William Fischer oral history interview conducted by Julie Broihier, June 29, 2010, October 20, 2010

About

William was working as an NYPD officer in the Emergency Services Unit (ESU) on 9-11-2001. He was the 13th member in his family to serve as a police officer. He saw the planes hit the Twin Towers on T.V., and went to his Brooklyn police station to check in. William and his fellow ESU officers commandeered a city bus into the city through the Battery Tunnel. William worked at the site until about 3:30 in the afternoon of 9-11-2001. At Ground Zero, he worked in rescue and recovery, and helped rescue Officer John McLoughlin, who was trapped in the debris. He recalls being aware that other buildings such as hotels and banks near Ground Zero could have fallen due to the aftershock of the Twin Tower collapse, and there were people with whistles nearby to warn responders in case these buildings crumbled. William mentions there were fighter planes flying overhead to respond to any other plane attacks that day. After his first shift, he went home to wash up and recalls, "My hair was so matted with this crap (dust), it was in (my) eyes and ears."

Archive

Library of Congress, in Library of Congress

Licence or status

Rights statement at the Library of Congress, as the Library of Congress states it.

Credit

Library of Congress

Language

English

Country

United States

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