The world changed five years ago today. The news came over the radio on the way to work and life would never be the same. A month before, I had relieved as the commanding officer of a Naval Reserve Personnel Mobilization Team and my gut told me that I would soon be back in uniform. Twelve days later my team was mobilizing itself and it would be twenty-three months before I returned to civilian life. We were comparatively lucky because we were able to stay close to home while performing our mission. Those we mobilized went throughout the world. Of the more than 2,000 people we processed, all but two went willingly. In all, more than 14,000 naval reservists answered that initial call, and over 5,000 are on active duty today.
It has been very hard for me to get through the day today as I remember what our country endured five years ago. The anger and the agony of that day still burn within me, and I doubt they'll ever go away. May God help me if they ever do.
Never forget.
