William oral history interview conducted by Eliza Marcus, September 14, 2010

About

When William, a former security officer and volunteer medic, learned of the attacks on 9/11, he decided to go to the site and help in any way he could. The atmosphere when he arrived was chaotic, filled with debris, dust, and twisted metal. There was no organized assignment of tasks for volunteers, and they had to navigate the situation independently. William offered his help as a medic. Despite not having active medical licenses at the time, William provided basic first aid to those in need and psychological support to people traumatized by the events, such as when he aided a trapped office worker who was in grave distress. Witnessing the shattered bodies and body parts has left him with traumatic memories. However, there was a great sense of accomplishment when someone emerged alive from the wreckage. The conditions were difficult, with a scarcity of medical supplies, proper facilities, and amenities such as bathrooms and showers. William worked for about a week and a half without breaks, sustaining himself with food from a church pantry. He went home each day to take care of his animals and catch a few hours of sleep before returning to the site. The toll this experience took on William was more emotional than physical. He considered his response to 9/11 a calling, and spoke passionately about the importance of providing emotional and psychological support to those affected. William lost friends and acquaintances who worked at the World Trade Center. He had difficulty…

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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