Dear Mr. Sinise,

On 9 11 2001 I was about 5 minutes late for work at 200 liberty street directly across

From the world trade center.

The v.p. came out and said " Everyone downstairs fire drill.

I put my bagel and coffee down.

Place my cell phone in the desk with my wallet and car keys and locked the desk.

I figured I would be back in 20 minutes.

When we got downstairs the world trade center was on fire.

I asked my friend and he stated " maybe a cesna hit as the guy might have had a heart attack ."

Several minutes later the second jet came over our heads and smashed into the building.

It was a horrible site.

A short time later we saw the people jump and being blown out of the windows.

After awhile my boss said that " the smoke was getting too thick and to move the group

And we will meet up at the mercantile exchange.

We all went up and around and we're right in front of the building when it pancaked and collapsed upon itself.

I had a suit on as I was going on an interview for a managers job that day Tuesday 9 11 2001.

When the building fell someone from behind me yelled " run " !

There were people jumping into the water and trampling on each other.

A man a tourist with open toe sandals was carrying a baby in one arm and holding a young girl about 8 to 10 years old running in front of me.The girl tripped and the man was disconnected and pushed by the moving crowd away from her.

I saw this and picked her up and started running.The debris and wall of rubbish was overwhelming us.

I covered her with my body and told her " baby close your eyes and lord take us quickly.

We were then overwhelmed with the dust and debris.

I got up a minute later and almost giggled as I was relieved that we were still alive.

Mind you it hit me like a title wave

And I was moved about 3 feet.

My face and left side was bloodied and my face had glass and soot all over my body.

There was a deck hand on a fire boat who yelled at me to " jump on board " their going to Jersey "

I jumped over the railing and smashed and cut my right knee.

I helped out several people onto the boat.

I went downstairs and saw all the people

From the neighborhood and work downstairs in the lunch / deck hands room.

All these people were up against the wall in shock.

I got up and made a speech...

" Folks i just spoke to the captain and he stated that we will be in New Jersey in 20 minutes.

You are safe, this boat is 20 tons of titanium and is solid.It takes in the Queen Mary !

At that point I told one guy to fill up the plastic cups with water and give a cup to everyone.

Another guy I told to wipe everyone's face with paper towels by the sink.

I had to keep people busy.

When I got off the boat a little Mexican guy in overalls hugged me and said " that was a good speech ".

When I got off the boat my vice president Bob said " I've got to bring back the business"

I told him to f@#k the business and we have to go back there and help those people !

He said " Don't go back there and don't help them".

I looked at him from that point foward like he was a cockroach !

I walked until they commanders a city bus and ended up in Newark port authority with an ice pack on my bleeding knee.

A lady who was very nicely dressed with a yellow pad took my information.

I thought she was an administrator from the hospital.

It turned out that she was an associated press reporter.

My story made the papers the next day !