Richard F. Doerler oral history interview conducted by Julie Broihier, October 19, 2010

About

Richard was working as a Nassau County Police Officer in the Emergency Medical Services unit on 9/11/2001. He saw the planes hit the Twin Towers while watching television at home. He reported to the Bellmore, Nassau County Police Department. Richard and his fellow EMS officers were escorted to Floyd Bennett Field where they mobilized equipment such as hard hats, work gloves, gun belts, and heavy extrication tools such as ropes, and sledgehammers. Richard and his unit were taken by bus down to Stuyvesant High School in the city, which was the main staging area for all EMS workers. At about 11 p.m. on 9-11-2001 they arrived at Ground Zero carrying their equipment and tools on shopping carts. Richard started working with the bucket brigade, and then delved into rescue work by searching through crevices in piles of debris. Richard and other NYPD officers rescued a fellow officer named John who was trapped under the debris. The rescue operation went on from 3:30 to 6:30 a.m. on 9/12/2001. He also lost a fellow officer, Ronnie, at the WTC site. Richard continued to work for two weeks after 9/11, until the rescue efforts ended and turned to one of recovery and clean-up. Richard mentioned that the rescue and recovery efforts were possible only due to the efforts of ironworkers, heavy equipment operators, and the teamwork between police officers and firefighters. He hopes people don't forget about 9/11, and believes his experience at the site made him spiritual. He now attends…

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Credit

Library of Congress

Language

English

Country

United States

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