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

About

Sargent Richard Doerler, an ex-NYPD officer, was working as a Nassau County Police officer in the Emergency Medical Services unit on 9/11. He was off duty when he saw the planes hit the WTC, and recalls how that night, he and his colleagues were bused to the WTC. The site reminded him of post-WWII Berlin as he and other “confined space technicians” formed a bucket-line to remove debris. While doing this, he ran into his brother who told him that their friend Ronnie was missing - one of 13 of his former NYPD friends who perished. He describes going into the debris pile for a harrowing rescue of John, a seriously injured fellow officer, who was trapped but survived. He thinks about 9/11 and about Ronnie every day and feels he is more appreciative now and regularly attends Sunday Mass. He worries that people are starting to forget. He doesn’t feel he is a hero. He says that working on the pile was what he took an oath to do, what he was trained to do, and what he was paid to do.

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Library of Congress

Language

English

Country

United States

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