In the middle of a friendly conversation with a new civilian friend this morning, he asked: "Do you remember where you were on 9/11."

My wife and I glanced at each other with knowing looks.

"It's a long story, how much do you want to hear?" 1/

In August 2001, I was assigned to the Pentagon for the first time in my career. That's because I was selected for promotion to Brigadier General, but first had to serve in a "Joint Assignment" as per law.

Our family left the high Mojave Desert and we drove to DC in July. 2/

Arriving at the Pentagon, I was told I couldn't assume the position until the Senate confirmed my promotion. My boss, a great 3-star Marine, gave me stuff to read & told me to lay low until the Senate acted.

After 3 weeks, he told me to take some leave. That was 3 Sept. 3/

My inlaws had a little house in Sag Harbor, NY...at the end of Long Island. Close to the beach, we usually spent time there between assignments.

We headed north from DC. 4/

On that beautiful Tuesday morning, we were having a lazy breakfast with out in-laws, and during our third cup of coffee my brother-in-law called and told us to turn on the TV because a "small plane" had flown into the tower.

As the screen came alive, we saw the 2d plane hit. 5/

I called our staff exec at the Pentagon, and asked him what was happening. In the midst of our 1st exchange, he said "wait a second, sir, something just happened in the building...I'll call you right back."

He never called back. Soon we heard the Pentagon had been hit. 6/

We packed the family, and hit the Long Island Expressway. Traffic was gridlocked. We made it to Queens by about 9 that night.

We pulled into a gas station after we saw a sign that the Verrazano Narrows Bridge was closed to all traffic in and out. 7/

At the gas station, we saw a NY State Patrolman. I told him I was military & had to get back to the Pentagon. No hesitation, he said "follow me."

He led us through back roads to the Verrazano, escorted us over.

At midnight, we were the only 2 cars on the bridge. 8/

The cop stopped at the top, got out of the car, and my wife and I joined him. We could see the lights, the smoke, the destruction.

I didn't know at the time, the daughter of our in-law's next door neighbor was in the rubble. Her name was read today. 9/

We drove the normal 5-hour drive back to northern Virginia in about 4 hours. No one was on the turnpike, the interstate.

We were mostly thinking about our 2 boys...one a senior in ROTC at Wake Forest, the other having just entered West Point. 10/

We got home, I shaved, put on a uniform and went in to the Joint Staff J7, the office that as part of their responsibility used to handle war plans.

Entering the building at 0530, the smell of smoke, jet fuel, and death was everywhere. 11/

The Pentagon were under renovations & a J7 team was supposed to occupy part of the building where the plane hit. They hadn't yet started the move.

In war, luck in always a factor. 125 others - some who were on the Army staff and were my friends, weren't as lucky. 12/

In the next few days, a few of us young general nominees were asked to serve in the NMCC (National Military Command Center) as chief of shifts.

It was an honor to serve there, as I've never seen a team come together so quickly, with such purpose. 13/

We executed Operation Noble Eagle, began assisting CENTCOM with intricate details of the plan that would become Operation Enduring Freedom, got reports & pictures of SOF riding horse with the Northern Alliance, received info on casualties. 14/

We also experienced Clausewitz's "fog of war." Because intelligence is never perfect, personalities DO matter, words are important so they must be precise, good organizations adapt, and plans must always consider enemy action. 15/

Clausewitz also talks about a strategic "trinity." VERY simply put, there's a requirement to have a unique balance between smart government leaders (with a viable strategy), the people (citizens who provide support for action),& the military (trained to execute).
16/

All that is needed in a crisis.

I worked in the NMCC until Dec '01, when the Senate confirmed promotions.

I learned a lot. Seeing things I had only read about in theory, while reinforcing my belief of the importance of people.

I left the Pentagon for Iraq in 2003. 17/

In the next 10 years, our family experienced multiple deployments.

We were mostly connected w the men and women in uniform, and we saw up close loss of life, debilitating wounds, loss of innocence.

It started on this day, 19 years ago.18/end