[LtCol (s) Janet Deltuva (CCC-SLP), was working in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. She writes…]
I’ll try to tell my story in this letter because I think it will help to move towards normalcy. Everyone is saying to “talk” about it, so here it goes. Please remember there are thousands of these stories, and thousands of people impacted, especially in NYC. Keep them and the rescue workers in your prayers.
My office is on the opposite side of the Pentagon in the center “ring.” We were watching CNN and the World Trade towers attack and commented on “what a target D.C. is, the White House or the Pentagon.” Then there was a loud screaming sound and whump! The screaming was the plane engine accelerating and the whump was the plane hitting.
The next thing that happened was all our office mates looked for each other, we gathered up and left the building together. We ran down the corridors and stairs and the building was already filling with smoke. As we passed an entrance into the interior courtyard, we could see the smoke on the other side of the building and an announcement came on for everyone to evacuate in the direction, opposite the attack. For those familiar with the Pentagon, it was towards the POAC entrance. I remember saying “Jesus, help me” and felt incredibly calm instantly.
As we walked out of the building we hugged and reassured and always kept our eyes on each other. I knew already that I would stop at the Pentagon Clinic to offer to help…I have done “casualty” training several times as an Air Force Biomedical Specialist. I know I would not be saving lives directly, but that I could organize, assist and be a great go–fer.
When I went into the clinic, everyone was already “in gear” doing what they were extremely well trained to do—all branches of the service working together. Someone said “I need this to go to the center courtyard"—it was a large silver case full of medical supplies—so I grabbed it and ran…very thankful that I did not wear a skirt with heels to work that day!