Changed by 9/11: Eric Becker, ESU

I was finishing up a midnight to 8 a.m. shift and was reassigned to traffic court for a 15-year-old summons.

I signed into traffic court at 8:15 and took a seat. Queens Traffic Court was located on Rockaway Boulevard just outside of Kennedy Airport. While waiting to be called, I noticed smoke coming from one of the towers from the second floor at Queens’s Traffic Court as you have clear view of the Manhattan skyline.  

I got up out of my seat to go over and look out the window. On the way over to the window, I tapped a Port Authority police officer on the shoulder to let him know what was happening. It was then that I realized the situation was very serious.  

By now, we could see the flames and smoke were consuming the upper floors of the tower. We put the TV on in the room, and it was being reported that the tower was struck by a plane. As we watched out the window, we were able to see the TV at the same time which had a live feed of the towers.  

All of a sudden, I watched as another plane came into view, but by the time I realized what was happening, the second tower exploded the ball of fire that could be clearly seen from our window.

I left court and reported to my command. As I entered the office, the phone was ringing off the hook with the wives of the guys that were working, looking for their husbands. All I could say was that they were all out and most likely on their way to the World Trade Center.  

I then phoned my wife like I always did when I would be working late. It was about 10 or 11 p.m. when I finally got a chance to call home, at which time I realized that all my family and friends had gathered at my home suspecting the worst.  

The following days, weeks and months were so surreal. We were working 12-hour shifts that turned into 16-hour shifts with no days off. I worked the 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift, and there were days that we worked all night at Ground Zero and then spent the whole day at funerals for some of the guys we lost.  

I still don’t know how we did it. I retired just after Ground Zero was closed. I was there on the day they brought the last beam up the ramp. The closing of the site didn’t bring much closure for me.  

As sad as it was, I was relieved that it was over for now. I don’t take anything for granted anymore. I keep myself busy with the , and try to pass on some of my experiences to the newer firefighters, and I hope that they never have to experience something like this in their lifetime.