I'm sure there will be a million and one blogs about this date today. Unfortunately I will be one of them and for good reason. This day changed my life.

September 11, 2001 started out like every other day. I was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps assigned to the Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 26 (MSSG-26). We were at work packing up our stuff for our six month deployment to the Mediterranean. A couple of Marines walked into the shop and stated a plane just hit one of the World Trade Center towers. We all laughed and raised the bullshit flag. He went on to say he heard it on the Howard Stern show and he was serious. None of us took it all that seriously, he was talking about Howard Stern after all. Then the report came down about the second plane hitting and then things got real serious. Radios were tuned into any news show that was talking about it. Televisions appeared out of no where. Cell phones were being dialed. We were all in a trance. We knew at that moment our scheduled deployment was going to turn into something much bigger.

We tried to get back to work but it was very difficult to concentrate on our tasks. All of us were wondering what our fate will be. We were the next scheduled unit to be deployed. We could launch at any given moment if necessary. That is the nature of the MEU. It is America's force in readiness.

Our days usually ended at 4:30 but not this day. We were sent back to the barracks to wait additional word. We sat around and waited for a while and were finally told to get in formation. We were then told we would deploy on schedule. No definite word was given on whether or not we were at war or if we would respond to anything. We were also told that we were almost shipped to New York to help clean up. We were very thankful for that. I could not imagine digging out dead Americans from the rubble of the Towers. We were dismissed and I went home to my wife and two kids.

Once home it was emotional. Even though nothing was said about my upcoming deployment, my wife and I knew I was headed into harm's way. We were bombarded with images of the tragedies on every television station. There was no escaping it. I think it was two days before TV went back to normal. We passed the days the best we could dreading the day I finally left. It was tough. My entire family was worried. I was worried. It was a rough time.

The day came to deploy and my wife drove me to the barracks and it was one of the hardest good-byes I have ever had to make. But it was made and my wife and I separated not knowing what would happen. Of course I had to be there at 0:dark:30 and sit around until the bus's arrived to take us to Moorehead City where my ship was. Then the media showed up and started filming the emotional exchanges between the Marines and their families. To think back it makes me sick how the media fed on those images. Using us to rile up the American people. The media are scum but it is what they do.

We left. The deployment started out as scheduled. We stopped in Spain for a few days. We did a field operation in Egypt. We stopped off in Italy for some rest and relaxation. Then the call came. We were given orders to travel through the Suez Canal to offer support for combat operations in Afghanistan. It was now real. America was at war and here I am in the middle of it. I remember thinking "I didn't sign up for this shit" but in all reality I did. This is what Marines are trained to do.

We arrive and we start unloading Marines and gear into Pakistan. From there they traveled into Afghanistan and setup the bases at Kandahar and other areas of interest. It was the deepest amphibious landing the Marines have ever made. It was a historic moment for the Marine Corps. The operations began and people were being captured, there were fire fights and I never saw any of it. I was stuck on ship bored out of my mind. There was no need for me on the ground. So it kind of sucked but I was relieved. Even though we didn't lose any Marines due to combat it was still a relief. It was still kind of cool being on ship. The ship i was on was assigned the duty of patrolling the Arabian Sea for suspected terrorist ships. I got to watch the Navy SEALs take down a suspected ship. That was pretty neat to watch. We did that a couple of times.

The deployment was extended one month and we returned. As the ship pulled into port at Moorehead City we could see hundreds of people waving flags and holding up signs welcoming us home and thanking us for the job we did. We offloaded the ship and got into our vehicles and started our drive back to Camp LeJeune. The whole way there the roads were lined with people. It was absolutely amazing to see the support. It was very emotional and still is to this day.

We finally arrive at the barracks and I am greeted by my wife and kids and all of the other families. It was one of the best days of my life.

You are all probably wondering how September 11 changed my life. Well, for one, I cannot look at images of 9/11. I refuse. I cannot listen to the song "Proud to be an American" without crying. Writing this post has been an emotional roller coaster. Just thinking about anything tied to that day causes me to tear up. If you knew me personally you would know that I am one of those guys that just doesn't cry. So me becoming an emotional wreck over a day is a profound thing. Another things is, the majority of Americans watched the tragedies unfold on TV and eventually went on with their lives but for those of us assigned to the 26th MEU we were not allowed to move on with our lives. We were thrown into the mix. We were the ones who sent the message. And for that my life was changed. I was part of history. When my children learn about what happened that day I can say with pride that I was among the thousands of Marines who were sent to defend our Nation.

I hope you take a moment out of your day and reflect on what happened. Remember those who died and those who still mourn the dead. Be thankful of your military and remember our freedom comes with a price.