Volume 12, Issue 39 special expanded issue Friday, Sept. 16, 2011

Ten years later

GTMO looks back

forgotten
Cc

ommand

orner

The Wire | Page 2

The WIRE is the official news magazine of Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo. It is produced by the JTF Public Affairs Office to 

inform and educate the Troopers of JTF Guantanamo through 

news, features, command guidance, sports and entertainment. 

The WIRE seeks to provide maximum disclosure with minimum 

delay with regard to security, accuracy, propriety and policy. 

This DoD news magazine is an authorized publication for the 

members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The WIRE 

are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. 

Government, the Department of Defense, or Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo. It is printed by the Defense Logistics Agency 

Document Services with a circulation of 1,200.

Command Corner |

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Navy Rear Adm. David Woods

Command Master Chief

Command Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Office of Public Affairs Director

Navy Cmdr. Tamsen Reese: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Maj. Amy A. Oliver: 9927

Operations Officer

CW2 Scott Chapman: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel: 3499

 

The Wire

Executive Editor:

Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent: 3651

Layout Assistant: 

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class 

Maddelin Angebrand

Photojournalists:

Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sally Hendricks

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class 

Marquis Whitehead

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3651

From the continental United States

Commercial: 011-53-99-3651

DSN: 660-3499

E-mail: thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Online: www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

COVER: illustration of New York’s World Center by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel

Observances on the 10th anniversary of the cowardly attacks and tragic losses of 11 September 2001 reinforced my pride in 

our great nation. The attacks undeniably shook our country but also 

resulted in an awakening of patriotism that has manifested itself 

in arguably the most professional and dedicated military force in 

our nation’s history. The combination of an all-volunteer force and 

the fact that we have seamlessly woven together Soldiers, Sailors, 

Marines, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen from Active Duty, Reserve 

and National Guard alike to conduct a truly global war against 

terrorism has created great synergy. Our relentless pursuit and 

neutralization of those who carried out the 9/11 attacks and those 

who would do our country harm is unequalled and awe-inspiring. 

This effort has been fully supported by a network of dedicated 

government civilians and contractors. America, our friends and 

allies are safer because of these positive actions.

The remembrance and memorial events on Guantanamo Bay were 

stirring, professional and appropriate. I was fortunate to participate 

in the New York state flag-raising ceremony and moment of silence 

observed at 8:46 a.m. by our National Guard Soldiers from the great 

state of New York. The personal accounts by both first responders 

and Soldiers were riveting. Guantanamo Bay’s chief selectees hosted 

a memorial at the base chapel that was a truly moving tribute to 

the victims and our great nation. Finally, Morale, Welfare and 

Recreation’s “Run for the Fallen” was expertly executed and had 

a superb turnout with a real cross-section of the Guantanamo Bay 

community. Well done to all involved in these commemorations – 

your efforts made them memorable for all who attended.

While these memorial events took place, a significant number 

of our personnel continued to do their duty and stand watch. The 

vigilant and professional execution of their duties is yet another 

testament to the resolve and resilience that has been the hallmark 

of our nation since being attacked. These great Americans truly 

honored the fallen by meeting the expectation to maintain mission 

focus and not be distracted or deterred. While we memorialize and 

remember our nation’s losses, it is equally important to celebrate 

our nation’s resolve and resiliency. I am sincerely proud to be an 

American and honored to serve with each and every one of you! 

Honor Bound! 

Trooper to Trooper

featuring

First Sergeant, 107th Military Police Company

Army 1st Sgt.

Fabio Cardenas

Tuesday September 11, 2001: 8:46 a.m. Flight 11 crashes into 

the north tower. 9:03 a.m. Flight 175 crashes into the south tower. 

At 9:37 a.m., Flight 77 strikes the Pentagon. At 10:03 a.m., Flight 

93 crashes into a field close to Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Where 

were you?

When asked to do this week’s article about this horrific tragedy, at 

first I was worried I would not be able to capture the feeling of the event 

or its aftermath completely. However, speaking to my fellow Soldiers, it 

became a point of honor to be able to share our experiences and stories. 

I, personally, was in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., working in my office when 

the attack occurred. I was a staff sergeant in the Army Reserve and 

immediately after the second plane hit, my cell phone went off. My 

Soldiers started calling me, asking when and where they needed to report. 

I called my platoon sergeant and asked the same. Then I called my wife 

and asked her if she had seen what happened. She was crying, saying 

yes she had. I asked her to calm down because she was eight months 

pregnant with our second son. She said she was upset, but also mad 

because she had just got out in March of 2001. She wanted to be part of 

the team that would go after the persons responsible for this tragic act. 

On September 22, 2001, my unit – the 3220th Garrison Support Unit 

– reported to Fort Stewart, Ga. We were one of the first Reserve units 

activated for the War on Terror under operation Noble Eagle. 

I asked my Soldiers what they were doing during on 9/11. First, 

let me explain the history of my current unit, the 107th Military Police 

Company. The 107th was at Ground Zero on September 12, 2001. The 

unit assisted in the clean-up process and ran multiple posts throughout 

the greater Manhattan area and the five boroughs. Shortly after that, 

the unit was mobilized to Fort Drum, N.Y., where they spent two years 

supporting Noble Eagle. At the same time, I have Soldiers who were in 

elementary school, junior high and high school. To me, these are the real 

Vigilant Warriors; these Soldiers grew up with the war in their short-term 

and long-term memories. As I went around Camp America speaking to 

my Troopers, I heard of Soldiers whose family members were in New 

York City in the area of Ground Zero. I have other Soldiers who, at the 

age of seventeen, volunteered with their local fire departments to go 

down and help with the recovery process. 

Now let’s go to present day: the 107th MP Co. is in the midst of 

the 10-year anniversary of September 11, 2001. Believe it or not, we 

have a mixture of experience, from multi-tour combat veterans to young 

Soldiers who just signed up, eager to do their part in the War on Terror. 

We as a unit feel pride and a sense of accomplishment by representing 

the state of New York and our nation during this time, and of the job we 

have been tasked with here on Guantanamo Bay. In turn, I ask each of 

you to take a minute to remember what you were doing when the attacks 

to our nation took place and how it affected you. I also want to say I 

| Trooper to Trooper The Wire | Page 3

PSEC ALERT

WHO IS TARGETING YOU?

When the adversary targets our information, what is our main concern?

When the adversary targets our information there is a process that is involved: 

1) They establish a requirement for information. 

2) They task someone to collect the information. 

3) Collected information is processed. 

4) Information is analyzed. 

5) The final product is disseminated so terrorists or criminals can act on it.

When it comes to OPSEC, the only step that we are concerned with is the collecting of information. This 

is where OPSEC puts in place countermeasures to mitigate both risk and vulnerabilities to our critical 

information. So who is targeting you and what information can they collect?

 see TROOPER page 23
The News from the Bay | Wire | Page 4

News from the Bay Stories and reporting by

 Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand 

and Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sally Hendricks

Tickets now available 

for HAHA Dinner Dance

The Hispanic American Heritage 

Association presents the 2011 HAHA 

Dinner Dance to be held at the Windjammer 

Ballroom, Sept. 24.

Tickets are available for $30 a person and 

O’Kelly’s Pub kicks off 

football every Sunday

FCPOA hosts carwash 

at Downtown Lyceum

The Joint Task Force First Class Petty 

Officer’s Association is hosting a car wash 

Sign up for MWR’s hockey

tourney - no skates needed 

Register by Tuesday for the Morale, 

Welfare and Recreation Hockey 

Tournament to be held Sept. 24.

No skates are required and gear will be 

issued at Denich Gym on the day of the 

event. 

Ages 16 and up are welcome to 

participate. A coach’s meeting will be held 

Sept. 22.

For more information , call x2113.

Turn Off the Television 

Week hosted by library

Guantanamo Bay’s Morale, Welfare and 

Recreation’s library is sponsoring a week of zero 

television from Sept. 19-24.

MWR’s community librarian, Amy Webster, 

is overseeing the event. It was first discovered by 

Webster while she was searching on the weblast 

year for new activities to host at the library.

“It’s time to take a healthy break,” encouraged 

Webster. “We did it last year and it was a great 

success.”

This event is the perfect chance to step out 

of the normal routine, Webster said; a chance to 

discover life outside of the box.

Throughout the week, there will be three 

events offered. Monday is Talk Like a Pirate 

day with pirate crafts at 7 p.m. Tuesday is Game 

Night and Thursday is Craft Night. 

All events are from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the 

library. There will be no organized event on 

Wednesday evening. 

This offers a time to get involved with family 

and friends, venture outside or just interact 

with each other, as opposed to sitting in front 

of a television or computer screen. It might be 

surprising how much fun it will be!

For more information, call Webster at 

x4700. 

New local band to play 

every Wed. at Tiki Bar

Get out, relax and enjoy some unique 

music brought to you by local performers, 

Golden Monkey every Wednesday night at 7 

p.m. at the Tiki Bar.

The band’s leader Chris Dickson said 

he’s always been involved in music in some 

form or fashion.

“Music is the international language,” 

said Dickson. “I’m reminded of that each 

practice because Golden Monkey is made 

up of Filipino, Jamaican, and American 

musicians - and one guy from another 

planet.”

Dickson said there’s one thing he loves 

most about music.

“It moves you. It moves people,” 

Dickson shared. “Think about the elements 

of a song. You have rhythm which moves 

you physically. You want to move your body, 

dance, tap your foot, nod your head - think 

‘Night at the Roxbury.’”

He and Golden Monkey believe they 

are their own genre of music - a different 

flavor.

“I’d describe our style as...chillax,” said 

Dickson with a laugh. “We have a lighthearted, feel-good style. We play comfortfood songs like ‘Southern Cross’ by Crosby, 

Stills and Nash and ‘Have You Ever Seen 

the Rain’ by Cross Canadian Ragweed. We 

play fresh songs like ‘Where the Boat Leaves 

From’ by the Zac Brown Band and ‘Never 

Know’ by Jack Johnson.

For more information about Golden 

Monkey, attend their show any Wednesday 

night at the Tiki Bar.

NFL football returns to O’Kelly’s Pub 

every Sunday. All Dallas Cowboy games will 

be shown on the big screen. Monday games 

will be aired as well.

There was a drawing with more than 350 

names entered which enabled the winner to 

choose what game would always be aired 

on Sundays. The winner chose to see every 

Dallas Cowboy’s game. 

Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s director 

of hospitality, Jim Estep, says he can show 

six different games at a time. 

“If there is a Monday game, the Cowboys 

will be shown on three of the monitors,” 

said Estep. “We have seven monitors so we 

will be able to show many of the teams.”

For more information, call Estep at 

x55102. 

$55 per couple, every Saturday at the Navy 

Exchange Atrium from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Attire for the event is semi-formal or 

formal. The social hour will start at 6 p.m. and 

the ceremony will begin at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Kathi Diaz 

at x74788.

fundraiser, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 

p.m. at the Downtown Lyceum.

Don’t miss it! Donations are greatly 

appreciated.

 see MARRIAGE, page 23

TRADOC Rock heats up the Bayview

Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 

3rd Class Marquis Whitehead

Troopers gathered to hear an informative 

message about relationships at a marriage 

enrichment seminar hosted at the Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo Trooper Chapel, 

Saturday.

JTF’s three chaplains teamed up to 

present useful communication tools 

for Troopers. Whether married, single 

or hopeful, the seminar had something 

for everyone, including free books and 

refreshments.

Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion 

Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Marc McDowell kicked 

off the event with a presentation about 

effective communication and emphasized 

the importance of the “Speaker/Listener” 

technique taken from the book “Fighting 

for Your Marriage.”

“Don’t rebut,” McDowell advised, 

referring to effective arguing methods. “Just 

show that you have listened by editing out 

your thoughts and opinions and then giving 

the person a summary of what they said.”

McDowell explained how using the idea 

of giving the speaker the floor figuratively is 

actually taken literally in the book. He takes 

out a square piece of paper symbolizing the 

“floor.” 

“This is a great way to have a constructive 

conversation,” McDowell said, waving the 

piece of “floor” in front of him. “It allows 

each person their chance to speak, without 

being interrupted. That’s the key – you have 

control of when you talk and when the 

other person answers you.” 

Air Force Chaplain Lt. Col. Gary Bertsch, 

JTF’s command chaplain, spoke about 

relationship danger signs with an emphasis 

on humor as he engaged the audience with 

stories from his 37-year marriage.

“It’s humorous, but I use the example 

of not putting the toilet seat down, which 

annoys my wife,” Bertsch said with a 

chuckle. “It’s something I think everyone 

can relate to. It gets their attention.”

Most importantly, Bertsch advised 

Troopers to keep giving to their relationships 

because they take work - lots of it.

“Don’t give up, keep at it,” said Bertsch, 

referring to any relationship. “It’s ongoing 

and needs to be nurtured. Have fun, be 

human and realize we make mistakes and 

that’s part of being human.”

Army Maj. Jessica Cranford is like many, 

deployed away from her husband and 

children, and said the seminar was a way for 

her to reconnect with her relationship. 

“I’m about halfway through the time 

away from my family,” said Cranford. “It’s 

good to be able to have a refresher and to 

Marriage seminar teaches 

communication with humor

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Band 

performed on Guantanamo Bay last week 

at various locations around the base. Better 

known as TRADOC Rock, the band is made 

up of ten musicians – two lead singers and 

eight various instrument players. The band’s 

Public Affairs Officer Sgt. Adam Muller 

said if it wasn’t for the support of his chain 

of command, this would not have been 

possible. 

“I’d like to thank Capt. Scott McKenzie 

and Sgt. Maj. Wendy Thompson for all 

their support and effort in getting us down 

here to support the troops in GTMO,” said 

Muller.

TRADOC Rock showed exceptional 

skill as well as versatility as they played 

not only modern tunes but also classic 

rock, contemporary pop and requests from 

enthusiastic listeners.

“It’s more than just playing to uplift the 

spirits of the Soldiers here,” Muller went 

on. “For those who are also fans of music, 

this is us sharing our appreciation of this 

piece of music with you so we enjoy it just 

as much.”

TRADOC Rock travels throughout 

the country yearly to entertain groups of 

servicemembers as well as hospital patients 

and retired veterans. U.S. Army Training 

and Doctrine Band is comprised of one 

large concert band that branches off to 

create various smaller groups such as the 

Jazz Band, Dixie Band, Brass Quintet and 

Woodwind Quintet, to name a few. 

“Dating back to the early 1600s, there 

was always a band playing in the U.S. Army,” 

said Muller. “They didn’t have a title as of 

yet but the morale of the troops is always 

a priority in the Army back then as well as 

today.” 

On Guantanamo Bay, TRADOC Rock 

performed at both movie lyceums as well as 

the Bayview Club, Thursday night.

At the Bayview, N.Y.P.D. members 

working on the island gave the band New 

York Police Department hats and T-shirts 

to wear during their set.

“It’s always good to play for 

servicemembers,” said Muller. “Of course, 

with the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 coming 

up, it just adds a little more purpose and 

gratification for being here.” 

| News The Wire | Page 5

Army Sgt. Daniel Puls(left) and Army Staff Sgt. Patricia Conyer 

(right) perform with the Army band TRADOC Rock in front of 

Camp America at Bulkeley Lyceum, Friday evening. 
ten years later

9/11/01-9/11/11

10 YEARS - 10 FACTS

How much can we trust our memories of 9/11? 

A team of researchers surveyed more than 3,000 

people in New York City, and other surrounding 

cities to find out. The study, done by New York 

University, is still in the works.

Science has revealed the dust from the 9/11 

attacks contained cement, steel, gypsum from 

drywall, building materials, cellulose from 

paper, human hair, glass fibers and more.

In July 2011, an ancient ship dating back to the 

1700s and buried as junk two centuries ago in 

a landfill used to expand a bustling little island 

of commerce called Manhattan was found and 

deemed an instant treasure when it popped up 

from the mud near Ground Zero (see pg. 21 for 

more details).

Investigators developed computer models of how 

each tower was damaged upon impact, how the 

jet fuel dispersed, how the fires evolved across 

each floor, how the structures heated and how 

they ultimately failed. These simulations of the 

structures were extraordinarily complex, with the 

aircraft impact analysis requiring computations 

to the mircosecond.

The events of 9/11 can be seen from space 

through an image taken by the Landsat 7 

satellite with the Enhanced Thematic Mapper 

Plus on September 12th, 2001. The day after 

9/11, smoke and debris is pictured billowing 

from Ground Zero.

Just 45 days after the 2001 attacks, the Patriot Act 

was passed, making it easier for law enforcement 

and intelligence agencies to gather information on 

foreigners and Americans alike. Both the FBI and 

CIA have since boosted their number of field agents.

Surrounded by a canopy of hundreds of white oak 

trees, millions of gallons of water cascade into the 

enormous one-acre footprints of the former Twin 

Towers. The tribute is called “Reflecting Absence.”

On Sept. 11, 2012 the National 9/11 Museum 

is scheduled to open its display of 9/11 

talismans, including steel from one of the 

towers, bent from the direct impact of one 

of the jet aircraft. Other artifacts include the 

“survivor’s staircase,” which led many building 

occupants to safety before the towers collapsed.

Planners of the memorial, where the Twin Towers 

once stood, solicited requests from victims’ 

loved ones for “meaningful adjacencies”—

names that should appear together on the 

memorial. Roughly 1,200 responses came back, 

asking that a victim’s name be grouped with 

specific colleagues, with family members or 

with friends who also perished in the attacks. 

The number of interlocking adjacency requests, 

both simple and complex, meant that laying out the 

names by hand would be nearly impossible. So the 

planners enlisted the help of a complex algorithm 

built by media design firm Local Projects and 

New York City–based software artist Jer Thorp.

The Wire | Page 6 Special Coverage |

U.S. Coast Guard 

Mechanical Engineer 

2nd Class Jason Richards

U.S. Coast Guard 

Machinery Technician 

2nd Class Paul Lehman

Spc.

Spencer Grantham 

“I was in eighth grade when 

it happened. I’m more proud 

to be serving my country. I 

appreciate more of what I 

have in my life now.”

Hospitalman

Anthony Roberts

“I joined the Reserves as a 

result of 9/11. I feel like I 

am making a difference to 

my country.”

 Army Pfc. 

Loren Annese

“I was in the Marines working 

at Camp Lejeune on 9/11. It 

changed my life drastically 

– I get nervous getting on a 

plane now.”

Sgt. 1st Class

 Undrey Bostic

U.S. Coast Guard 

Mechanical Engineer 

1st Class Dana Santore

“9/11 has forced us to look 

at the big picture in relation 

to our service.” 

“The traffic was so bad. I 

was worried about my uncle 

because he worked right 

across the street from the 

Twin Towers.”

Army Staff Sgt. 

Daniel Jones

Boots on the Ground

Special Edition JTF Troopers

Changed by 9/11

“We are there for each 

other more than ever now 

since 9/11. I appreciate my 

country more now and I feel 

like it unified us.”

“I just joined the military 

two years ago, but I joined 

because of 9/11.” 

“I appreciate the little things 

a lot more now. 9/11 was 

part of the reason I joined 

the military.”

“It motivated me to be a 

better person. I appreciate 

my family more. Many of 

them are in the service.” 

Spc.

Derek Smith

Hospitalman 

Jeremy Warta

Hospital Corpsman

 2nd Class Jeremy Runnels

Army Pvt.

Anthony Reyes

“I joined the Coast Guard 

because of 9/11. I am 

proud to be in the military 

and doing my job.”

“It helped me with my 

decision to join the military. 

It changed my view of 

different cultures.”

“I joined a few months 

after 9/11. It has opened 

up my eyes and I’m more 

cautious.” 

| Boots on the Ground The Wire | Page 7

remembering 9/11
JTF chaplains host prayer breakfast in memory of 9/11

Story by Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent

A weekend of events and 

observances marking the 10th

anniversary of 9/11 officially 

began Friday morning during 

a prayer breakfast held at the 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo 

Seaside Galley. 

Chaplains of the JTF came 

together to host the prayer 

breakfast, offering a place 

where Troopers and JTF 

personnel could find fellowship 

and comfort on an emotionally 

charged day.

“The intention was to 

commemorate the anniversary 

in a simple, but meaningful 

service,” said Command

Troopers commemorate 10 years in a ‘simple 

but meaningful way’ says Command Chaplain

Chaplain Air Force Lt. Col. 

Gary Bertsch.

Attending the breakfast was 

JTF Commander Rear Adm. 

David Woods, JTF Deputy 

Commander Brig Gen. Samuel 

Nichols and JTF Command 

Master Chief Reynaldo 

Tiong, among many other 

servicemembers, junior and 

senior. 

“It was great to see so many 

people come out,” Bertsch 

acknowledged. “Especially our 

leadership – I thought it was 

well-attended.”

Everyday chatter hushed 

quickly as the mood grew 

solemn and guests began to 

reflect.

“The galley was typically 

noisy until we began, then it 

transformed into a place of 

worship,” recalled Bertsch. 

“I think everyone was 

remembering the day in their 

own way, as we all have different 

accounts of where we were and 

what we were doing when the 

news broke.”

Three JTF chaplains, 

including Bertsch, spoke 

during the breakfast. One of 

them, Army Capt. Garland 

Mason, spoke of unanswered 

– but perhaps not ignored – 

questions. 

“In the face of great pain 

and great tragedy, we often 

wonder, ‘Why?’” Mason told the 

crowd. “And like all ministers 

and spiritual guides, we often 

struggle to give a response to this 

important question and usually 

come away feeling inadequate. 

And I suspect that this morning 

will be no different.”

“But we can’t avoid dealing 

with the question of ‘why?’” he 

continued passionately. “The 

best way we can honor those 

who lost their lives on Sept. 

11 is to lead productive and 

meaningful lives.”

The theme of the morning 

was “Remember, Reflect and 

Renew,” said Bertsch, allowing 

each person time to ponder 

the events of 10 years ago 

while taking away something 

meaningful and spiritual. 

The Wire | Page 8 Special Coverage |

Air Force Lt. Col. Gary Bertsch, command chaplain for Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo, addresses Troopers during a prayer breakfast, Friday 

morning, held in honor of the upcoming 10th anniversary of 9/11. 

- photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park 

ten years later

| Special Coverage The Wire | Page 9

New York Guard Soldiers raise memorial flag over JTF

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel

Soldiers with the New York 

National Guard’s 107th Military 

Police Company held a moving 

memorial Sunday morning to 

mark the 10th anniversary for 

those who lost their lives during 

the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 

2001.

The company is currently 

deployed to Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo where they fall 

under the 525th Military Police 

Battalion in support of detention 

operations at the JTF.

Raising the state of New York’s 

flag over JTF Guantanamo’s 

Camp America at exactly 8:46 a.m. 

- the time the first plane struck 

the World Trade Center - 107th

MP Co. commander, Army Capt. 

Chris Marion said the ceremony 

held special significance to the 

Soldiers of the company.

“We wanted to hold an event 

of remembrance -- something 

special,” the captain said.

Working with New York 

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 

office, members of the 107th

acquired a flag previously flown 

over New York’s capital in 

Albany. The flag, along with a 

proclamation from the governor 

was sent to the company.

Prior to raising the flag, Staff 

Sgt. Frederick Plimpton spoke to 

the group of assembled Troopers. 

Plimpton was a New York State 

Trooper on 9/11 and remembers 

the moment he knew he wanted 

join the New York National 

Guard.

“I was one of the many 

Troopers from around the state 

who responded,” said Plimpton, 

who was working in Rochester at 

the time. “After about my fifth day 

patrolling around the area, I was 

approached by a staff sergeant 

who asked me what he and his 

Soldiers could do to help.”

Plimpton, a former Marine, 

said he was immediately struck by 

the professionalism and discipline 

of the Soldiers.

“I knew right then I wanted to 

join the National Guard,” he said.

Along with Plimpton, 

approximately 15 Soldiers 

currently serving with the 107th

MP Co. were first responders 

on the morning of 9/11 and an 

additional six were with the unit 

when they deployed to support 

rescue and security operations at 

Ground Zero.

“We’re a fairly young unit,” 

Marion said. “Most of the 

Soldiers serving with us now were 

in elementary school on 9/11 and 

those of us who were with the 

unit are now senior leaders.”

Amongst the group of 

guest speakers that included 

JTF Guantanamo commander, 

Navy Rear Adm. David Woods, 

525th Military Police Battalion 

Command Sgt. Maj. Dan Borrero, 

a New York native, told the 

107th Troopers about his teenage 

daughter and the sacrifice of 

the Soldiers standing before him 

made.

“Most of you wearing this 

uniform came in knowing what 

you were getting yourself into,” 

Borrero said. “You knew that you 

could find yourself in boot camp 

one day and the next day be on the 

front lines. Because of what you 

do, my 13-year old daughter can 

take piano lessons ... America is 

a safer place for everyone because 

of what you do and I am honored 

to be standing here with you 

today.”

After raising the flag, the 

assembled Soldiers stopped for 

a moment of silence. Across 

the faces of near everyone, the 

memories of 9/11 weighed 

heavily on the group.

“It’s been an emotional day,” 

Marion said. “Here we are, where 

some of the most dangerous 

terrorists in the world are being 

held. To be able to raise our state 

flag here is something that will 

live on and become another event 

celebrated by the 107th in the long 

timeline of this company.”

Army Pfc. Charles Clemons and Army Sgt. Shawn Chapple, both assigned to the 107th Military Police Company, 

raise the New York State flag Sunday morning at Camp America, commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11. 

The flag was sent by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. - photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park 

(below) A watch shows 8:46 a.m. on the wrist of a Soldier observing the New York State flag raising ceremony. It 

was at 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, that Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. - photo 

by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel

remembering 9/11
The Wire | Page 10 Special Coverage |

My Story:

Electronics Technician 

3rd Class David Atkins

Electronics Technician 3rd Class David Atkins grew up in Princess 

Anne, Md. He joined the Navy to travel and served his first three 

years in Yokosuka, Japan.

 Later, he transferred to Norfolk, Va. and is now part of a special 

360-man crew aboard the USS New York (LPD 21) – a Navy ship built 

with 7.5 tons of steel from the remains of the World Trade Center.

Atkins, currently serving as a guard for Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo, says he remembers being in Contemporary Issues class 

during his senior year of high school when 9/11 happened.

“We always watched the news in the morning to get on our topic,” 

Atkins remembers. “I was like, ‘Wow this is breaking news.’ I ran to 

different classrooms and said ‘Hey, turn on your TV!’ Then we saw 

the second plane hit. Soon after that, they started getting people out 

of school. We didn’t know what was going on.”

Fast forward 10 years later; Atkins says it is a surreal feeling to meet 

people who were actually there that day. His ship sailed to New York 

for the last two Sept. 11 anniversaries to greet and give tours to victims, 

families and first responders of the attacks. 

“We commissioned the ship in New York,” Atkins shares. “That 

is when I met a lot of first responders and survivors. We gave them 

personal tours– it was different seeing their emotion to it. You could 

tell it meant something to them.”

Atkins says he feels it is part of the crew’s duty to share the ship 

with the citizens of New York. 

“A lot of them wanted to go to the fo’castle [forward portion of a 

ship],” says Atkins, “because that’s as close as they can get to the bow 

of the ship, which is made out of the World Trade Center steel. Some 

of them would just tremble – it had a big impact.”

Every member of the ship’s first crew, including Atkins, is 

considered a plank owner and received a plaque with their name on it 

with a sliver of the recovered World Trade Center steel attached.

The ship’s motto reads, “Strength Forged Through Sacrifice. Never 

Forget.” Atkins says he won’t.

“I thought a lot about it yesterday,” Atkins admits, referring to the 

ten year anniversary. “I can’t help but put the pieces together in my 

head.” 

Sgt. 1st Class 

Maribel Barrett

The smell of smoke coming from a nearby barbeque outside her Cuzco trailer is enough to bring Army Sgt. 1st Class Maribel 

Barrett back to that day. She leaves the area - sometimes it’s just too 

much to handle.

“We had just come back from a 7:30 a.m. meeting in that ring,” 

says Barrett looking up, gazing slowly left, then right as if she is there 

again. “My mom was scared. We couldn’t get in touch with my sister; 

we didn’t know where she was.” 

“I was looking at the TV when the second plane hit – still on the 

phone with her – my mom was freaking out and the next thing you 

know, I felt the building shake.”

Barrett worked in the Pentagon and her sister worked on Wall 

Street at the time. Their mother sat helpless in their hometown of 

Hackinsack, N.J. while two of her daughters witnessed the devastation 

of 9/11 first hand. 

“The plane hit directly diagonal from where my office was, but we 

didn’t know what was happening,” Barrett recalls. “Then our phones 

started ringing.”

One caller informed them the Pentagon was in fact on fire. 

“We started evacuating, everyone was trying to call their family,” 

Barrett narrates sorting through the many flashbacks of that day. 

“After we got outside, we tried to get accountability, which was really 

hard because people were in meetings and...” she trails off. “What a 

mess.”

Barrett and her colleagues gathered a small group together and 

made their way to the other side of the building. When they arrived 

it was too late - that portion of the Pentagon had already burned 

beyond recognition.

 “All we could do is sit there and wait - find water and people and 

try to comfort them,” Barrett says while fanning her eyes attempting 

to dry the tears. “Looking back, it was difficult. I can close my eyes 

and sometimes I see it.”

Helpless at that point, Barrett and others eventually walked home. 

They couldn’t get to their vehicles for days, because they were parked 

near the crash site.

Eventually, Barrett met up with her family but didn’t hear from her 

sister until 9 p.m.

“She was stuck in the subway system, phones weren’t working - she 

was able to get to Cherry street at some point and call my mom from 

our cousin’s house and say, ‘I’m here and alive,’” Barrett describes. 

“She was like, ‘Thank God I’m always late for work.’ If she would have 

caught the earlier train, you never know what would have happened.” 

Barrett says nothing could prepare her for the next day – it still 

haunts her. She and her co-workers were tasked with going back inside 

to retrieve salvageable documents. They went to work the next day. 

 see BARRETT, page 23

Reporting by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd 

Class Maddelin Angebrand, Army Sgt. Meredith 

Vincent and Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Cossel

ten years later

Four Troopers share their personal 9/11 experiences

| Special Coverage The Wire | Page 11

Sgt. 1st Class

Benjamin Cossel

On the morning of Sept. 16, 2001, I was sitting in the terminal of San Francisco airport. Five days earlier, the whole world was stood 

on its head when 19 individuals boarded planes across the country and 

carried out the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor.

The world had indeed changed. 

Like everyone else of a certain age, I remember exactly where I was 

when I learned of the attacks – I was in the shower, my friend told me 

to hurry up and come see what was going on. I really didn’t believe it all 

at first and then slowly, the realization of what happened slammed into 

me just before the second plane struck the second tower.

“This can’t be happening,” I thought at the time as we stared at the 

TV screen in disbelief.

Almost a week later, I was looking around the airport waiting for 

one of the first flights since the national no-fly ban was lifted. My son 

was just four months old and I was on my way home to see him, I really 

wanted to see him again, to hold him, to reconnect with something, I 

wanted my family back.

The scene around me was surreal. National Guard troops fully 

combat-loaded were walking the airport, with nervous but watchful 

eyes taking in everything. 

People were scared. 

The ticket agent at the United booth was just ridiculous - thanking 

me for flying, taking a few extra minutes, talking to me, being nice. For 

a change, the folks behind the counter were cordial, the surly DMV-like 

attitude was gone.

Still, the fear was there. 

I tried to read a book but my mind kept wondering, “What if 

they tried to do it again?” “United flight ... now boarding. First class 

passengers for flight to Columbus, Ohio may now board,” a headless 

voice called out over the intercom.

I knew I was getting past the point of no return. I’m not going to 

lie, I was really leery about getting on that plane. But really, what were 

the odds?

We boarded the plane. I sat down next to an elderly lady who took 

my hand as soon as we sat down.

“I’m terrified,” she whispered to me.

“Don’t worry, nothing’s going to happen,” I half-heartedly promised 

her.

Just before we hit the runway, the pilot came over the intercom. I 

was half expecting the normal spiel – “Thanks for choosing us, here’s 

where we’re going, this is the temperature where you’re going.” 

Not this time.

“Ladies and gentleman,” the voice from the cock pit started out - 

even the pilot was nervous.

“I’d like each of you to take a minute to remember what just 

happened to this country a few days ago.”

His voice cracked and he stopped for a minute to regain his 

composure.

“I know every single one of you sitting in your seats right now is 

scared,” the pilot said. “But by being here today, you are showing the 

strength and courage of America. This is why we will never be defeated 

and why we are the greatest country in the world. Because we as a 

people never give up - we keep going, even when we’ve been sucker 

punched. We keep going.”

He paused, collecting his thoughts.

“Look to your left, look to your right, introduce yourself to the 

people sitting next to you. Because as we recently learned, these just 

might be the last people you ever see.”

Sgt. 1st Class

Paul McKinney

A police officer for a small city in New York, Paul McKinney was coming off the night 

shift on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. He and 

his buddies were grabbing breakfast at a local 

diner when they heard the news. 

“There was a little TV in the diner,” 

McKinney says. “They turned that on. I looked 

at my chief and said, ‘I gotta go.’”

McKinney was also a corporal in the New 

York Army National Guard’s 107th Military 

Police Company. He called his sergeant, 

wanting to know when they would be sent to 

respond. 

“By 10 o’clock that morning, 95 percent 

of the unit had called in asking when and 

where to report,” says McKinney, who is now 

a sergeant first class with the unit. “I called a 

second time and they said we still didn’t have 

any formal orders. They said, ‘If you want to 

come in, come in.’”

By the time he arrived to the armory, several 

other Soldiers from the unit were already there. 

Without hesitation, they prepared for the call. 

When it finally came in much later that day, the 

group began their journey to New York City, 

about 250 miles away.

“I remember driving into the city and 

seeing the smoke rising from where the 

Towers had been,” says McKinney of their 

arrival. “The number of people standing 

along the riverwalk... the blank looks on 

the people’s faces – the entire city of New 

York just seemed to be in complete and total 

shock. 

The unit’s first night was spent on 

perimeter patrol. It wasn’t until the next day, 

Sept. 13, that they saw the rubble where the 

World Trade Center once stood. 

“It was numbing,” McKinney says quietly. 

“It had a surreal quality because you didn’t 

want to actually believe it was there. But you 

knew it was, it was right there in front of you. 

There was no way of denying it.”

McKinney says Ground Zero was one 

of the largest crime scenes worked on by 

multiple agencies. 

“FBI, NSA – everybody was there. There 

were so many organizations that came 

together so quickly.”

 see MCKINNEY, page 23

remembering 9/11
The Wire | Page 12 Special Coverage | | Special Coverage The Wire |

ten years later remembering 9/11

The Pentagon Shanksville, Penn.

Photo by Charles Dharapak Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI

The Wire | Page 14 Special Coverage |

ten years later
Denich Gym hosts many fun runs 

throughout the year. There’s 

been an MLK Jr. run, an Easter 

run, a Good run and next week 

there will even be a Pirate run.

But none of those compare to the 

event that is the 9/11 Run for the Fallen, 

held Sunday and co-sponsored by Morale, 

Welfare and Recreation and Naval Station 

Guantanamo’s Naval Exchange. More than 

700 residents – old, young, military and not 

– squeezed into the walls of Denich Gym to 

Living 

honor the 10th anniversary of the attacks on 

Sept. 11, 2001. 

Before participants took to the streets, 

a ceremony was held inside the gymnasium 

including the presentation of colors, a prayer 

and speeches by Naval Station Guantanamo 

Commander Capt. Kirk Hibbert, and Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo Commander Rear 

Adm. David Woods. 

Previously held as a 9.11 mile run, this 

year MWR decided to change things up.

“(We) decided to do a 5K to get maximum 

participation from the entire community,” 

explained Jen Norton, MWR fitness director. 

Story by Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent

The Wire | Page 14 Special Coverage |

(top left) The Naval Station Guantanamo 

color guard presents colors in the 

Denich gymnasium, Sunday afternoon, 

before the 9/11: Run for the Fallen.

- photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

(opposite page) Runners wave American flags 

as they approach the finish line. 

- photo by Army Sgt. Mathieu Perry

(bottom left) Marine Corps Sercurity 

Forces Company Commander Maj. Winston 

Tierney addresses participants following 

the MWR-sponsored 5K. - photo by Mass 

Communication Specialist 1st Class Sally 

Hendricks

ten years later

“We wanted to invite walkers, runners and 

supporters to be a part of this very special 

event. (It was meant to be) not so much 

about the actual run but about running for 

a cause. We had families running together, 

commands running in formation, walkers 

and bikers.”

The response from the Guantanamo Bay 

community was overwhelming, said Norton.

“(We) were expecting a crowd larger 

than the usual 5K, but the turnout was 

unbelievable,” exclaimed Norton. “The 

response ... was beyond what we could 

have expected. Both before and after the 

event, the vibe was just a sense of unity and 

togetherness. Everyone was there for the 

same reason.”

More than 500 runners showed up for the 

run; in addition, more than 200 volunteers 

and spectators were on sight to join in on 

the effort. 

“We had more participation than any 

event we have done yet this year,” Norton 

said. “We feel this as a very special event that 

brought everyone in GTMO together, no 

matter where they were on 9/11.”

After the 5K, the crowd listened to a 

heartfelt speech by Marine Corps Security 

Forces Company Commander, Maj. Winston 

Tierney.

“Every single person in this room is Sept. 

11,” he told the audience. “Because we live 

it – we breath it – every day.” 

Refreshments, including hamburgers, 

chips and a specially-made cake, were handed 

out along with door prizes donated by the 

NEX. Norton said she was proud of the 

base for making the run so successful.

“Personally, I never thought it would be so 

big,” she admitted. “We could never have had 

such a successful event without the support 

of the community and the commands.”

| Special Coverage The Wire | Page 15

It: Run for the Fallen

remembering 9/11
Chief petty officer selectees sing the national anthem during the 9/11 

Remembrance Service held at the base chapel, Sunday. 

(opposite page, top) Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Brandon Wildman rings 

the bell, honoring those lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

(opposite page, bottom) An infant looks on as the congregation is called 

to a moment of silence during the ceremony. - photos by Mass Communication 

Specialist 2nd Class Kilho Park

Troopers from Naval Station and Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo gathered to 

remember the tragic events of 9/11, ten 

years later, at the base chapel, Sunday.

Chief selectees from both sides of the 

base organized the event to include the 

singing of “The Star Spangled Banner,” 

“Proud to Be an American” and “America 

the Beautiful.”

“It’s really touching,” said Chief Select 

Sonar Technician Surface Michael Spivey. “I 

didn’t have any family directly affected by the 

events of 9/11, but by sitting up here today 

and listening to friends and master chief 

speak about their experience and hearing 

“Taps,” it took me back to being on the ship 

that morning of the attack.”

Spivey said it was an honor to plan such a 

significant event with his fellow Troopers.

“Coming together to plan something like 

this that’s so memorable and means so much 

to so many people has been inspiring,” he 

shared. “It touches your heart and there’s not 

much more you can say about it.” 

Naval Station Command Master Chief 

J.D. McKinney spoke at the ceremony about 

his experience during 9/11. McKinney said 

he had just moved and was on leave when he 

and his wife happened to turn on the news 

that morning instead of the country music 

station while they unpacked.

“I knew immediately that this was an act 

of war,” McKinney shared, “and that our 

nation would never be the same. At that 

point, I wanted to forgo my leave and get 

back to my ship.”

Other chief selectees read scriptures from 

the Bible during the ceremony and said the 

event brought back chilling memories of 

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 

2nd Class Maddelin Angebrand

The Wire | Page 16 Special Coverage |

 see MEMORIAL, page 23

Sharing a moment

ten years later

| Special Coverage The Wire | Page 17

remembering 9/11
The Wire | Page 18 Special Coverage |

Ten Years Later: A Photo by Tanya Mitchell

Photo by AP

ten years later

| Special Coverage The Wire | Page 19

Photo by Eric Thayer/Reuters

Nation Reflects

Photo by Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

remembering 9/11
The Wire | Page 20 At the Movies |

Movie Review

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Call MWR at ext. 2010 for more information. Movie Hotline - call 4880.

The Smurfs

(G) 8 p.m.

Friends with 

Benefits

(R) 10 p.m.

Zookeeper

(PG) 8 p.m.

*last showing*

Horrible Bosses

(R) 8 p.m.

*last showing*

Harry Potter & the 

Deathly Hallows: 

Part 2

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Captain America

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Friends with 

Benefits

(R) 8 p.m.

Friends with 

Benefits

(R) 8 p.m. 

Horrible Bosses

(R) 10 p.m.

*last showing*

Zookeeper

(PG) 8 p.m.

*last showing*

Captain America

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Smurfs

(G) 8 p.m.

Cowboys & 

Aliens

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Cowboys & Aliens

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Harry Potter & the 

Deathly Hallows: 

Part 2

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

Crazy, Stupid, Love

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Cowboys & Aliens

(PG-13) 10 p.m. 

fri. sat. sun. mon. tues. wed. thurs.

Due to unfortunate timing, “Friends with 

Benefits” cannot help being compared to 

the Natalie Portman/Ashton Kutcher flick, 

“No Strings Attached.” And that’s a bummer, 

because Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis 

make a far more arresting and enjoyable duo. 

Their banter is more genuine, their sparks are 

sparkier and the dialog - thanks to an R rating 

- is more frank.

Timberlake is Dylan, a graphic arts designer 

uprooted from his home in L.A. to a new gig 

at GQ in New York. Kunis is Jamie, the brassy 

headhunter who snagged him the job. They 

meet cute in the airport and quickly become 

friends as Jamie - and the city - charm Dylan 

into moving across the country. As they 

grow closer, both reveal their own particular 

relationship demons. Dylan is “emotionally 

unavailable;” Jamie is “emotionally damaged.” 

And the foundation is laid (no pun intended) 

for a casual, guilt-free sexual agreement.

Sex between friends is no new concept - 

Harry and Sally explored it well over 20 years 

ago - so I’m not sure where my generation’s 

sudden fascination is coming from. But 

apparently it makes for an interesting movie 

premise, ‘cause watching attractive people 

hook up is never boring. Just look at Brad Pitt 

and Angelina Jolie.

The tickle to “Friends with Benefits” is it 

spends most of its time making fun of romcoms. I particularly like the two characters’ 

send up of predictable background music. 

With a penchant for snappy, pop-culture 

infused dialog - John Mayor, George Clooney 

and Captain Sullenberger all get multiple shoutouts - the film takes to task all the over-the-top, 

unrealistic cliches of every sappy chick flick. 

And then, in an instant, it falls victim to the 

very cliche it is mocking. Bad form.

But before then, we get to see Kunis and 

Timberlake chatter incessantly about love, sex 

and everything in between. And man, are they 

adorable. As Dylan, Timberlake has never 

been more likable. He’s laid-back, funny and 

refreshingly un-self conscious. In one of the 

bluntest and uproariously hilarious sex scenes 

I’ve ever seen, Dylan has what must be every 

man’s nightmare - the displeasure of realizing 

his own inadequacies in bed. The actor more 

than makes up for the uncomfortable, unfunny 

bedroom scene he shared with Cameron Diaz 

in “Bad Teacher” and instead finds comedy 

gold.

Kunis herself is turning out to be quite 

a lovely leading lady. Who could’ve predicted 

that spoiled, grating Jackie from “That 70s 

Show” would someday outshine both Ashton 

Kutcher and Topher Grace? As Jamie, she is 

tough, clever and vulnerable all at once, all 

the time reeling from the hurt of yet another 

abandonment but never letting herself step 

over that line into self-pity. The girl has charm 

in spades - wit, brains and sass to spare. Ok, 

ok, I admit it - I’ve got a tiny girl crush on her. 

But I ask you - who couldn’t?

The entire movie is a riot - there were times 

when I couldn’t see the screen I was laughing 

so hard. And yet it brings a sweetness I didn’t 

expect. Both Jamie and Dylan have tragic 

family backgrounds - she battles with a freespirit mother (sexy cougar Patricia Clarkson, 

who never disappoints) who won’t tell her 

who her father was and hits on all the men in 

Jamie’s life; he struggles with an ailing father 

Army Sgt. Meredith Vincent

R

109 min. 

 see MOVIES page 23

Treasure at site of 9/11 tragedy

The unexpected piece of New York 

history turned up in the future parking garage 

of the new World Trade Center, which will 

eventually feature five new skyscrapers and 

the U.S. National September 11 Memorial & 

Museum. 

Centuries ago, though—when Lower 

Manhattan’s western shore was farther in—

the site was an anchorage in the Hudson 

River.

“Right now we’re standing by the theory 

that [the ship is] a Hudson River sloop, 

a merchant vessel,” said archaeologist 

Elizabeth Meade of AKRF, an engineering 

firm contracted by the Port Authority of 

New York and New Jersey.

The World Trade Center ship “would 

have traveled up and down the river bringing 

cargo and people from the city to areas up 

north and might have gone as far south as 

the Caribbean.”

Others have also suggested that the 

ship—which was likely deliberately sunk—

may have done duty as a British troop carrier 

during the Revolutionary War.

The stern had been uncovered some 25 

feet below street level in July 2010. Scientists 

quickly saw that its hull had been sliced in 

half.

They believed the ship’s bow, if it still 

existed, would be on the other side of a 

60-foot-tall slurry wall, which stretches from 

the surface to the bedrock below—a theory 

that proved correct. Slurry walls allow for the 

building of tunnels or foundations in areas 

of soft earth that are close to open water or 

have a high groundwater table.

The ship was found on what was 

originally the bottom of the Hudson River, 

according to AKRF archaeologist A. Michael 

Pappalardo.

“But within a few years of its sinking, it 

was buried under 20 feet of fill as they filled in 

the river to expand Manhattan to the west.”

The ship itself was likely scrapped and 

sunk as part of the project to fill in the river 

and extend the city, Pappalardo explained.

Even before it was submerged, the boat 

was in bad shape. The wood shows damage 

from worms likely picked up in the Caribbean, 

while the upper deck and other presumably 

sound parts of the structure appear to have 

been stripped away before the ship was sunk, 

he said.

“There is evidence of burning [on the 

pipes], so we know that they were smoked,” 

Meade said. “They may have been used by the 

crew on the ship or even by the shipmakers.”

“This slip, and most of the slips like it in 

the area, were garbage-dumping grounds for 

all the people who lived nearby,” Pappalardo 

said.

The buildings that stood here before 9/11 

had relatively shallow basements, which didn’t 

encroach on the buried ship and artifacts, 

even as surrounding properties were long ago 

excavated down to solid bedrock.

“It’s unheard of to get this kind of 

opportunity to see an entire city block or two 

excavated to this depth,” Meade said.

“It’s really an amazing experience for us, 

and the last time a ship was found in the city 

was 1982—so it doesn’t happen very often.”

The lumber used to make the vessel’s hull 

came from trees cut down in the Philadelphia 

area no later than the 1770s, according to 

Columbia University research, Pappalardo 

said.

The ship has now been entirely removed 

from the Word Trade Center site, and the 

Port Authority hasn’t yet announced what will 

become of the historic vessel.

Archaeologists explore the newfound remains of an 18th-century ship’s 

stern, at Ground Zero in New York City last summer.

Story by Brian Handwerk

Photos by Lucas Jackson/Reuters

(from top) Scientists measure a 32-foot piece of the 

Ground Zero ship’s hull in 2011. (second from top) 

A person touches a piece of the 50-foot-long World 

Trade Center ship’s bow, found in July 2011. (second 

from bottom) The teeth and jaw of an ancient horse 

or cow, found beneath the vessel at 9/11’s Ground 

Zero, may have been crushed as the ship settled. 

(bottom) Fragments of decorative tiles are among 

the many artifacts found near the ship at the 9/11 

site. Perhaps unattached with the vessel, the shards 

may have been dumped in the river at a time when 

the city was literally growing.

| News You Can Use The Wire | Page 21
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Casey Glass

 see BODY page 23

Mind, Body & Soul

The American Superhero:

Stand up, tall & proud

GTMO Religious Services

Daily Catholic Mass

Tues. - Fri. 5:30 p.m.

Main Chapel

Vigil Mass

Saturday 5 p.m.

Main Chapel

Mass

Sunday 9 a.m.

Main Chapel

Catholic Mass

Saturday 5:30 p.m.

Troopers Chapel

The Mind, Body & Soul | Wire | Page 22

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Troopers’ Chapel

Islamic Service

Friday 1:15 p.m.

Room C

Jewish Service

Friday 7 p.m.

Chapel Annex

LDS Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room A

Seventh Day Adventist

Saturday 11 a.m.

Room B

Iglesia Ni Christo

Sunday 5:30 a.m.

Room A

Pentecostal Gospel

Sunday 8 a.m. & 5 p.m.

Room D

Liturgical Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room B

Church of the Sacred Well

Call x2323 for information

General Protestant

Sunday 11 a.m.

Main Chapel

United Jamaican

Fellowship

Sunday 11 a.m.

Sanctuary B

Gospel Service

Sunday 1 p.m.

Main Chapel

GTMO Bay Christian Fellowship

Sunday 6 p.m.

Main Chapel

A bead of sweat glistens on the forehead 

of the American Superhero as he chokes back 

emotions while recalling the day when our 

nation was attacked – 9/11. Standing feet 

shoulder width apart, chest out, hands resting 

in the small of the back, the Hero in one fluid 

motion brings his feet together and stands 

firmly at attention. “Oh say does that starspangled banner yet wave, over the land of the 

free and the home of the brave?” The Hero’s 

right hand pops a salute and a single tear gently 

streaks down his strong, clenched jaw. The 

American Superhero stands tall and proud; in 

the Superhero realm, there is no room for the 

“slouched.”

Many of you remember September 11, 

2001 just like it was yesterday – the mass 

hysteria, the disbelief, the anger and the tears. 

Many of our Heroes decided shortly after that 

the time had come to help defend their country. 

If you are determined to stand for freedom, 

the American way, and truth and justice for all, 

then you are an American Superhero. If you 

are dedicated to the service of others and to 

defend our great nation, you are an American 

Superhero.

Each day, the American Superhero willfully 

trudges the trenches of long hours. For some 

of us, it is sitting hunched at a desk; others 

protect the perimeter. Superheroes risking 

their lives in hostile environments and support 

functions alike have lost one very important 

characteristic that sets us apart: the stance of 

pride. The stance we were all taught as young 

Soldiers, Airmen, Seamen, Marines and Coast 

Guardsmen – shoulders back, chest puffed 

out, looking ahead – posture.

Physical fitness offers the American 

Superhero strength, flexibility, agility, speed and 

posture. Among these advantages, posture will 

remain with you the rest of your life. Besides, 

who the heck wants to see a Superhero 

slouched over with a look of inherent defeat 

on his face? We do accept defeat. We will look 

forward with pride.

Much of the Superhero’s day is spent with 

a cover on his head and boots on his feet. 

The military cover, meant for protection and 

a very crucial part of our gear, causes the 

unsuspecting Superhero to look down instead 

of ahead. The boots aid in protection of 

the ankles and toes but they are also literally 

the equivalent of wearing high heals all day, 

forcing the Superhero’s hips and knees to 

over-compensate, thus pushing the entire 

body forward.

Every Superhero must beware posture 

can be life-altering. Faulty posture causes a 

plethora of ailments. Sore backs, aching knees 

and ankles are just three in a list of 

BARRETT cont. 

| The Last Word The Wire | Page 23

MOVIES cont.

BODY cont. 

MARRIAGE cont.

MEMORIAL cont. 

complaints associated with posture. How 

does a Superhero correct his defective posture 

with the obvious culprit being unavoidable? 

Awareness! Are you aware of your posture? 

Do you feel yourself falling forward as you 

look down and hunch over while walking over 

gravel rock? Do you know you slouch?

Awareness cultivates the first remedy to the 

age-old enemy of damaged posture. Second, 

every Superhero has heard the subliminal 

message how physical fitness improves posture. 

Guess what? It’s true! Physical fitters tend 

to stand chest out, feet shoulder width apart 

with their hands on the hips. Look around the 

fitness center next time you fly in. You will 

see those working on the Superhero body and 

those maintaining the Superhero body. Notice 

the difference between the two. 

 Third, each time you feel yourself slouch 

over or looking down as you walk across the 

gravel, think about it and correct it. At first the 

correction may feel awkward, but eventually 

you will start looking forward instead of falling 

down. Remember your body will follow where 

you eyes lead.

Are you working on that Superhero body? 

What does your posture say about you? Did 

you take time today to improve somewhere 

in your fitness? Get back to the basics; look 

forward, your body will follow. Stand up, tall 

and proud. Remember what you are here for. 

The American Hero preserves the nation’s 

future.

For centuries, American children will 

learn about the day the Towers fell; the day 

the Pentagon was attacked and the brave 

passengers of Flight 93 who stood up to 

terrorists in order to save many lives. I urge 

you to stand up, tall and proud. Never look 

back, always move forward and continue to 

trudge ahead, remembering that you are the 

greatest nation’s Superhero. 

with early Alzhiemer’s and the understanding 

older sister (Jenna Elfman, where have you 

been hiding?!) who cares for Pops.

Even with the added family tension, 

“Friends with Benefits” is still frothy, funky 

fun. Even as they dissect the untruths of 

romantic comedies right in front of us, we 

still are aware that Dylan and Jamie are too 

beautiful, too smart-mouthed, too neatly 

damaged, to end up alone. And sure enough, 

after all that, they wind up in the middle of 

a flash mob, professing their love and living 

happily ever after. Attractive people suck. 

Where’s the ice cream? 

that fateful day. Army Major David Hanson, 

attached to JTF, felt the same.

“I look upon 11 September as a day 

in the life of our nation which deserves 

remembrance, but not muddle and sorrow,” 

Hanson reflected. “We need to recognize 

that evil dwells in the world just as does 

God’s goodness.”

For the conclusion of the ceremony, 

one chief selectee struck bells, symbolizing 

recognition of the thousands who lost their 

lives that day. 

“I’m honored to have shared this moment 

with the chiefs and others,” said Hanson. “We 

may wonder in this life why God produces 

the history that we experience, but we trust 

ultimately that this is for the good of those 

who trust in him.”

“It’s like walking through a car wreck and 

your one mission is to look for documents,” 

Barrett tries to explain, “but you see 

everything else. You have to be blind to it 

because you can’t disturb the area – you know 

somebody’s picture that might have been on 

their desk or a piece of a wedding ring you 

know somebody must have worn.”

It’s still hard to talk about, says Barrett, 

even 10 years later. 

“To be honest,” Barrett concluded, “I 

don’t think we like to talk about it - not a lot of 

people that I know do. Every once in awhile, 

we’ll meet each other and go somewhere for 

coffee. Amongst ourselves it’s easier – it’s 

clarity because we all understand. I don’t 

know if I can truly define it to you.”

Barrett says she struggles with two 

questions on this day every year.

“I don’t know if we all should have been 

in mourning yesterday or having a good 

time instead of remembering – but what is 

remembering?” 

Barrett sat with a cup of coffee Sunday 

morning looking down at her watch – she 

can’t help but remember.

The rescues, he sadly admits, 

were few and far between. The 

last person he remembers being 

pulled from the debris was a 

woman.

“I can’t remember her name,” 

he says as he furrows his brow, 

trying to reach the memory. “But 

I remember that day when she 

was brought out.”

McKinney and his fellow 

Soldiers were there when former 

President George W. Bush 

addressed the city, the nation and 

the world from Ground Zero.

“That was a moving moment,” 

McKinney nods slowly, “when 

he said what he did, about the 

MCKINNEY cont. 

Towers and the response that 

would come from us.”

The unit stayed in the city for 

approximately three weeks, recalls 

McKinney. There are scenes he 

remembers, “shadow memories” 

he calls them, that still remain. 

“The dust was still on the 

streets, three or four inches thick 

in places. It was nighttime. They 

had generator lights but they were 

spread out which made it even 

more eerie,” he says. “But you 

could see the streets... and the 

shoes. There were shoes all over 

the place from people who had 

ran, dress shoes from the people 

who worked in the Towers... just 

littered down the streets. And I 

remember that probably more 

than anything else, the shoes. The 

thought goes through your head, 

‘did these people survive, did they 

get away before the Towers fell?’”

McKinney remembers another 

dreadful moment, as he watched a 

line of firefighters walking down 

the sidewalk.

“They suddenly veered to the 

left,” he says, cocking his head at 

the memory of the strange sight. 

“I didn’t see anything at first and 

then – there was a baby stroller on 

the sidewalk. There was nobody, 

nothing in it. But they (the 

firefighters) didn’t want to touch 

it, they went around it. And that 

struck me as one of those odd, 

weird moments. Maybe it was a 

form of denial or something – if 

you don’t acknowledge it’s there, 

you don’t want to know.”

A father of three himself, 

McKinney says the attacks had 

a lasting affect on his young 

children.

“I got to talk to (my daughter) 

before we left for New York 

City,” McKinney shares. “And 

she said to me on the phone, 

‘Daddy, why did the terrorists do 

this?’ My first thought was, why 

does a nine year old even know 

what the word ‘terrorist’ is?”

am proud to serve with all of you during these 

exciting and tumultuous times in our nation’s 

history. In closing, I thank each one of you for 

your service to our great country, and to our 

armed forces and for all the sacrifices you and 

your families have endured. 

TROOPER cont. 

listen to insights on other people’s relationships 

and marriages.” 

 Army Capt. Garland Mason, 525th Military 

Police Battalion chaplain, said marriage is one 

of his favorite topics to speak about and agrees 

with Bertsch’s approach to teaching about it.

“Almost everything in life works against 

your marriage,” Mason explained. “So, if you 

don’t work at keeping your marriage strong 

and healthy, the natural tendency is for it to 

weaken and die.”
FROM

AROUND 

THE 

WORLD

Citizens from all nations gather to 

pay their respects on Sept. 11.

Photo by Hiro Komae/AP

Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Photo by David Goldman/AP Photo by Jim Hollander/EPA

Photo by Peter MacDiarmid