RAFB Staff Recall “Controlled Chaos” at the Pentagon

Two 9/11 survivors remember that tragic day ten years later. 125 people died on September 11, 2001 when American Airline Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, also taking the lives of the 59 victims on board that flight. Two local men now employed at Robins Air Force Base, even a decade later, say they’ll never forget that day in the office at the Pentagon.

“I felt a sense of loss. I knew something serious had happened to the building to people and I knew that life had changed,” explained Christopher Simmons, Program Section Chief at RAFB.

“Every year it gets a little easier, but at the same time you can’t forget,” said Tech. Sgt. Brian Hall, Commander of Air Logistics Center at RAFB.

Christopher Simmons reported to the Pentagon for his first day of work. It was a normal Tuesday until 9:37a.m.

“It was a sonic boom with a low powered thud and you felt the vibration of the whole building,” described Simmons.

“I felt this loud shake and heard a loud boom and I didn’t really know what to think after that,” explained Hall.

Tech. Sgt. Brian Hall says he and his team knew the Twin Towers had been hit, but they didn’t know there was any sort of connection

“Our first thought was something blew up on the roof, air conditioner or something,” said Hall.

Then what he calls “controlled chaos” started to take shape

“People running down the hallways screaming we’ve been hit and at that time we though OK this is something serious,” remembered Hall.

The evacuation took less than a half hour, but it wasn’t until they were outside that they knew this was no accident.

“We could see the smoke had covered the entire side of that building,” said Simmons.

“All we saw were pillars of smoke and flames,” explained Hall.

Those are images they will never forget, even a decade later.

“It was a horrific tragedy, but we as a nation have come together since,” said Hall.

“I think we need to remember that we’re in a great country, but we’ve got to protect our country. I think we need to remember that a lot of people lost their lives. I just hope that our young men and women can come home one day,” said Simmons.