IPVet Remembers 9/11

On a day that forever changed the course of history, the world stood still. September 11, 2001, is etched into our collective memory as a day of profound loss and unimaginable bravery. As we remember the events of that fateful day, we honor the lives lost, the heroes who emerged, and the resilience that followed.  

Now, 23 years later, most Americans recall where they were when they heard news of the attack. IPVets Co-Chair Chris Buziak was the Officer of the Deck driving a submarine on watch the day of the attack. He was on deployment in the Western Pacific, onboard the USS OLYMPIA (SSN 717).  

As the crew got their first indication of the attack by a direction to raise their DEFCON (or defense condition), they subsequently overheard a radio broadcast from the BBC that stated the pentagon had been attacked.  

“My initial feeling was confusion that this must be some kind of accident, then anger when I realized this was a bigger coordinated attack. I thought about my wife and young children (2 years and 6 months old) and wondered if they were safe. I wasn't able to communicate with my wife for a couple of weeks after the attack because of our mission at the time,” Chris recalls.  

The crew was unable to see any footage until about two weeks later when they arrived in Guam, where someone showed a tape of the CNN broadcast as a jet flew into one of the towers of the world trade center.  

“It was unbelievable. My first thought was this is a realistically shot movie and had to remind myself this was real,” Chris shares.  

Although Chris didn’t personally know anyone impacted, he still mourns for the many innocent victims and is honored to have had the opportunity to serve in the United States military during this time. Chris shared that he has the deepest respect for those who gave their ultimate sacrifice or who sustained physical and emotional wounds in service of their country.  

Today we come together to remember and honor this pivotal moment in history, and we invite you to do the same as your spend time and share memories with your loved ones.