will do. Deputy Chief Colin Wright was a senior in high school at Hickman 22 years ago and a Boone County Fire District intern. He also aided Task Force 1 ahead of its deployment.

"Students, especially those going into their senior year, it changed a lot of things. If you were going to join the military, you were going to war. If you were going to go into emergency services, you knew that death was a possibility," Wright said.

Jefferson City Fire Chief Matt Schofield was just two years into his career there and it was his day off on Sept. 11, 2001. Despite being off, he was up in Columbia at the Boone County Fire District since he also was a Task Force 1 member at the time.

"When the second plane hit, we thought, 'OK, this is different. This is real.' ... I felt fortunate and blessed that I was able to represent all of you," he said, choking back tears.

More: How Boone County first responders remember 9/11 deployment to Ground Zero

State Fire Marshal of Missouri Tim Bean was the West Plains fire chief in 2001. He was preparing for the day when he got a call from a staff member encouraging Bean to get to the station.

"We were strategizing in our minds where we were going and what we would be doing in the days that followed," he said. "History was laid out there that day. ... We felt vulnerable at the time (but) we have rebuilt. It is good to have days like today, where we can sit here, reflect and never forget the people that sacrificed their lives that day."

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia fire chiefs recall 9/11, Ground Zero response at memorial