>>> WHAT AM I DOING? >> GO. GO TO TRADE CENTER. >> Reporter: 23 YEARS AGO, THEY
ANSWERED THE CALL. >> SEND EVERY AVAILABLE AMBULANCE, EVERYTHING YOU GOT. THE WORLD TRADE CENTER NOW.
>> WE KNEW THAT IT COULD BE UP TO 20, 25,000 PEOPLE IN EACH BUILDING. >> I'M ON THE 83rd FLOOR AND
IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY HOT. >> EVERY FIREFIGHTER SAW THE FLAMES AND THEY LOOKED INTO THEIR OWN HEARTS.
>> STAY TOGETHER. STAY TOGETHER. >> THAT'S WHEN I SAID TO PETE, PETE, THIS WILL BE THE WORST DAY
OF OUR LIVES. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS BEFORE I KNEW THE HALF OF IT. >> MAYDAY MAYDAY.
READY TO COLLAPSE. READY TO COLLAPSE. >> AND IN THE DARKNESS -- >> EVERYBODY ALL RIGHT!
>> I WONDERED IF I WAS DEAD OR ALIVE. >> HEY, PETE! PETE HAYNES!
>> Reporter: TONIGHT -- >> THE WORLD TRADE CENTER COLLAPSED. >> Reporter: THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND THE GREATEST ACTIVE GALLANTRY EVER BESTOWED ON AN AMERICAN CITY. >> I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE
SOMETHING THAT'S IN A HISTORY BOOK THAT ARE PAGES TURNED AND WE'RE FORGOTTEN. >> I'M LESLEY STAHL.
>> I'M BILL WHITAKER. >> I'M ANDERSON COOPER. >> I'M SHARYN ALFONSI. >> I'M JON WERTHEIM.
>> I'M CECILIA VEGA. >> I'M SCOTT PELLEY. THAT STORY TONIGHT ON "60 >>> IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF NEW
YORK, THERE ARE 217 FIRE HOUSES. EACH HOLDS A MEMORIAL TO FIREFIGHTERS WHO ANSWERED THE CALL 23 YEARS AGO AND NEVER
RETURNED. AS WE FIRST TOLD YOU IN 2021, 343 MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW
YORK PERISHED ON 9/11, IN THE GREATEST ACT OF GALLANTRY EVER BESTOWED ON AN AMERICAN CITY. THIS IS THEIR STORY.
>> THIS PLACE RACED PASSED US ALONG THE HUDSON RIVER AT SUCH A LOW ALTITUDE, I COULD READ AMERICAN
ON THE FUSELAGE. >> AT 8:46 THIS MORNING, BATTALION CHIEF WAS SEARCHING FOR A ROUTINE GAS LEAK.
>> I SAW THE PLANE AIM AND CRASH INTO THE NORTH TOWER OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER. >> HOLY [ BLEEP ].
[ BLEEP ]. >> Reporter: FROM THAT MOMENT, THE FIREFIGHTERS OF THE FDNY WOULD HAVE ABOUT AN HOUR AND A
HALF TO SAVE 17,000 LIVES. >> THEY KNEW THAT THEY MIGHT NOT COME HOME. BUT THEY KNEW THERE WERE PEOPLE
TRAPPED. THAT'S OUR JOB. >> THERE'S NO WAY WE WERE GOING TO STAND BACK AND SAY WE'RE NOT
GOING IN. THAT WOULDN'T BE THE FDNY. >> OUR AIM WAS TO GET ABOVE THAT FIRE AND GET THOSE POOR PEOPLE
OUT THAT WERE CALLING US. >> WE'RE ON THE FLOOR AND WE CAN'T BREATHE. AND IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY HOT.
>> AND ALL THE DISPATCHER COULD SAY IS, WE'RE COMING FOR YOU. SO, WE LIKE TO KEEP OUR PROMISES, YOU KNOW.
WE TOLD THEM WE'RE COMING. WE'RE COMING. >> GO TO THE TRADE CENTER. >> Reporter: JOE PFEIFFER WAS
COMING WITH A CAMERA. FILM MAKERS JULES AND GIDEON WERE MAKING A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE FDNY.
>> OH MY GOD. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FLOORS ON FIRE. IT LOOKED LIKE THE PLANE WAS
AIMING TOWARDS THE BUILDING. >> ENGINE 69K. >> THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, TOWER NUMBER 1 IS ON FIRE.
ENGINE 1, WORLD TRADE CENTER, 1060. SEND EVERY AVAILABLE AMBULANCE, EVERYTHING YOU GOT TO THE WORLD
TRADE CENTER NOW. >> Reporter: DISPATCH LAUNCHED AN ARMADA. >> ENGINE 211, LADDER 11, ENGINE
44, ENGINE 22, ENGINE 53. >> Reporter: 121 ENGINES, 62 LADDER COMPANIES, 100 AMBULANCES, 750 MEMBERS OF THE
FDNY. >> ATTENTION 68 ENGINE. 35 ENGINE. 64 ENGINE.
94 ENGINE, 83 ENGINE. >> AT FDNY HEADQUARTERS IN BROOKLYN, 54-YEAR-OLD CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT PETER GANCI JR. RACED
TO HIS CAR. HE WAS THE BOSS, LEADING THE SECOND LARGEST FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE WORLD AFTER TOKYO.
DAN NIGRO WAS HIS NUMBER TWO. >> SO WE WENT DOWNSTAIRS QUICKLY. GOT IN THE CAR AND HEADED OVER
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE WHERE WE COULD SEE THE DAMAGE, SEE THE SMOKE, SEE THE FIRE. THAT'S WHEN I SAID TO PETE,
PETE, THIS WILL BE THE WORST DAY OF OUR LIVES. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS BEFORE I KNEW THE HALF OF IT.
>> CAR 3 TO MANHATTAN. >> Reporter: PETE GANCI'S VOICE WAS RECORDED EN ROUTE. >> TRANSMIT FIFTH ALARM FOR THIS
BOX. GET US A STAGING AREA CHIEF SOMEWHERE ON WEST STREET. >> Reporter: A BOX IS A
LOCATION. K SIGNALS THE END OF A MESSAGE, A THROW BACK TO THE 19th CENTURY TELEGRAPH, WHICH ON THIS DAY,
WAS PUNCTUATING THE GREATEST CRISIS IN THE DEPARTMENT'S 136 YEARS. >> RIGHT AWAY, I GOT A DEEP
SENSE THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF FIREFIGHTERS THIS DAY. >> Reporter: DIVISION ONE COMMANDER PETER HAYDEN MET
BATTALION CHIEF JOE PFEIFFER IN THE LOBBY OF THE BURNING TOWER. >> WELL, I KNEW THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT OUT THE
FIRE. SO, THE ORDER OF THE DAY WAS TO SEARCH AND EVACUATE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE COULD AND THEN WE
WERE GOING TO BACK AWAY. >> Reporter: THE FIRE WAS 93 FLOORS ABOVE. ELEVATORS WERE OUT.
SO FIREFIGHTERS CLIMBED TIGHT STAIRWELLS SHOULDERING 75 POUNDS AND MORE. >> AND I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE
ENOUGH TIME TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS ABOVE THE IMPACT OF THE PLANE, WE WERE PRETTY MUCH SURE WERE EITHER
DEAD ALREADY OR GOING TO DIE. THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE JUMPING OUT ALREADY. >> Reporter: 1,355 PEOPLE WERE
TRAPPED ABOVE THE FIRE. THE BOEING 767 HAD SEVERED ALL THREE STAIRWELLS LEAVING ONE WAY OUT.
>> JUMPERS. JUMPERS. >> DIVISION ONE, BE ADVISED, BATTALION 2 ADVISED HE HAS
JUMPERS FROM THE WORLD TRADE CENTER. >> WE HEARD A LOUD THUD. AND I KNEW THAT WAS SOMEBODY
THAT EITHER FELL OR JUMPED FROM THE BUILDING. >> Reporter: THE FIRST FIREFIGHTER KILLED WAS HIT BY A
FELLOW HUMAN BEING. >> IT WAS HAPPENING SO RAPIDLY THAT I GRABBED THE P.A. SYSTEM AT THE FIRE COMMAND POST AND I
SAID, FIREFIGHTERS ARE COMING. IF YOU CAN, HOLD ON. >> IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAUNT US PROBABLY FOR THE
REST OF OUR LIVES. >> Reporter: TOUR COMMANDER SAL HAD ARRIVED PRECISELY 17 MINUTES AFTER THE NORTH TOWER WAS HIT.
>> JUST AS I GOT OUT OF MY CAR, I HEARD ANOTHER EXPLOSION. AND I CAN TELL YOU EXACT WHAT TIME IT WAS, IT WAS 9:03 BECAUSE
THAT WAS THE PLANE THAT HIT THE SOUTH TOWER. >> LOOK OVER THERE! >> WE HAVE A SECOND PLANE INTO
THE OTHER TOWER OF THE TRADE CENTER. MAJOR FIRE. >> MAY DAY MAY DAY, ANOTHER
PLANE HIT THE SECOND TOWER, K. >> Reporter: THE SECOND 767 EXPLODED INTO FLOORS 77 THROUGH 85.
NOW 2,000 PEOPLE WERE TRAPPED A QUARTER MILE HIGH. CASSANO RAN INTO THE DEPARTMENT CHAPLAIN, MICHAEL JUDGE.
>> I JUST TOLD HIM, FATHER, WE'RE IN FOR A BAD DAY. WE'LL NEED A LOT MORE CHAPLAINS HERE.
>> MORE FIREFIGHTERS KEPT COMING IN AND TOOK THEIR ASSIGNMENTS WITH NO QUESTION, YEAH. PRETTY TOUGH TO DO.
>> Reporter: BUT IT'S ALSO HARD TO GIVE THEM, THOSE ASSIGNMENTS. >> IT WAS. IT WAS.
BUT I COULD TELL WHEN I GAVE THE ASSIGNMENTS OUT, I COULD SEE THE LOOK IN THEIR EYES. I REMEMBER SEEING FIREFIGHTERS
HUGGING EACH OTHER AND HEADING UP. >> HOW MANY FIREFIGHTERS DID YOU SEE THAT DAY REFUSE TO GO UP THE
STAIRS? >> NOBODY REFUSED TO GO IN. >> STAY TOGETHER. THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> I CAN REMEMBER ONE LIEUTENANT FROM ENGINE 33 COMING UP TO ME AND NOT SAYING A WORD. AND WE STOOD THERE WONDERING IF
WE WERE BOTH GOING TO BE OKAY. AND THAT LIEUTENANT WAS MY BROTHER KEVIN. AND THEN I TOLD HIM WHAT I TOLD
MANY OF THE OTHER FIRE OFFICERS, I SAID GO UP TO THE 70th FLOOR. >> Reporter: 70, THEY HOPED COULD BE A STAGING AREA IN THE
IN LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR, THE FDNY HAD RESCUE OPERATIONS IN THE NORTH TOWER, THE SOUTH TOWER AND THE NEARLY SOLD OUT 800-ROOM
HOTEL BETWEEN THEM. >> FROM THE TIME THE FIRST PLANE HIT THE NORTH TOWER, UNTIL THE SECOND TOWER COLLAPSED, WAS 102
MINUTES. THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING THROUGH PETE'S MIND IN JUST 102 MINUTES IS JUST MIND BOGGLING.
>> Reporter: SAL CASSANO WAS WITH CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT PETE GANCI AT HIS COMMAND POST ON THE STREET BELOW THE TOWERS.
THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN PICTURE OF GANCI THAT DAY. >> Reporter: WAS GANCI THE KIND OF BOSS THAT YOU DID THINGS FOR
BEFORE YOU FEARED HIM OR BECAUSE YOU DESPERATELY DID NOT WANT TO LET HIM DOWN? >> YOU DID IT BECAUSE YOU LOVED
HIM. >> Reporter: GANCI JOINED THE FDNY IN 1968. WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS PETER
GANCI? >> YOU KNOW, PETE -- PETE WOULD SAY WAS MY ALTER EGO. HAD CHEST FULL OF MEDALS AND HE
WAS JUST A DOWN TO EARTH, HONEST, HARD-WORKING GUY. YOU KNOW, HE WAS A PARA TROOPER IN THE ARMY, WORKED HIS WAY UP
TO BE CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT IN THE FDNY. QUITE A STORY. >> Reporter: A STORY OF COURAGE
OVER HIS 33 YEAR CAREER. HE WON THE DEPARTMENT'S MEDAL OF VALOR CRAWLING INTO A BURNING APARTMENT ON HIS HANDS AND
KNEES, GRABBING A CHILD WHO WAS CERTAINLY GOING TO DIE AND DRAGGING THAT CHILD OUT AND SAVING HER LIFE.
>> THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON PETE WAS. HE WOULD PUT PEOPLE BEFORE HIMSELF WITHOUT A DOUBT.
>> Reporter: HE PUT HIS FIREFIGHTERS BEFORE HIMSELF, THREE MONTHS BEFORE 9/11. GANCI, THE CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT
RESPONDED FROM HOME TO A CALL OF FIREFIGHTERS TRAPPED IN A BURNING STORE. HE WENT IN WEARING SHORTS AND
BOAT SHOES. HE ONCE SAID HIS 11,000 FIREFIGHTERS WERE HIS CHILDREN. ON THAT DAY IN QUEENS, HE LOST
THREE. [ BLEEP ]. >> Reporter: ON 9/11, THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR FIREFIGHTER'S
SAFETY WAS CHIEF AL TOREY WHO WAS TORMENTED BY THE PASSING MINUTES. >> LET IT BURN UP.
>> Reporter: HE ASKED PETE HAYDEN IF HE HAD CONSIDERED THE THREAT OF A PARTIAL, LOCALIZED COLLAPSE ON THE BURNING FLOORS.
>> I SAID, YES. BUT WE NEEDED TO GET THE PEOPLE OUT. THERE WERE HUNDREDS UPON
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERIOR STAIRS. >> HOW MUCH TIME DID YOU THINK YOU HAD?
>> I THOUGHT WE HAD A COUPLE HOURS. >> Reporter: THE CHIEFS KNEW NO STEEL HIGH-RISE IN HISTORY HAD
EVER COMPLETELY COLLAPSED DUE TO FIRE. >> NONE OF US EXPECTED THE BUILDING TO COME DOWN.
WE EXPECTED THE FIRE TO KEEP BURNING AND CONDITIONS TO GET WORSE. BUT, IF WE COULD JUST GET ONE
ROUTE ABOVE IN EACH BUILDING, PERHAPS WE COULD BRING SOME FOLKS DOWN AT LEAST. >> Reporter: YOU JUST NEEDED A
LITTLE MORE TIME. >> WE JUST NEEDED TIME. >> ALL RIGHT. >> Reporter: NO ONE WOULD DO
MORE WITH TIME THAN ORIO PALMER. THAT'S HIM ON THE RIGHT WITH THE MUSTACHE. HE'S RECEIVING ORDERS TO GO TO
THE SOUTH TOWER TO TRY TO CLEAR A PATH TO THE TRAPPED SOULS CALLING 911. >> HOW MANY PEOPLE WHERE YOU'RE
AT RIGHT NOW. >> THERE'S LIKE FIVE PEOPLE IN HERE WITH ME. >> Reporter: ALL UP ON THE 83rd
FLOOR. >> 83rd FLOOR. >> Reporter: 32-YEAR-OLD MELISSA DOYLE WAS SAYING THE HAIL MARY
PRAY WHEN THE 911 ANSWERED. THE ONCE-ASPIRING BALLERINA WAS A MANAGER IN A FINANCIAL FIRM ON 83, ONE OF THE BURNING
FLOORS IN THE SOUTH TOWER. >> ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET SOMEBODY UP HERE? >> OF COURSE.
>> WELL, THERE'S NO ONE HERE YET AND THE FLOOR IS COMPLETELY ENGULFED. WE'RE ON THE FLOOR AND WE CAN'T
BREATHE. AND IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY HOT. >> Reporter: THE OPERATOR WAS RIGHT.
SOMEONE WAS RISING TOWARD MELISSA DOY. ORIO PALMER RAN MARATHONS AS A HOBBY.
BATTALION 7 IS CHIEF PALMER, LADDER 1-5 IS A TEAM OF FIREFIGHTERS A FEW FLOORS BELOW. >> WHAT DO YOU GOT UP THERE,
STEVE? >> STAIRWAY 74th FLOOR, LOCAL FIRE PROBLEM. THE WALLS ARE BREACHED, SO BE
CAREFUL. >> Reporter: THIS IS LADDER 15'S LIEUTENANT, JOE LEVY. >> WE'RE ON 71.
WE'RE COMING UP BEHIND YOU. >> ALSO ON 75. >> Reporter: PALMER FOUND FIRE MARSHAL RON BUKA ON THE 75th
FLOOR EVACUATING CIVILIANS. >> 1-5. >> I GOT TWO FIREFIGHTERS AT THE STAIRWAY TO KNOCK DOWN TWO
FIRES. GET WATER ON IT, KNOCK IT DOWN. OKAY? >> Reporter: PALMER HAD
DISCOVERED THE ONLY INTACT STAIRWAY TO THE TOP OF THE SOUTH TOWER. UNLIKE THE NORTH TOWER, THE
SECOND PLANE HAD MISSED STAIRWAY A. >> 77 NOW. BE RIGHT TO YOU.
>> IF PALMER COULD CLEAR THIS STAIRWELL, 619 SOULS WOULD HAVE A WAY OUT. HE WAS FIVE FLOORS BELOW MELISSA
DOY AND RISING. >> I'M GOING TO DIE, AREN'T I? >> NO, NO, NO. >> I'M GOING TO DIE.
>> MA'AM, SAY YOUR PRAYERS. >> I'M GOING TO DIE. >> YOU HAVE TO THINK POSITIVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HELP PEOPLE
GET OFF THE FLOOR. >> WE'RE AT THE STAIRS GOING UP TO 79. >> ALL RIGHT.
I'M ON MY WAY UP, ORIO. >> I'M GOING TO DIE. I KNOW IT. >> STAY CALM.
STAY CALM. STAY CALM. >> PLEASE, GOD. >> YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB,
MA'AM. YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. >> IT'S SO HOT. I'M BURNING UP.
>> Reporter: THE ASSENT OF ORIO PALMER AND PETER GANCI'S SACRIFICE, WHEN WE COME BACK.
>>> AN HOUR HAD PASSED SINCE THE ATTACK ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER BEGAN. IN THE SOUTH TOWER, BATTALION 7
CHIEF ORIO PALMER TOOK THE ONLY WORKING ELEVATOR AS HIGH AS IT WOULD GO AND THEN HE LED THE MEN OF LADDER 15 ON A CLIMB FROM THE
40th FLOOR. PALMER WAS TRYING TO CLEAR A PATH TO 619 PEOPLE TRAPPED BY FIRE.
>> LADDER 15. >> THIS IS PALMER'S RADIO TRANSMISSION FROM THE 78th FLOOR OF THE SOUTH TOWER.
HE'S CALLING THE FIREFIGHTERS OF LADDER 15, WHO ARE COMING UP WITH RESCUE GEAR FROM A FEW FLOORS BELOW.
>> WE GOT -- POCKETS. KNOCK IT DOWN IN TWO LINES. 38th FLOOR. >> Reporter: 1045 CODE ONES WERE
FATALITIES, MORE THAN HE COULD COUNT. PALMER PRESSED TOWARDS 79, CLIMBING AT ABOUT ONE FLOOR A
MINUTE. AS HE ROSE, MELISSA DOY SPEAKING TO 911 FROM THE 83rd FLOOR THOUGHT SHE HEARD SOMEONE.
WAIT, WAIT, WE HEAR VOICES. HELLO! HELP! HELP!
>> HELLO, MA'AM THEY COMING THROUGH TO YOU. >> FIND OUT IF THERE'S ANYBODY ON THE 83rd FLOOR.
>> YOU STAY ON THE PHONE WITH ME. >> FIND OUT IF THERE'S ANYONE ON THE 83rd FLOOR.
I HEARD SOMEBODY. >> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE HEARD. BUT HEARING NO ANSWER TO HER SHOUT, MELISSA DOY RETURNED TO
THE CALL. >> I ALREADY THAT. >> STAY ON THE LINE WITH ME, PLEASE.
I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING. >> ORIO PALMER KNEW HOW DANGEROUS THIS WAS. AND HE DIDN'T STOP.
LADDER 15 KNEW HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS, BUT WE NEVER THOUGHT AN ENTIRE HIGH-RISE BUILDING WOULD COLLAPSE.
THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF IT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. >> BUT THIS DAY, HISTORY WAS CHANGING BECAUSE THE PLANES HAD
BLASTED AWAY THE SPRAY-ON FIREPROOF FOAM INSULATING THE STRUCTURAL STEEL. THE BURNING FLOORS WERE SAGGING,
SLOWLY PULLING THE EXTERIOR INWARD. EMS DIVISION CHIEF JOHN WAS IN THE CITY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
CENTER WHERE HE RECEIVED A WARNING FROM AN OFFICIAL HE BELIEVES WAS AN ENGINEER. >> HE SAID, THE BUILDINGS ARE
SEVERELY COMPROMISED. YOU CAN SEE SLIGHT LEAN. THEY'RE IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE. SO I GRABBED ONE OF MY STAFF
GUYS, EMT RICH ZARILLO. AND I SAID, RICH, GO TO PETE GANCI. DON'T TALK TO ANYONE ELSE AND
DELIVER THIS MESSAGE. THE BUILDINGS ARE IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE. >> Reporter: IN THIS FOUR-SECOND
VIDEO AT FAR LEFT YOU SEE RICH ZARILLO'S BLUE SHIRT. HE'S DELIVERING THE WARNING TO PETE GANCI.
ZARILLO HARDLY GOT THE WORDS OUT WHEN GANCI'S ATTENTION WAS DRAWN TO A ROAR FROM THE SOUTH TOWER ABOVE HIM.
>> LOUD NOISE. HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS. ALL WE SAW WAS A PLUME OF DUST AND SMOKE.
AND DEBRIS. >> Reporter: IN THE MOMENT BEFORE, MELISSA DOY HAD GIVEN THE 911 OPERATOR HER MOTHER'S
PHONE NUMBER AND THE MESSAGE THAT HER DAUGHTER LOVED HER. THEN, THERE WAS SILENCE. >> OH MY GOD.
MELISSA, PLEASE. YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE. YOU'RE GONNA TALK TO YOUR MOTHER
YOURSELF. YOU HAVE TO STAY POSITIVE. YOU HAVE TO STAY CALM. YOU'RE GOING TO TALK TO YOUR
MOTHER YOURSELF, ALL RIGHT? MELISSA? >> PALMER'S LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION WAS BATTALION 7 TO
LADDER 15. AND THERE'S NOTHING AFTER THAT. THAT'S WHEN THE TOWER COLLAPSES. HE MUST HAVE KNOWN THAT WITH
EVERY STEP HE ASCENDED, HIS CHANCE OF SURVIVAL DROPPED. >> DIDN'T DETER HIM ONE BIT. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS IN HIS
MIND WAS LET ME GET UP THERE. LET ME GET AS MANY PEOPLE OUT AS I CAN, AS QUICKLY AS I CAN. >> Reporter: JOE PFEIFFER NEXT
DOOR IN THE NORTH TOWER WAS 200 FEET FROM THE CASCADING TWIN. >> AND THEN THE LOBBY GOES PITCH BLACK.
>> EVERYBODY ALL RIGHT? >> YEAH, I'M OKAY. >> AND IN THE DARKNESS I WONDERED IF I WAS DEAD OR ALIVE.
>> WE GOT TO GET EVERYBODY OUT. >> LET'S GO. >> AND I GOT ON MY RADIO AND I SAID, COMMAND TO ALL UNITS IN
TOWER ONE. >> EVACUATE THE BUILDING. >> JOE PFEIFFER WAS GIVEN THE ORDER TO EVACUATE.
AND ONE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLING MY NAME. >> PETE! PETE HAYNES.
>> HE SAID, WE HAVE SOMEBODY DOWN. >> I FELT SOMEBODY AT MY FEET. AND I SAW THIS WAS OUR
FIREFIGHTER CHAPLAIN, FATHER MICHAEL JUDGE. I REMOVED HIS WHITE COLLAR. I CHECKED FOR HIS PULSE AND
BREATHING. AND HE HAD NONE. AND I KNEW HE WAS GONE. >> SEVERAL OF US PICKED HIM UP
AND WE CARRIED HIM OUT. THE EMTs THAT HAD TAKEN HIM ACTUALLY TOOK HIM NOT TO THE MORGUE BUT THEY TOOK HIM TO ST.
PETER A CATHOLIC CHURCH A LITTLE NORTH OF THE TRADE CENTER. THEY LAID HIM ON THE ALTER. AND THEY CALLED UP THE FRANCIS
CAN PRIEST TO COME DOWN AND GET HIM. >> HOUR TWO, MAJOR EXPLOSION AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A COMPLETE
COLLAPSE. >> HAVE THEM MOBILIZE THE ARMY. WE NEED THE ARMY IN MANHATTAN. >> THERE WAS A RUSH OF DUST WITH
HIGH PRESSURE COMING IN WITH FORCE THAT I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. >> GANCI'S STREET SIDE COMMAND
POST HAD BEEN SET UP NEXT TO AN UNDERGROUND GARAGE IN CASE SHELTER WAS NEEDED. CAPTAIN JOHN SUDNECK, GANCI AND
THE CHIEFS DROVE INTO THE ENTRANCE. >> I REMEMBER THE DUST THAT DAY FEELING LIKE IT WAS SEARING YOUR
LUNGS, LIKE IT FELT LIKE YOU WERE SWALLOWING GLASS. >> PITCH BLACK. PITCH BLACK.
WE HEARD VOICES. ARE YOU OKAY? ARE YOU OKAY. AND THAT'S WHEN WE MADE OUR WAY
BACK UP. AND THEN WHEN WE GOT UP TO WHERE THE COMMAND POST WAS, PETE'S MIND WENT INTO RESCUE MODE.
>> PETE GANCI HEARD ON THE RADIO THE CRIES OF TRAPPED AND WOUNDED FIEFIGHTERS. >> AND I REMEMBER HIM GIVING
ORDERS. I NEED TRUCK COMPANIES. I NEED RESCUE COMPANY. TELL THEM TO COME WITH ME.
>> Reporter: AS HE HAD BEFORE, GANCI WENT INTO THE DEBRIS TO SAVE HIS MEN HIMSELF. IN THE STILL STANDING NORTH
TOWER, MANY FIREFIGHTERS REFUSED THE ORDER TO EVACUATE WHILE THEY WERE STILL CARRYING THE WOUNDED AND DISABLED.
GANCI SENT SAL CASSANO TO SET UP A NEW COMMAND POST. 28 MINUTES LATER, CASSANO WAS ON HIS WAY BACK.
>> I LOOK UP. ALL I COULD SEE WAS THE ANTENNA FROM THE NORTH TOWER IMPLODING. >> THE OTHER TOWER JUST
COLLAPSED. MAJOR COLLAPSE. MAJOR COLLAPSE. >> I, IN MY MIND, HAD TO BE
RESOLVED WITH DEATH. >> Reporter: REGINA WILSON WAS ON THE STREET BELOW THE TOWER. SHE WAS WITH ENGINE 219, IN HER
SECOND YEAR AS A FIREFIGHTER. >> AND I PRAYED. AND THEN I JUST ASKED GOD TO PROTECT ME AND IF HE COULDN'T, I
KNEW THAT I WOULD DIE DOING WHAT I LOVED. >> Reporter: INSIDE THE COLLAPSING NORTH TOWER, THE MEN
OF ENGINE 39 WERE CAUGHT IN A STAIRWELL. >> AND IT STARTED OUT SLOW, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
THEN IT GOT QUICKER. AND FASTER. >> PRETTY SOON IT WAS BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM.
COMING DOWN. >> Reporter: JEFF AND JAMIE WERE ON THE STAIRS NEAR THE GROUND FLOOR WITH 110 FLOORS ABOVE
THEM. >> IT TOOK 10 SECONDS FOR IT TO COME DOWN, BUT IT FELT LIKE 10 MINUTES.
I SAW I WAS IN THE BACKGROUND OF A FUNERAL. I SAW MY CASKET. I SAW MY PARENTS, MY WIFE
SITTING IN THE FRONT. AND AS I'M WATCHING THIS, I'M LIKE, ALL RIGHT, IT WILL BE QUICK.
I'M JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO TAP MY SHOULDER AND FIGURE I'LL FEEL A TAP AND THAT WILL BE IT.
WE'LL BE GONE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SUFFER. >> JAMES McGLEN AND BOB BACON
WERE IN THE SAME STAIRWELL. >> THE WIND ACTUALLY CAME UP THE STAIRWELL. BLEW ME INTO THE AIR AND THE
LANDING I WAS ON DISINTEGRATED UNDERNEATH ME AND I KIND OF BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH AND ENDED UP HANGING FROM A PIPE.
>> I THINK I SAID A COUPLE PRAYERS AND SAID, GOD, PLEASE GET US OUT OF HERE. >> THEIR FRAGMENT OF AN INTACT
STAIRWELL LAY UPON A MOUNTAIN OF MISERY. 16 ACRES OF WRECKAGE, 91 CRUSHED FDNY VEHICLES AND QUIET, LIKE
THE FIRST HEAVY SNOW OF WINTER. >> EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU HEAR THE RADIO, THE DISPATCHER ON THE RADIO TRYING TO CONTACT
SOMEBODY. >> ANNOUNCING ANY CIVILIAN OR ANY STAFF CHIEF IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.
K. >> Reporter: SILENCE SPOKE OF THE UNIMAGINABLE LOSS. >> ANY DIVISION CHIEF OR ANY
STAFF CHIEF AT THE SCENE OF THE ANY OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTERS, K. >> THAT DAY 23 BATTALION CHIEFS
RESPONDED. ONLY FOUR OF US SURVIVED. >> Reporter: JOE PFEIFFER THOUGHT OF THE LIEUTENANT OF
ENGINE 33, HIS BROTHER, KEVIN, WHO PFEIFFER SENT UP THE NORTH TOWER. >> I GOT ON MY RADIO AND I SAID,
BATTALION 12, ENGINE 33. AND I REPEATED IT SEVERAL TIMES. AND I DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER. >> Reporter: KEVIN PFEIFFER WAS
GONE. AND SO WAS THE CREW OF LADDER 105, WHICH ROLLED FROM REGINA WILSON'S FIRE HOUSE.
>> WE FOUND THE TRUCK. WE DIDN'T FIND THE MEMBERS. >> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?
>> THEY ALL DIED. >> Reporter: AMONG THEM WAS JOHN, HER MENTOR AND HER SAVIOR. REGINA WILSON WAS ASSIGNED TO
THE DOOMED LADDER 105, BUT EARLY THAT MORNING BEFORE THE ATTACK JOHN CHIPORA ASKED HER TO SWITCH JOBS WHICH PUT HER AMONG THE
SURVIVORS OF ENGINE 219. >> I TRIED TO HONOR HIM BY TALKING HIS NAME. THAT'S HOW IT IS IN THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE. WHEN YOU SPEAK THE NAME OF AN ANCESTOR OR YOU SPEAK THE NAME OF A LOVED ONE, THEN THEY LIVE.
AND SO EVERY TIME I SAY JOHN'S NAME HE LIVES. THAT GIVES ME COMFORT. >> IT WAS VERY HOT.
>> OH, YEAH. >> Reporter: THE MEN OF ENGINE 39 WERE TRAPPED IN THE WRECKAGE NEAR THE NORTH TOWER LOBBY.
THEY COULD HEAR ONLY A FEW FEET AWAY BATTALION CHIEF RICHARD PRUNTY WHO WAS PINNED AND CALLING FOR HELP.
>> WE COULDN'T GET TO HIM, AND HE WAS PASSING OUT AT TIMES. >> YEAH. HE WAS COMING IN AND OUT.
>> DID YOU HEAR HIS RADIO TRANSMISSIONS? >> THE LAST THING HE SAID WAS, OF COURSE, ABOUT HIS WIFE AND
SAYING THAT -- >> TELL MY WIFE AND CHILDREN I LOVE THEM. >> YEAH.
THAT THEY WERE THE MOST -- MY WIFE SHE WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD TO ME. >> Reporter: THOSE WORDS WERE
AMONG RICHARD PRUNTY'S LAST. THE MEN OF ENGINE 39 WERE RESCUED, BUT 343 MEMBERS OF THE FDNY WERE GONE.
IN A TRADITION WHERE THE JOB IS HANDED DOWN IN FAMILIES, MANY LOST FATHERS, SONS AND BROTHERS. >> GUYS I HAD WORKED WITH BOTH
RETIRED AND ACTIVE, SAYING TO ME, PETE, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU SEEN MY SON? AND FIREFIGHTER, YOUNG
FIREFIGHTER COMING UP, CHIEF, HAVE YOU SEEN MY FATHER? I JUST SAID, NO. I DIDN'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO
TELL THEM WHAT I KNEW TO BE TRUE. >> Reporter: AMONG THE FALLEN WERE PETER GANCI, AND
71-YEAR-OLD DEPUTY FIRE COMMISSIONER WILLIAM FEAN WHO HAD GONE WITH GANCI TO RESCUE THE TRAPPED.
PETE HAYDEN CLIMBED ATOP AN ENGINE TO ADDRESS THE LIVING. >> I YELLED OUT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST LOST A LOT OF GUYS HERE
TODAY. LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. AND, WELL, I TOOK MY HELMET OFF. AND WE HELD IT.
I HELD IT. AND AFTER A WHILE I PUT MY HELMET BACK ON. THEY PUT THEIR HELMETS BACK ON.
OKAY. WE HAVE A JOB TO DO. LET'S DO IT. >> Reporter: DO YOU LOOK BACK
AND WONDER HOW DID I SURVIVE AND 343 MEMBERS DID NOT? >> YEAH. I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT AS MUCH.
WE WERE CRAZY BUSY. I WAS WORKING 18 HOURS A DAY. THEN IT HIT ME. I SAID, I'M HERE.
I GET HOME AND I'M TIRED. THERE WAS ALWAYS FOOD ON THE TABLE WAITING FOR ME WHEN I CAME HOME, NO MATTER WHAT TIME I CAME
HOME.
AND -- I'M LYING IN BED. AND I ASKED MY WIFE, WHY ME? AND SHE SAID, DID YOU EVER THINK THERE WAS A JOB FOR YOU TO DO?
>> Reporter: THERE WAS A JOB FOR CASSANO AND OTHERS TO DO. REBUILDING THE FDNY. WHEN WE COME BACK, THE CHILDREN
OF THE LOST PUT ON THEIR FATHER'S UNIFORM. >>> VOLUNTEERS STARTED FIGHTING FIRE IN MANHATTAN IN 1648.
NEARLY 200 YEARS LATER DURING THE CIVIL WAR, AN ENTIRE NEW YORK REGIMENT WAS MANNED BY FIREFIGHTERS.
THEIR COMMANDER IS QUOTED, I WANT NEW YORK FIREMEN, FOR THERE ARE NO MORE EFFECTIVE MEN IN THE COUNTRY.
AS THOSE VETERANS RETURNED HOME IN 1865, THE MODERN FDNY WAS CREATED. THE DEPARTMENT'S TRADITIONS ARE
HANDED DOWN IN FAMILIES. AND SO IT REMAINS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN OF 9/11'S FALLEN.
THE LATE CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT PETER GANCI HAD THREE CHILDREN. HIS DAUGHTER MARRIED A FIREFIGHTER, THESE ARE HIS SONS.
CAPTAIN PETER GANCI III WAS 27 ON 9/11. BATTALION CHIEF CHRIS GANCI WAS 25.
HOW DID YOU LEARN YOUR FATHER DIED? >> I RAN HOME AND I GOT IN THE DOOR RIGHT WHEN STEVE, MY DAD'S
DRIVER, AL TOREY, CHIEF OF SAFETY. I JUST REMEMBER THEM TELLING MY MOM THAT HE'S GONE.
AND SHE SAID, GONE WHERE? LIKE THAT. LIKE INNOCENTLY. AND THEY'RE LIKE, HE'S DEAD.
AND I REMEMBER THE SCREAM THAT SHE LET OUT. I COULD STILL HEAR IT IN MY EARS.
IT PAINS ME TO HEAR IT. THE PAIN OF REALIZATION THAT HE'S NEVER WALKING BACK IN THE DOOR.
>> Reporter: PETE, WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS HE? >> HE LOVED BEING AROUND FAMILY, BUT HIS FAMILY WAS ALSO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. WE KNEW IT. MY MOM KNEW IT. SOMETIMES TO HIS DISMAY, BUT
SHE, YOU KNOW -- WE UNDERSTOOD THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT HE WAS AND WHY HE CHOSE OUR CHOSEN CAREER.
>> Reporter: CHRIS, YOU WERE IN BUSINESS AND ON YOUR WAY TO AN MBA. DID 9/11 MAKE YOU A FIREMEN?
>> ABSOLUTELY. HAD 9/11 NOT HAPPENED, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHTER.
>> Reporter: YOU QUOTED YOUR DAD AS TELLING NEW GRADUATES FROM THE FIRE ACADEMY, YOU WILL NEVER, EVER BE RICH, BUT YOU
WILL ALWAYS BE HAPPY. >> YOU WILL ALWAYS BE HAPPY. IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE HOW YOU CAN GET INJURED OR YOU
COULD GET KILLED, BUT YET SOMEHOW YOU COME HOME WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. I ENJOY BEING PART OF THE
ORGANIZATION. IT MAKES ME -- GIVES ME A SENSE OF PRIDE THAT I NEVER FELT ANYWHERE ELSE.
MAYBE THAT'S WHAT HAD DRIVEN MY FATHER FOR SO MANY YEARS. >> MY NAME IS JOSEPHINE SMITH. I WORK IN ENGINE 39.
>> Reporter: JOSEPHINE SMITH'S LATE FATHER, 47-YEAR-OLD KEVIN SMITH, WAS WITH HAZMAT 1 ON 9/11.
> I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE LIKE MY FATHER. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE BRAVE LIKE HIM AND STRONG AND
WILLING. IT REALLY JUST RUNS THROUGH OUR BLOOD. GENERATION TO GENERATION I JUST
THINK IT'S JUST WHO WE ARE. IT'S OUR PASSION. IT'S OUR UPBRINGING. >> SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT HAVE
THOUGHT WITH SUCH GRIEVOUS LOSS, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. >> IT'S NOT THE JOB THAT TOOK MY
FATHER. IT WAS AN ACT OF TERRORISM THAT TOOK MY FATHER. AND THAT MADE ME WANT TO FIGHT
EVEN MORE TO PROTECT THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND THE CITIZENS. MAY HAVE TAKEN MY FATHER FROM ME, BUT THE PASSION AND THE
BLOOD IS STILL THERE. >> I'M JOHN POLUMBO. I WORK IN 92 ENGINE IN THE SOUTH BRONX.
>> I'M TOMMY POLUMBO. I WORK IN HARLEM. >> HOW OLD WERE YOU? >> I WAS A WEEK AWAY FROM BEING
8 WEEKS OLD. >> I WAS 9. >> HOW MANY KIDS IN THE POLUMBO FAMILY!
>> TEN OF US. EIGHT BOYS AND TWO GIRLS. >> FRANK POLUMBO WAS 46 WHEN HE DIED, LADDER 105.
IN A SENSE, IT WASN'T 9/11 THAT MADE THE POLUMBO BOYS FIREFIGHTERS. IT WAS SEPTEMBER 12th.
AND ALL THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED. >> MY DAD'S BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE FIRE HOUSE, THEY COOKED FOR US.
THEY DROVE US PLACES. THEY TOOK US TO SIX FLAGS. I REMEMBER GOING ON THEIR SHOULDERS.
THEY WOULD TAKE US BY THE ARMS AND SPIN US IN CIRCLES. >> Reporter: THE FIRE HOUSE TURNED OUT FOR BIRTHDAYS AND
GAMES. >> Reporter: THE STANDS WERE FILLED AT THE HOCKEY GAMES, YOU KNOW?
IT WASN'T THE SAME BECAUSE YOU'RE MISSING THE ONE PERSON THAT YOU WANT THERE. BUT THEY DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN
TO FILL IT. THEY NEVER WILL, BUT. >> THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO FILL IT.
AS HARD AS IT WAS FOR THEM TAKING TIME AWAY FROM THEIR OWN FAMILIES. >> Reporter: THE FIRE HOUSE
COOKED DINNER FOR THE 10 POLUMBOS AND THEIR MOTHER EVERY MONDAY FOR FIVE YEARS UNTIL THE FAMILY MOVED AWAY.
>> I'M A FIREFIGHTER IN ENGINE 214, LADDER 111 IN BED STY BROOKLYN. MY NAME IS MIKE FLORIO.
>> Reporter: MIKE FLORIO'S DAD JOHN FLORIO WAS 33 YEARS OLD ON 9/11. ENGINE 214.
THE SAME HOUSE WHERE HIS SON WORKS TODAY. >> EVERYTHING I WALK IN, MY FATHER'S PICTURE IS ON THE WALL.
A LOT OF MEMORIALS OF HIM AND THE OTHER FOUR GUYS THAT PASSED ON 9/11. I DO HAVE A LOT OF MEMORIES FROM
THE FIRE HOUSE BEING A YOUNG BOY. AND JUST WALKING IN THERE EVERYDAY AND SEEING HIS
PICTURES. IT BRINGS BACK THOSE MEMORIES. IT MAKES ME FEEL CLOSE TO HIM BEING THERE EVERYDAY.
>> ATTENTION. >> Reporter: MORE THAN 60 CHILDREN OF 9/11'S FALLEN HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE TRAINING
ACADEMY ON RANDALL'S ISLAND IN THE EAST RIVER AND ARE NOW ON THE JOB. TO JOIN, THEY TOOK A WRITTEN
EXAM THAT'S GIVEN ONLY ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS. ABOUT 60,000 APPLICANTS TAKE IT AND ONLY THOSE IN THE TOP 10%
EARN A PLACE IN THE RANK AND FILE. >> I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM. I FEEL THAT THEIR FATHERS WOULD
HAVE BEEN VERY PROUD OF THEM. >> Reporter: DAN NIGRO, CHIEF GANCI'S NUMBER TWO ON 9/11, WAS PROMOTED TO CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT
AND BECAME THE CITY FIRE COMMISSIONER. AMONG THE OTHERS IN OUR STORY, JOHN SUDNICK A CAPTAIN ON 9/11
ROSE TO CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT AND SO DID PETER HAYDEN. SAL CASSANO WAS FIRE COMMISSIONER.
JOE PFEIFFER WAS CHIEF OF COUNTERTERRORISM AND TEACHES CRISIS LEADERSHIP. REGINA WILSON WAS STUDYING FOR
THE LIEUTENANT'S EXAM. AND ORIO PALMER'S NAME LIVES ON THE FDNY'S AWARD FOR THE MOST PHYSICALLY FIT FIREFIGHTERS.
>>> A LOT OF BRAVERY. A LOT OF BRAVERY WAS DISPLAYED THAT DAY. AND FOLLOWED BY A LOT OF
SADNESS. >> Reporter: COMMISSIONER, IT SEEMS TO BE A SAD DAY FOR YOU 20 YEARS LATER.
>> I THINK FOR EVERYBODY THAT WAS THERE THAT DAY, IT HAS JUST STAYED WITH THEM, THE SADNESS. WE HAVE PLENTY OF GOOD DAYS,
PLENTY TO BE THANKFUL FOR, THOSE OF US WHO SURVIVED. BUT, IT'S A DAY THAT WILL NEVER LEAVE, NEVER LEAVE YOU.
>> Reporter: SADNESS BECOMES PART OF YOUR LIFE? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: YOUR FATHER
SURVIVED THE COLLAPSE OF THE FIRST TOWER. AND INSTEAD OF MOVING TO SAFETY, HE WENT TO ANSWER THE MAY DAY
CALLS FROM HIS TRAPPED FIREFIGHTERS. >> RECEIVING REPORT FIREFIGHTERS TRAPPED AND DOWN.
>> Reporter: HE KNEW THAT THE OTHER BUILDING WAS IN IMMINENT DANGER OF COLLAPSING. HE HAD DECIDED IN THAT MOMENT
THAT HE WAS NOT GOING HOME. >> HE CHOSE HIS GUYS. AND WE COULD GET ANGRY ABOUT IT. I KNOW MY SISTER AND MY MOTHER
SOMETIMES WE HIT OUR HEAD AGAINST THE WALL, BUT WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS AND YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT WAS THE ONLY DECISION.
I KNEW THE WAY HE FELT ABOUT HIS MEN AND HIS JOB AND THE FDNY. AND HE WAS GOING TO STAY AND SEE THE JOB THROUGH.
AND HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LIVE WITH HIMSELF IF HE LEFT. >> AND ONE MORE GUY WAS KILLED. IT'S JUST THE WAY HE WAS.
IT WAS I HAVE TO BE THERE UNTIL THE LAST GUY IS OUT. >> Reporter: TODAY'S RECRUITS WERE CHILDREN THEN.
>> SECURE YOUR GEAR. >> Reporter: AND SO THEY MUSTER BEFORE MEMORIES. THREE COLUMNS OF THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER AND 343 LIVES, WHICH ARE HERE, INDELIBLE IN TIME. >> SO MANY OF US SACRIFICED SO MUCH THAT THIS STORY CAN'T GET
LOST BECAUSE THE WORLD IS CHANGING FAST. AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S IN A HISTORY
BOOK THAT ARE PAGES TURNED AND WE'RE FORGOTTEN. >>> TWO DECADES LATER, 9/11 SURVIVORS AND FIRST RESPONDERS
ARE SEEKING MEDICAL CARE AT A GROWING RATE. >>> WE CAN NOT DO JUSTICE IN THIS HOUR OR MANY NUMBER OF
HOURS TO THE MANY SACRIFICES TO THE 9/11 THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE PORT AUTHORITY POLICE AND THOSE WHO
FOUGHT TO SAVE LIVES AT THE PENTAGON AND ON FLIGHT 93 IN PENNSYLVANIA. AT THE TRADE CENTER, 2,753
PEOPLE PERISHED, BUT THERE WERE MORE THAN 17,000 IN THE TOWERS AND 99% OF THOSE BELOW THE FIRES SURVIVED.
THAT MORNING, THIS REPORTER WATCHED FIREFIGHTERS RUSH TO THE STAIRWELLS AND WONDERED HOW THEY
FOUND THE COURAGE. AFTER 23 YEARS OF REFLECTION, IT'S CLEAR. THEY CLIMBED TO RISE.
TO RISE TO THE CRIES 1,000 FEET ABOVE THEM. TO RISE TO THE DEFENSE OF THE FIREFIGHTER BESIDE THEM.
TO RISE BEYOND DUTY TO A PLACE OF SELFLESS DEVOTION. I'M SCOTT PELLEY. WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH THE
57th SEASON PREMIER OF "60 MINUTES."