George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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 assigned to the chiefs mess, the day began like most others. Awake by 5:30 a.m. and in the Chief's Mess by 6 a.m.. the morning was buzzing along for the 23-year-old when he heard some disheartening news shortly before 9 a.m. “After hearing the 767 crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center. I was stunned but only thought it w'as an accident.” the New' York native said. “But when I watched the second plane crash into the other tower, I knew' it was a terrorist attack.” While the event had the attention of everyone in the mess, Chuman was especially interested in w'hat was unfolding before his eyes. His father Ricky, a plastics maker, operated his business from a shop only tw'o blocks away from the smoldering giants. After watching the second plane collide with the tower, Chuman experienced waves of Just the thought of losing my dad was devastating, Chuman said. “He’s not just my father, he’s my best friend. He told me a w hile back that there was going to be a time when he wouldn’t be here and that I'd have to keep going, but I wasn't ready to deal with him leaving us on that day.” Luckily, Chuman didn't have to wait long. After a restless night’s sleep, he got word his father was safe the next morning. “My father spent the night in an automobile because he couldn’t get out of the area. He said it was like Christmas in New York with all the ash and dust on the ground.” Above and Mow: Aircraft from USSJohn F. Kennedy (CV 67) aiming came aboard to provide air defense Jor , «w lorn.

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'terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of A. meric a! - President eorge C ush t '?J7 == he news hit hard and touched o' our inner souls. America the beautiful, the leader of freedom and liberty, had been hit by terrorists. In New York, the World Trade Center towers were toppled by two hijacked commercial airliners. Minutes later in the nation’s capital, a section of the Pentagon, the symbol of Americas military might, collapsed under another airliner attack. The Navy was quickly mobilized. USS George Washington was at sea in the Virginia Capes area when the terrorist strikes occurred. Soon after she was diverted north. George Washington steamed off the coastline of New York providing air defense to the city while awaiting any additional tasking from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). A New York skyline engulfed by smoke was forever ingrained in GW Sailors' memories. It may have been impossible for them to express all they were feeling as they dealt with the unique nightmare. Our men and women come from all parts of the country and even different places in the w orld. Each was affected in their own way. The George Washington family has mothers in Pittsburgh, cousins in Kuwait and friends in New York. So even though some Sailors knew their lives would continue in the wake of the catastrophe, for some of our shipmates. September 11 was especially long. For AKAN Shaun Chuman. temporarily

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