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00:00:01,468 --> 00:00:27,127
♪
>>> WHAT AM I DOING?
>> 22 YEARS AGO, THEY ANSWERED
THE CALL.

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00:00:27,193 --> 00:00:33,500
>> EVERY AVAILABLE AMBULANCE,
EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT TO THE
WORLD TRADE CENTER NOW.
>> WE KNEW THAT IT COULD BE UP

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00:00:33,566 --> 00:00:41,508
TO 20, 25,000 PEOPLE IN EACH
BUILDING.
>> I AM ON THE 83rd FLOOR.
IT'S VERY, VERY HOT.

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00:00:41,574 --> 00:00:47,981
>> EVERY FIREFIGHTER SAW THE
FLAMES AND THEY LOOKED INTO
THEIR OWN HEARTS.
>> STAY TOGETHER.

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00:00:48,047 --> 00:00:59,726
>> THAT'S WHEN I SAID TO PETE,
PETE, THIS WILL BE THE WORST DAY
OF OUR LIVES, AND THAT WAS
BEFORE I KNEW THE HALF OF IT.

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>> MAYDAY, MAYDAY!
MAJOR
MAJOR COLLAPSE!
>> IN THE DARKNESS, I WONDERED

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00:01:10,870 --> 00:01:15,775
IF I WAS DEAD OR ALIVE.
>> PETE!
PETER HAYDEN!
>> TONIGHT --

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>> THE WORLD TRADE CENTER
COLLAPSED.
>> THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE
CITY OF NEW YORK AND THE

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00:01:20,980 --> 00:01:31,724
GREATEST ACTIVE GALLANTRY EVER
BESTOWED ON AN AMERICAN CITY.
>> I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE
SOMETHING THAT'S IN A HISTORY

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00:01:31,791 --> 00:01:38,998
BOOK THAT A PAGE IS TURNED AND
WE'RE FORGOTTEN.
>> I'M LESLEY STAHL.
>> I'M BILL WHITAKER.

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00:01:39,065 --> 00:01:43,203
>> I'M ANDERSON COOPER.
>> I'M SHARYN ALFONSI.
>> I'M JON WERTHEIM.
>> I'M CECELIA VEGA.

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>> I'M SCOTT PELLEY.
THOSE STORIES TONIGHT ON "60
MINUTES."
>>> IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF NEW

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00:02:00,787 --> 00:02:09,128
YORK, THERE ARE 217 FIREHOUSES.
EACH HOLDS A MEMORIAL TO
FIREFIGHTERS WHO ANSWERED THE
CALL 22 YEARS AGO AND NEVER

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00:02:09,195 --> 00:02:19,339
RETURNED.
AS WE FIRST TOLD YOU IN 2021,
343 MEMBERS OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW

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YORK PERISHED ON 9/11 IN THE
GREATEST ACT OF GALLANTRY EVER
BESTOWED ON AN AMERICAN CITY.
THIS IS THEIR STORY.

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00:02:30,917 --> 00:02:42,295
>> THIS PLANE RACED PAST US
ALONG THE HUDSON RIVER AT SUCH A
LOW ALTITUDE, I COULD READ
"AMERICAN" ON THE FUSELAGE.

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00:02:42,362 --> 00:02:55,141
>> AT 8:46 THAT MORNING,
BATTALION CHIEF JOE PFEIFER WAS
BLOCKS AWAY SEARCHING TO PR A
ROUTINE GAS LEAK.

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00:02:55,208 --> 00:03:06,519
>> I SAW THE PLANE AIM AND CRASH
INTO THE NORTH TOWER OF THE
WORLD TRADE CENTER.
>> HOLY!

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00:03:09,289 --> 00:03:20,567
>> FROM THAT MOMENT, THE
FIREFIGHTERS OF THE FDNY WOULD
HAVE ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF TO
SAVE 17,000 LIVES.

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00:03:20,633 --> 00:03:31,711
>> THEY KNEW THAT THEY MIGHT NOT
COME HOME, BUT THEY KNEW THERE
WERE PEOPLE TRAPPED.
THAT'S OUR JOB.

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>> THERE IS NO WAY WE WERE GOING
TO STAND BACK AND SAY WE ARE NOT
GOING IN.
THAT WOULDN'T BE THE FDNY.

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>> OUR AIM WAS TO GET ABOVE THAT
FIRE AND GET THOSE POOR PEOPLE
OUT THAT WERE CALLING US.
>> WE ARE ON THE FLOOR AND CAN'T

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BREATHE AND IT'S VERY, VERY,
VERY HOT.
>> AND ALL OF THE DISPATCHER
COULD SAY IS WE'RE COMING FOR

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YOU.
SO WE LIKE TO KEEP OUR PROMISES,
YOU KNOW.
WE TOLD THEM WE'RE COMING.

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00:03:53,733 --> 00:04:11,384
WE'RE COMING.
>> JOE PFEIFER WAS COMING WITH A
CAMERA.
FILMMAKERS JULES AND GIDEON

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00:04:11,451 --> 00:04:19,225
NAUDET WERE MAKING A VIDEO.
>> IT LOOKED LIKE THE PLANE WAS
AIMING TOWARDS THE BUILDING.
>> ENGINE 6.

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00:04:19,292 --> 00:04:28,601
>> ENGINE 6.
>> THE WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWER
NUMBER ONE IS ON FIRE.
>> ENGINE 1, WORLD TRADE CENTER,

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SEND EVERY AVAILABLE AMBULANCE,
EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT TO THE
WORLD WORLD NOW.
>> DISPATCH LAUNCHED AN ARMADA.

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ENGINE 2 ONE-ON-ONE.
ENGINE 22, ENGINE 53.
>> 121 ENGINES, 62 LADDER
COMPANIES, 100 AMBULANCES, 750

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MEMBERS OF THE FDNY.
>> ATTENTION, 35 ENGINE, 64
ENGINE, 94 ENGINE, 83 ENGINE.
>> AT FDNY HEADQUARTERS IN

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BROOKLYN, 54-YEAR-OLD CHIEF OF
DEPARTMENT PETE GANCI JR. RACED
TO HIS CAR.
HE WAS THE BOSS LEADING THE

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SECOND LARGEST FIRE DEPARTMENT
IN THE WORLD AFTER TOKYO.
DAN NIGRO WAS HIS NUMBER TWO.
>> WE WENT DOWNSTAIRS, GOT IN

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THE CAR AND HEADED OVER THE
BROOKLYN BRIDGE WHERE WE COULD
SEE THE DAMAGE, SEE THE SMOKE,
SEE THE FIRE.

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THAT'S WHEN I SAID TO PETE,
ETE, THIS WILL BE THE WORST DAY
OF OUR LIVES.
AND THAT WAS BEFORE I KNEW THE

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HALF OF IT.
>> CAR 3 TO MANHATTAN.
>> PETE GANCI'S VOICE WAS
RECORDED EN ROUTE.

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>> ALONG FOR THE POT, STAGING
AREA THREE, CHIEF SOMEWHERE ON
WEST STREET, OKAY.
>> A BOX IS A LOCATION.

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K SIGNALS THE END OF A MESSAGE.
A THROWBACK TO THE 19th CENTURY
TALL GRAPH, WHICH ON THIS DAY
WAS PUNCTUATING THE GREATEST

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CRISIS IN THE DEPARTMENT
AGENCIES 136 YEARS.
>> RIGHT AWAY I GOT A DEEP SENSE
THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE A LOT

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OF FIREFIGHTERS THIS DAY.
>> DIVISION 1 COMMANDER PETER
HAYDEN MET BATTALION CHIEF JOE
PFEIFER IN THE LOBBY OF THE

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BURNING TOURER.
>> I KNEW WE WANT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FAIR.
SO THE ORDER OF THE DAY WAS TO

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SEARCH AND EVACUATE AS MANY
PEOPLE AS WE COULD.
I KNEW WE WERE NOT GOING TO BACK
AWAY.

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>> THE FIRE WAS 93 FLOORS ABOVE.
ELEVATORS WERE OUT.
SO FIREFIGHTERS CLIMBED TIGHT
STAIRWELLS SHOULDERING 75 POUNDS

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AND MORE.
>> I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE
ENOUGH TIME TO GET THE PEOPLE
OUT AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS ABOVE

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THE IMPACT OF THE PLANE WE WERE
PRETTY MUCH SURE WERE EITHER
DEAD ALREADY OR GOING TO DIE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE

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JUMPING OUT ALREADY.
>> 1355 PEOPLE WERE TRAPPED
ABOVE THE FIRE.
THE BOEING 767 HAD SEVERED ALL

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00:07:03,990 --> 00:07:11,597
THREE STAIRWELLS, LEAVING ONE
WAY OUT.
>> JUMPERS!
JUMPERS!

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>> DIVISION I, BE ADVISED,
BATTALION ADVISED THEY HAVE
JUMPERS FROM THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER.

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>> WE HEARD A LOUD THUD, AND I
KNEW THAT WAS SOMEBODY THAT
EITHER FELL OR JUMPED FROM THE
BUILDING.

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>> THE FIRST FIREFIGHTER KILLED
WAS HIT BY A FELLOW HUMAN BEING.
>> IT WAS HAPPENING SO RAPIDLY,
THAT I GRABBED THE PENI.A. SYST

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AT THE FIRE COMMAND POST AND I
SAID, FIREFIGHTERS ARE COMING.
IF YOU CAN HOLD ON.
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING

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TO HAUNT US PROBABLY THE REST OF
OUR LIVES.
>> SAL CASSANO HAD ARRIVED
PRECISELY 17 MINUTES AFTER THE

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NORTH TOWER WAS HIT.
>> JUST AS I GOT OUT OF MY CAR I
HEARD ANOTHER EXPLOSION AND I
COULD TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TIME

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IT WAS.
9:03.
THAT WAS THE PLANE THAT HIT THE
SOUTH TOWER.

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00:08:08,821 --> 00:08:18,431
>> YOU HAVE A SECOND PLANE INTO
THE UNDER TOWER OF THE TRADE
CENTER, MAJOR FIRE.
>> MAYDAY, MAYDAY!

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00:08:18,497 --> 00:08:28,074
ANOTHER PLANE HIT THE SECOND
TOWER, K?
>> THE SECOND 767 EXPLODED INTO
FLOORS 77 THROUGH 85.

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NOW 2,000 PEOPLE WERE TRAPPED A
QUARTER MILE HIGH.
CASSANO RAN INTO THE DEPARTMENT
CHAPLAIN, MYCHAL JUDGE.

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>> I TOLD HIM, FATHER, WE ARE
GOING TO BE IN FOR A BAD DAY.
WE NEED A LOT MORE CHAPLAINS
HERE.

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>> MORE AND MORE FIREFIGHTERS
KEPT COMING IN.
THEY TOOK THEIR ASSIGNMENTS WITH
NO QUESTION.

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00:08:49,495 --> 00:08:55,902
YEAH.
PRETTY TOUGH THOUGH.
>> BUT IT'S ALSO HARD TO GIVE
THEM THOSE ASSIGNMENTS?

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00:08:55,968 --> 00:09:01,007
>> IT WAS.
YEAH.
IT WAS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I COULD TELL WHEN

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I GAVE THE ASSIGNMENTS OUT, I
COULD SEE THE LOOK IN THEIR
EYES.
I REMEMBER SEEING FIREFIGHTERS

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00:09:08,214 --> 00:09:16,289
HUGGING EACH OTHER AND HEADING
UP.
>> HOW MANY FIREFIGHTERS DID YOU
SEE THAT DAY REFUSE TO GO UP THE

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00:09:16,355 --> 00:09:24,563
STAIRS?
>> NOBODY REFUSE TO GO IN.
>> STAY TOGETHER.
>> I CAN REMEMBER ONE LIEUTENANT

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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.

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AND THAT LIEUTENANT WAS MY
BROTHER, KEVIN.
AND THEN I TOLD HIM WHAT I TOLD
MANY OF THE OTHER FIRE OFFICERS.

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I SAID, GO UP TO THE 70th FLOOR.
>> 70, THEY HOPED, COULD BE A
STAGING AREA IN THE NORTH TOWER
IN LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR, THE

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00:09:58,164 --> 00:10:06,706
FDNY HAD RESCUE OPERATIONS IN
THE NORTH TOWER, THE SOUTH
TOWER, AND THE NEARLY SOLD-OUT
800-ROOM HOTEL BETWEEN THEM.

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00:10:06,772 --> 00:10:15,381
>> FROM THE TIME THE FIRST PLANE
HIT THE NORTH TOWER UNTIL THE
SECOND THE TOWER COLLAPSED WAS
102 MINUTES.

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00:10:15,448 --> 00:10:25,758
THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING
THROUGH PETE'S MIND IN JUST 102
MINUTES IS MIND BOGGLING.
>> SAL CASSANO WAS WITH CHIEF OF

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DEPARTMENT PETE GANCI AT HIS
COMMAND POST ON THE STREET BELOW
THE TOWERS.
THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN PICTURE

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00:10:31,764 --> 00:10:40,973
OF GANCI THAT DAY.
>> WAS GANCI THE KIND OF BOSS
THAT YOU DID THINGS FOR BECAUSE
YOU FEARED HIM, OR BECAUSE YOU

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DESPERATELY DID NOT WANT TO LET
HIM DOWN?
>> YOU DID IT BECAUSE YOU LOVED
HIM.

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00:10:46,712 --> 00:11:01,494
>> GANCI JOINED THE FDNY IN
1968.
WHAT KIECHBD MAN WAS PETE GANCI?
>> YEAH.

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00:11:01,560 --> 00:11:11,437
PETE, I GUESS PETE WOULD SAY IS
MY ALTER EGO.
HAD A CHEST FULL OF MEDALS.
HE WAS JUST A DOWN TO EARTH,

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HONEST, HARD-WORKING GUY, YOU
KNOW.
HE IS A PARATROOPER IN THE ARMY.
WORKED HIS WAY UP TO BE CHIEF OF

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00:11:17,810 --> 00:11:24,383
DEPARTMENT IN THE FDNY.
QUITE A STORY.
>> A STORY OF COURAGE OVER HIS
33-YEAR CAREER.

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00:11:24,450 --> 00:11:35,394
>> HE WON THE DEPARTMENT'S MEDAL
OF VALOR CRAWLING INTO A BURNING
APARTMENT ON HIS HANDS AND
KNEES, GRABBING A CHILD WHO WAS

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CERTAINLY GOING TO DIE, AND
DRAGGING THAT CHILD OUT AND
SAVING HER LIFE.
>> THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON

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00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:46,539
PETE WAS.
HE WOULD PUT PEOPLE IN BEFORE
HIMSELF, WITHOUT A DOUBT.
>> HE PUT HIS FIREFIGHTERS

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00:11:46,605 --> 00:11:54,680
BEFORE HIMSELF THREE MONTHS
BEFORE 9/11.
GANCI, THE CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT,
RESPONDED FROM HOME TO A CALL OF

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00:11:54,747 --> 00:12:01,220
FIREFIGHTERS TRAPPED IN A
BURNING STORE.
HE WENT IN WEARING SHORTS AND
BOAT SHOES.

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>> HE ONCE SAID HIS 11,000
FIREFIGHTERS WERE HIS CHILDREN.
ON THAT DAY IN QUEENS, HE LOST
THREE.

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00:12:15,634 --> 00:12:25,211
ON 9/11, THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR
FIREFIGHTER SAFETY WAS CHIEF AL
TURI, WHO WAS TORMENTED BY THE
PASSING MINUTES.

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00:12:25,277 --> 00:12:32,952
>> HE ASKED PETER HAYDEN IF HE
HAD CONSIDERED THE THREAT OF A
PARTIAL LOCALIZED COLLAPSE ON
THE BURNING FLOORS.

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00:12:33,018 --> 00:12:42,027
>> I SAID, YES, BUT WE NEEDED TO
GET THE PEOPLE OUT.
THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF HUNDREDS
OF PEOPLE COMING DOWN THE

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00:12:42,094 --> 00:12:46,665
INTERIOR STAIRS.
>> HOW MUCH TIME DID YOU THINK
YOU HAD?
>> I THOUGHT WE HAD A COUPLE OF

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00:12:46,732 --> 00:12:51,570
HOURS.
>> THE CHIEFS KNEW NO STEEL
HIGH-RISE IN HISTORY HAD EVER
COMPLETELY COLLAPSED DUE TO

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00:12:51,637 --> 00:12:59,678
FIRE.
>> NONE OF US EXPECTED THE
BUILDING TO COME DOWN.
WE EXPECTED THE FIRE TO KEEP

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00:12:59,745 --> 00:13:11,423
BURNING AND CONDITIONS TO GET
WORSE, BUT IF WE COULD JUST GET
ONE ROUTE ABOVE IN EACH
BUILDING, PERHAPS WE COULD BRING

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00:13:11,490 --> 00:13:19,865
SOME FOLKS DOWN AT LEAST.
>> YOU JUST NEEDED A LITTLE MORE
TIME?
>> WE JUST NEEDED TIME.

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00:13:19,932 --> 00:13:26,639
>> ALL RIGHT.
NO ONE WOULD DO MORE WITH TIME
THAN ORIO PALMER.
THAT'S HIM ON THE RIGHT WITH THE

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00:13:26,705 --> 00:13:33,045
MUSTACHE.
HE IS RECEIVING ORDERS TO GO TO
THE SOUTH TOWER TO TRY TO CLEAR
A PATH TO THE TRAPPED SOULS

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00:13:33,112 --> 00:13:40,085
CALLING 911.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE WHERE YOU ARE
AT RIGHT NOW?
>> LIKE FIVE PEOPLE HERE WITH

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00:13:40,152 --> 00:13:45,858
ME.
>> ALL OF THEM ON THE 83rd
FLOOR?
>> 32-YEAR-OLD MELISSA DOI WAS

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00:13:45,925 --> 00:13:58,237
SAYING THE HAIL MARY PRAYER WHEN
911 ANSWERED.
SHE WAS MANAGER IN A FINANCIAL
FIRM ON 83, ONE OF THE BURNING

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00:13:58,304 --> 00:14:03,709
FLOORS IN THE SOUTH TOWER.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO
GET SOMEBODY UP HERE?
>> THERE IS NO ONE HERE AND THE

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00:14:03,776 --> 00:14:12,017
FLOOR IS COMPLETELY ENGULFED.
WE CAN'T BREATHE.
AND IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY HOT.
>> THE OPERATOR WAS RIGHT.

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00:14:12,084 --> 00:14:21,560
SOMEONE WAS RISING TOWARDS
MELISSA DOI.
ORIO PALMER RAN MARATHONS AS A
HOBBY.

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00:14:21,627 --> 00:14:31,337
>> BATTALION 7 IS CHIEF PALMER.
LADDER
LADDER 15 IS A TEAM OF
FIREFIGHTERS A FEW FLOORS BELOW.

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00:14:38,978 --> 00:14:48,020
>> THIS IS LADDER 15'S
LIEUTENANT JOE LEAVEY.
>> WE ARE ON 71.
WE ARE COMING UP BEHIND YOU.

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00:14:48,087 --> 00:14:57,196
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> PALMER FOUND FIRE MARSHAL RON
BUCCA ON THE 75th FLOOR
EVACUATING CIVILIANS.

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00:14:57,263 --> 00:14:59,732
>> LADDER 15?
>>

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00:15:07,339 --> 00:15:13,846
.
>> PALMER HAD DISCOVERED THE
ONLY INTACT STAIRWAY TO THE TOP
OF THE SOUTH TOWER.

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00:15:13,912 --> 00:15:26,458
UNLIKE THE NORTH TOWER, THE
SECOND PLANE HAD MISSED STAIRWAY
A.
IF PALMER COULD CLEAR THIS

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00:15:26,525 --> 00:15:34,800
STAIRWELL, 619 SOULS WOULD HAVE
A WAY OUT.
HE WAS FIVE FLOORS BELOW MELISSA
DOI AND RISING.

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00:15:34,867 --> 00:15:40,005
>> I'M GOING TO DIE, AREN'T I?
>> NO, NO, NO.
>> MA'AM, MA'AM, SAY YOUR
PRAYERS.

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00:15:40,072 --> 00:15:47,246
>> YOU ARE NOT --
>> I'M GOING TO DIE.
>> YOU GOT TO HELP EACH OTHER
GET OFF THE FLOOR.

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00:16:03,796 --> 00:16:09,802
>> THE ASSENT OF ORIO PALMER AND
PETE GANCI'S SACRIFICE WHEN WE
COME BACK.

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00:16:19,244 --> 00:16:27,286
>>> AN HOUR HAD PASSED SINCE THE
ATTACK ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER
BEGAN.
IN THE SOUTH TOWER, BATTALION 7

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00:16:27,353 --> 00:16:33,625
CHIEF ORIO PALMER TOOK THE ONLY
WORKING ELEVATOR AS HIGH AS IT
WOULD GO.
THEN HE LED THE MEN OF LADDER 15

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00:16:33,692 --> 00:16:47,973
ON A CLIMB FROM THE 40th FLOOR.
PALMER WAS TRYING TO CLEAR A
PATH TO 619 PEOPLE TRAPPED BY
FIRE.

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00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:55,147
THIS IS PALMER'S RADIO
TRANSMISSION FROM THE 78th FLOOR
OF THE SOUTH TOWER.
HE IS CALLING THE FIREFIGHTERS

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00:16:55,214 --> 00:17:03,088
OF LADDER 15, WHO ARE COMING UP
WITH RESCUE GEAR FROM A FEW
FLOORS BELOW.

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00:17:13,665 --> 00:17:20,672
>> 10-45 CODE 1s WERE
FATALITIES.
MORE THAN HE COULD COUNT.
HE PRESSED TOWARDS 79, CLIMBING

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00:17:20,739 --> 00:17:34,052
AT ABOUT ONE FLOOR A MINUTE.
AS HE ROSE, MELISSA DOI SPEAKING
TO 911 FROM THE 83rd FLOOR
THOUGHT SHE HEARD SOMEONE.

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00:17:49,601 --> 00:17:57,075
>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE HEARD,
BUT HEARING NO ANSWER TO HER
SHOUT, MELISSA DOI RETURNED THE
DAHL.

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00:18:04,316 --> 00:18:13,459
>> ORIO PALMER KNEW HOW
DANGEROUS THIS WAS, AS HE DIDN'T
STOP.
LADDER 15 KNEW HOW DANGEROUS IT

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00:18:13,525 --> 00:18:19,331
WAS.
WHAT WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT AN
ENTIRE HIGH-RISE BUILDING WOULD
COLLAPSE.

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00:18:19,398 --> 00:18:27,172
THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF IT
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
>> BUT THIS DAY HISTORY WAS
CHANGING BECAUSE THE PLANES HAD

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00:18:27,239 --> 00:18:36,648
BLASTED AWAY THE SPRAY-ON
FIREPROOF FOAM INSULATING THE
STRUCTURAL STEEL.
THE BURNING FLOORS WERE SAGGING,

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00:18:36,715 --> 00:18:45,591
SLOWLY PULLING THE EXTERIOR
INWARD.
E.M.S. DIVISION CHIEF JOHN
PERUGGIA WAS THE CITY EMERGENCY

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00:18:45,657 --> 00:18:50,028
OPERATION CENTER WHERE HE
RECEIVED A WARNING FROM AN
OFFICIAL HE BELIEVES WAS AN
ENGINEER.

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00:18:50,095 --> 00:18:57,603
>> HE SAID, THE BUILDING IS
SEVERELY COMPROMISED.
YOU CAN SEE SLIGHT LEAN.
THEY ARE IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE.

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00:18:57,669 --> 00:19:06,612
SO I GRABBED ONE OF MY STAFF
GUYS, EMT RICH ZARRILLO, AND I
SAID GO TO PETE GANCI.
DON'T TALK TO ANYONE ELSE.

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00:19:06,678 --> 00:19:12,684
DELIVER THIS MESSAGE.
THE BUILDINGS ARE IN DANGER OF
COLLAPSE.
>> IN THIS FOUR-SECOND VIDEO, AT

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00:19:12,751 --> 00:19:20,993
FAR LEFT YOU SEE RICH ZARRILLO'S
BLUE SHIRT.
HE IS DELIVERING THE WARNING TO
PETE GANCI.

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00:19:21,059 --> 00:19:31,870
ZARRILLO HARDLY GOT THE WORDS
OUT WHEN GANCI'S ATTENTION WAS
DRAWN TO A ROAR FROM THE SOUTH
TOWER ABOVE HIM.

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00:19:31,937 --> 00:19:41,013
>> LOUD NOISE.
HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS.
ALL WE SAW WAS A PLUME OF DUST
AND SMOKE, AND DEBRIS.

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00:19:41,079 --> 00:19:49,254
>> IN THE MOMENT BEFORE, MELISSA
DOI HAD GIVEN THE 911 OPERATOR
HER MOTHER'S PHONE NUMBER AND
THE MESSAGE THAT HER DAUGHTER

130
00:19:49,321 --> 00:19:57,896
LOVED HER.
THEN THERE WAS SILENCE.
>> OH, MY GOD.

131
00:20:19,318 --> 00:20:26,124
>> PALMER'S LAST RADIO
TRANSMISSION WAS BATTALION 7 TO
LADDER 15, AND THERE IS NOTHING
AFTER THAT.

132
00:20:26,191 --> 00:20:41,640
THAT'S WHEN THE TOWER COLLAPSES.
>> HE MUST HAVE KNOWN THAT WITH
EVERY STEP HE ASCENDED, HIS
CHANCE OF SURVIVAL DROPPED.

133
00:20:41,707 --> 00:20:51,216
>> DIDN'T DETER HIM ONE BIT.
THE ONLY THING THAT WAS IN HIS
MIND WAS LET ME GET UP, LET ME
GET AS MANY PEOPLE OUT AS I CAN,

134
00:20:51,283 --> 00:21:03,028
AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.
>> JOE PFEIFER, NEXT DOOR IN THE
NORTH TOWER, WAS 200 FEET FROM
THE CASCADING TWIN.

135
00:21:12,904 --> 00:21:19,845
>> AND THEN THE LOBBY GOES PITCH
BLACK.
>> EVERYBODY ALL RIGHT?
>> I'M OKAY.

136
00:21:19,911 --> 00:21:26,985
>> AND IN THE DARKNESS, I
WONDERED IF I WAS DEAD OR ALIVE.
>> WE GOT TO GET EVERYBODY OUT.
LET'S GO!

137
00:21:27,052 --> 00:21:34,760
>> I GOT ON MY RADIO.
I SAID, COMMAND TO ALL UNITS IN
TOWER ONE.
>> EVACUATE THE BUILDING.

138
00:21:34,826 --> 00:21:41,867
>> JOE PFEIFER WAS GIVEN THE
ORDER TO EVACUATE, AND ONE OF
THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLING MY
NAME.

139
00:21:41,933 --> 00:21:51,410
>> PETE!
PETER HAYDEN!
>> HE SAYS WE HAVE SOMEBODY
DOWN.

140
00:21:51,476 --> 00:22:00,485
>> I FELT SOMEBODY AT MY FEET,
AND I SAW THIS WAS OUR
FIREFIGHTER DEPARTMENT CHAPLAIN,
FATHER MYCHAL JUDGE.

141
00:22:00,552 --> 00:22:11,396
I REMOVED HIS WHITE COLLAR AND I
CHECKED FOR HIS PULSE AND
BREATHING, AND HE NONE.
AND I KNEW HE WAS GONE.

142
00:22:11,463 --> 00:22:22,240
>> SEVERAL OF US PICKED HIM UP
AND WE CARRIED HIM OUT.
THE EMTs THAT TAKEN HIM, TOOK
HIM NOT TO THE MORGUE, BUT THEY

143
00:22:22,307 --> 00:22:32,651
TOOK HIM TO ST. PETER CLAVER, A
CATHOLIC CHURCH A LITTLE BIT
NORTH OF THE TRADE CENTER AND
LAID HIM ON THE ALTAR AND CALLED

144
00:22:32,718 --> 00:22:40,325
THE FRANCISCAN PRIESTS TO COME
DOWN AND GET HIM.
>> TOWER TWO A MAJOR EXPLOSION
AND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A

145
00:22:40,392 --> 00:22:48,433
COMPLETE COLLAPSE.
>> HAVE THEM MOBILIZE THE ARMY.
WE NEED THE ARMY IN MANHATTAN.
>> THERE WAS A RUSH OF DUST WITH

146
00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:57,876
HIGH PRESSURE COMING IN, YOU
KNOW, WITH FORCE THAT I HAVE
NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
>> GANCI'S STREETSIDE COMMAND

147
00:22:57,943 --> 00:23:05,784
POST HAD BEEN SET UP NEXT TO AN
UNDERGROUND GARAGE IN CASE
SHELTER WAS NEEDED.
CAPTAIN JOHN SUDNIK, GANCI, AND

148
00:23:05,851 --> 00:23:09,287
THE CHIEFS DOVE INTO THE
ENTRANCE.
s.
>> I JUST REMEMBER THE DUST THAT

149
00:23:09,354 --> 00:23:18,930
DAY, FEELING LIKE IT WAS SEARING
YOUR LUNGS, LIKE IT WAS, LIKE IT
FELT LIKE YOU WERE SWALLOWING
GLASS.

150
00:23:18,997 --> 00:23:21,233
>> PITCH BLACK.
PITCH BLACK.
WE HEARD VOICES.
ARE YOU OKAY?

151
00:23:21,299 --> 00:23:26,838
ARE YOU OKAY?
THAT'S WHEN BE MADE OUR WAY BACK
UP.
THEN WE GOT UP TO WHERE THE

152
00:23:26,905 --> 00:23:35,046
COMMAND POST WAS.
PETE'S MIND WENT INTO RESCUE
MODE.
>> PETE GANCI HEARD ON THE RADIO

153
00:23:35,113 --> 00:23:41,286
THE CRIES OF TRAPPED AND WOUNDED
FIREFIGHTERS.
>> AND THEN I REMEMBER HIM
GIVING ORDERS.

154
00:23:41,353 --> 00:23:50,662
I NEED TRUCK COMPANIES.
I NEED RESCUE COMPANY.
TELL THEM TO COME WITH ME.
>> AS HE BEFORE, GANCI WENT INTO

155
00:23:50,729 --> 00:23:58,503
THE DEBRIS TO SAVE HIS MEN
HIMSELF.
IN THE STILL STANDING NORTH
TOWER, MANY FIREFIGHTERS REFUSED

156
00:23:58,570 --> 00:24:07,345
THE ORDER TO EVACUATE WHILE THEY
WERE STILL CARRYING THE WOUNDED
AND DISABLED.
GANCI SENT SAL CASSANO TO SET UP

157
00:24:07,412 --> 00:24:16,254
A NEW COMMAND POST.
28 MINUTES LATER, CASSANO WAS ON
HIS WAY BACK.
>> AND THEN I LOOK UP AND ALL I

158
00:24:16,321 --> 00:24:35,674
COULD SEE WAS THE ANTENNA FROM
THE NORTH TOWER IMPLODING.
>> GET OUT OF THE TOWER!
MAJOR COLLAPSE!

159
00:24:35,740 --> 00:24:43,515
MAJOR CONDO
MAJOR.
>> I, IN MY MIND, HAD TO BE
RESOLVED WITH DEATH.

160
00:24:43,582 --> 00:24:52,290
>> REGINA WILSON WAS ON THE
STREET BELOW THE TOWER.
SHE WAS WITH ENGINE 219 IN HER
SECOND YEAR AS A FIREFIGHTER.

161
00:24:52,357 --> 00:25:03,101
>> AND I PRAYED, AND THEN I JUST
ASKED GOD TO JUST PROTECT ME
AND, IF HE COULDN'T, I KNEW THAT
I WOULD DIE DOING WHAT I LOVE.

162
00:25:03,168 --> 00:25:11,610
>> INSIDE THE COLLAPSING NORTH
TOWER, THE MEN OF ENGINE 39 WERE
CAUGHT IN A STAIRWELL.
>> AND IT STARTED OUT SLOW,

163
00:25:11,676 --> 00:25:19,985
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
THEN IT GOT QUICKER.
PRETTY SOON, BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM
COMING DOWN.

164
00:25:20,051 --> 00:25:27,492
>> JEFF CONIGLIO AND JAMIE
EFTHIMIADES WERE ON THE STAIRS
NEAR THE GROUND FLOOR WITH 110
FLOORS ABOVE THEM.

165
00:25:27,559 --> 00:25:35,000
>> IT TOOK TEN SECONDS FOR IT TO
COME DOWN.
BUT IT FELT LIKE TEN MINUTES.
I SAW I WAS IN THE BACKGROUND OF

166
00:25:35,066 --> 00:25:42,274
A FUNERAL.
I SAW MY CASKET.
I SAW MY PARENTS, MY WIFE
SITTING IN THE FRONT, AND AS I'M

167
00:25:42,340 --> 00:25:48,313
WATCHING THIS, ALL RIGHT, IT'S
GOING TO BE QUICK.
I AM JUST WAITING FOR SOMETHING
TO TAP MY SHOULDER AND FIGURE

168
00:25:48,380 --> 00:25:54,819
I'LL FEEL A TAP AND THAT WILL BE
IT, WE WILL BE GONE.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO SUFFER.
>> JAMES McGLYNN AND BOB BACON

169
00:25:54,886 --> 00:26:02,093
WERE IN THE SAME STAIRWELL.
>> THE WIND CAME UP THE
STAIRWELL, YOU KNOW, BLEW ME
INTO THE AIR, AND THE LANDING

170
00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:09,901
THAT I WAS ON DISINTEGRATED
UNDERNEATH ME.
I KIND OF BOUNCED BACK AND
FORTH, HANGING FROM LIKE A PIPE.

171
00:26:09,968 --> 00:26:19,344
>> I THINK I SAID A COUPLE OF
PRAYERS, GOD, PLEASE GET OUTOUS
OF HERE.
>> THEIR FRAGMENT OF AN IN FACT

172
00:26:19,411 --> 00:26:28,253
STAIRWELL LAY UPON A MOUNTAIN OF
MISERY.
16 ACRES OF WRECKAGE.
91 CRUSHED FDNY VEHICLES AND

173
00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:36,027
QUIET LIKE THE FIRST HEAVY SNOW
OF WINTER.
>> EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU
WOULD HEAR THE RADIO, THE

174
00:26:36,094 --> 00:26:51,309
DISPATCHER ON THE RADIO TRYING
TO CONTACT SOMEBODY.
>> SILENCE SPOKE OF UNIMAGINABLE
LOSS.

175
00:26:51,376 --> 00:27:03,288
>> I NEED DIVISION CHIEF OR ANY
STAFF CHIEF AT THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER.
>> THAT DAY, 23 BATTALION CHIEFS

176
00:27:03,355 --> 00:27:13,031
RESPONDED.
ONLY FOUR OF US SURVIVED.
>> JOE PFEIFER THOUGHT OF THE
LIEUTENANT OF ENGINE 33.

177
00:27:13,098 --> 00:27:26,011
HIS BROTHER, KEVIN, WHO PFEIFER
SENT UP THE NORTH TOWER.
>> I GOT ON MY RADIO AND I SAID,
BATTALION 1 TO ENGINE 33.

178
00:27:26,077 --> 00:27:38,056
AND I REPEATED IT SEVERAL TIMES.
AND I DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER.
>> KEVIN PFEIFER WAS GONE.
AND SO WAS THE CREW OF LADDER

179
00:27:38,123 --> 00:27:44,529
105, WHICH ROLLED FROM REGINA
WILSON'S FIREHOUSE.
>> WE FOUND THE TRUCK.
WE DIDN'T FIND THE MEMBERS.

180
00:27:44,596 --> 00:27:56,908
>> WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM?
>> THEY ALL DIED.
>> AMONG THEM WAS JOHN CHIPURA,
HER MENTOR AND HER SAVIOR.

181
00:27:56,975 --> 00:28:05,784
REGINA WILSON WAS ASSIGNED TO
THE DOOMED LADDER 105, BUT EARLY
THAT MORNING BEFORE THE ATTACK
JOHN CHIPURA ASKED TO SWITCH

182
00:28:05,850 --> 00:28:16,027
JOBS, WHICH PUT HER AMONG THE
SURVIVORS OF ENGINE 219.
>> I TRIED TO HONOR HIM BY
TALKING HIS NAME, AND THAT'S HOW

183
00:28:16,094 --> 00:28:22,067
IT IS IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN
CULTURE.
WHEN YOU SPEAK THE NAME OF AN
ANCESTOR OR YOU SPEAK THE NAME

184
00:28:22,133 --> 00:28:32,710
OF A LOVED ONE, THEN THEY LIVE,
AND SO EVERY TIME I SAY JOHN'S
NAME, HE LIVES, AND THAT GIVES
ME COMFORT.

185
00:28:32,777 --> 00:28:41,086
>> IT WAS VERY HOT.
>> THE MEN OF ENGINE 39 WERE
TRAPPED IN THE WRECKAGE NEAR THE
NORTH TOWER LOBBY.

186
00:28:41,152 --> 00:28:49,127
THEY COULD HEAR ONLY A FEW FEET
AWAY BATTALION CHIEF RICHARD
PRUNTY, WHO WAS PINNED AND
CALLING FOR HELP.

187
00:28:49,194 --> 00:28:59,237
>> WE COULDN'T GET TO HIM, AND
HE WAS PASSING OUT.
>> HE WAS COMING IN AND OUT.
>> DID YOU HEAR HIS RADIO

188
00:28:59,304 --> 00:29:03,975
TRANSMISSIONS?
>> THE LAST THING HE SAID WAS
ABOUT HIS WIFE --
>> TELL MY BEEHIVE AND CHILDREN

189
00:29:04,042 --> 00:29:09,114
THAT I LOVE THEM.
>> MY WIFE, SHE IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING TO IN THE WORLD
TO ME.

190
00:29:09,180 --> 00:29:16,654
>> AMONG RICHARD PRUNTY'S LAST
WORDS.
THE MEN OF ENGINE 39 WERE
RESCUED, BUT 343 MEMBERS OF THE

191
00:29:16,721 --> 00:29:25,697
FDNY WERE GONE.
IN A TRADITION WHERE THE JOB IS
HANDED DOWN IN FAMILIES, MANY
LOST FATHERS, SONS, AND

192
00:29:25,763 --> 00:29:35,273
BROTHERS.
>> GUYS I HAD WORKED WITH, BOTH
RETIRED AND ACTIVE, SAYING TO
ME, PETEY, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU

193
00:29:35,340 --> 00:29:45,250
SEEN MY SON?
AND, YOU KNOW, FIREFIGHTER
COMING UP, CHIEF, HAVE YOU SEEN
MY FATHER?

194
00:29:45,316 --> 00:29:52,991
I JUST SAID, NO.
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T HAVE THE
COURAGE TO TELL THEM WHAT I KNEW
TO BE TRUE.

195
00:29:53,057 --> 00:30:02,934
>> AMONG THE FALLEN WERE PETE
GANCI AND 71-YEAR-OLD DEPUTY
FIRE COMMISSIONER WILLIAM FEEHAN
WHO HAD GONE WITH GANCI TO

196
00:30:03,001 --> 00:30:11,576
RESCUE THE TRAPPED.
>> PETE HAYDEN CLIPMBED ATOP AN
ENGINE TO ADDRESS THE LIVING.
>> I YELLED OUT, WE JUST LOST A

197
00:30:11,643 --> 00:30:25,523
LOT OF GUYS HERE TODAY.
LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
WELL, I TOOK MY HELMET OFF AND I
HELD IT.

198
00:30:25,590 --> 00:30:33,164
I HELD IT.
AND AFTER A WHILE I PUT MY
HELMET BACK ON.
THEY PUT THEIR HELMETS BACK ON.

199
00:30:33,231 --> 00:30:40,838
I SAID, OKAY, WE GOT A JOB TO
DO.
LET'S DO IT.
>> DO YOU LOOK BACK AND WONDER

200
00:30:40,905 --> 00:30:56,688
HOW DID I SURVIVE?
AND 343 MEMBERS DID NOT?
>> I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT AS
MUCH, WE WERE CRAZY BUSY, I WAS

201
00:30:56,754 --> 00:31:03,761
WORKING 18 HOURS A DAY.
THEN IT HIT ME.
I SAID, I AM HERE.
I GET HOME, AND I'M TIRED, AND

202
00:31:03,828 --> 00:31:11,669
THERE IS ALWAYS FOOD ON THE
TABLE WAITING FOR ME, NO MATTER
WHAT TIME I CAME HOME.

203
00:31:19,410 --> 00:31:39,397
I'M LAYING IN BED AND I ASK MY
WIFE, AND SHE SAID DID YOU EVER
THINK THERE WAS A JOB FOR YOU TO
DO?

204
00:31:39,464 --> 00:31:48,840
>> THERE WAS A JOB FOR CASSANO
AND OTHERS TO DO.
REBUILDING THE FDNY.
WHEN WE COME BACK, THE CHILDREN

205
00:31:48,906 --> 00:31:51,809
OF THE LOST PUT ON THEIR
FATHER'S UNIFORM.

206
00:32:04,455 --> 00:32:14,632
>>> VOLUNTEERS STARTED FIGHTING
FIRE IN MANHATTAN IN 1648.
NEARLY 200 YEARS LATER DURING
THE CIVIL WAR, AN ENTIRE NEW

207
00:32:14,699 --> 00:32:23,341
YORK REGIMENT WAS MANNED BY
FIREFIGHTERS.
THEIR COMMANDER IS QUOTED, I
WANT NEW YORK FIREMEN, FOR THERE

208
00:32:23,408 --> 00:32:30,348
ARE NO MORE EFFECTIVE MEN IN THE
COUNTRY.
AS THOSE VETERANS RETURNED HOME
IN 1865, THE MODERN FDNY WAS

209
00:32:30,415 --> 00:32:39,957
CREATED.
THE DEPARTMENT'S TRADITIONS ARE
HANDED DOWN IN FAMILIES, AND SO
REMAINS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE

210
00:32:40,024 --> 00:32:53,237
CHILDREN OF 9/11'S FALLEN.
THE LATE CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT
PETER GANCI HAD THREE CHILDREN.
HIS DAUGHTER MARRIED A

211
00:32:53,304 --> 00:32:59,410
FIREFIGHTER.
THESE ARE HIS SONS.
CAPTAIN PETER GANCI III WAS 27
ON 9/11.

212
00:32:59,477 --> 00:33:04,415
BATTALION CHIEF CHRIS GANCI WAS
25.
HOW DID YOU LEARN YOUR FATHER
DIED?

213
00:33:04,482 --> 00:33:15,293
>> I RAN HOME AND I GOT IN THE
DOOR RIGHT WHEN STEVE MOSEILLO
WAS MY DAD'S DRIVER.
AL TURI, THE CHIEF OF SAFETY.

214
00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:20,565
I JUST REMEMBER THEM TELLING MY
MOM THAT HE IS GONE.
SHE SAID, GONE WHERE?
LIKE THAT.

215
00:33:20,631 --> 00:33:26,170
INNOCENTLY.
NO, LIKE, HE IS DEAD.
AND I REMEMBER THE SCREAM THAT
SHE LET OUT.

216
00:33:26,237 --> 00:33:33,845
I CAN STILL HEAR IT IN MY EARS
AND IT PAINS ME TO HEAR IT.
THE PAIN OF THE REALIZATION THAT
IS HE NEVER WALKING BACK IN THE

217
00:33:33,911 --> 00:33:37,982
DOOR.
>> PETE, WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS
HE?
>> HE LOVED BEING AROUND FAMILY.

218
00:33:38,049 --> 00:33:44,822
HIS FAMILY WAS ALSO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
WE KNEW IT.
MY MOM KNEW IT.

219
00:33:44,889 --> 00:33:54,232
SOMETIMES TO HIS DISMAY, BUT
SHE, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTOOD THE
TYPE OF PERSON THAT HE WAS AND
WHY HE CHOSE, YOU KNOW, OUR

220
00:33:54,298 --> 00:34:02,273
CHOSEN CAREER.
>> CHRIS, YOU WERE IN BUSINESS
AND ON YOUR WAY TO AN MBA.
DID 9/11 MAKE YOU A FIREMAN?

221
00:34:02,340 --> 00:34:06,310
>> ABSOLUTELY.
HAD 9/11 NOT HAPPENED, I WHAT
NOT HAVE BEEN A NEW YORK CITY
FIREFIGHTER.

222
00:34:06,377 --> 00:34:14,218
>> YOU QUOTED YOUR DAD AS
TELLING NEW GRADUATES FROM THE
FIRE ACADEMY, YOU WILL NEVER,
EVER BE RICH, BUT YOU WILL

223
00:34:14,285 --> 00:34:22,193
ALWAYS BE HAPPY.
>> ALWAYS BE HAPPY.
THAT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE
HOW YOU CAN GET INJURED OR

224
00:34:22,260 --> 00:34:28,399
KILLED, BUT YET SOMEHOW YOU COME
HOME WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE.
I ENJOY BEING A PART OF THE
ORGANIZATION.

225
00:34:28,466 --> 00:34:38,910
IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF PRIDE I
NEVER FELT ANYWHERE ELSE.
AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT DROVE MY
FATHER SO MANY YEARS.

226
00:34:38,976 --> 00:34:46,117
>> I'M JOSEPHINE SMITH.
>> JOSEPHINE SMITH'S LATE
FATHER, 47-YEAR-OLD KEVIN SMITH,
WAS WITH HAZMAT 1 ON 9/11.

227
00:34:46,184 --> 00:34:54,025
>> I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE LIKE MY
FATHER.
YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE
BRAVE LIKE HIM AND STRONG AND

228
00:34:54,091 --> 00:34:59,230
WILLING.
IT REALLY JUST RUNS THROUGH OUR
BLOOD.
GENERATION TO GENERATION, I JUST

229
00:34:59,297 --> 00:35:08,339
THINK IT'S JUST WHO WE ARE.
IT'S OUR PASSION.
IT'S OUR UPBRINGING.
>> SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT HAVE

230
00:35:08,406 --> 00:35:18,149
THOUGHT WITH SUCH GRIEVOUS LOSS,
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO
DO WITH THAT.
>> IT'S NOT THE JOB THAT TOOK MY

231
00:35:18,216 --> 00:35:25,923
FTHER.
IT WAS AN ACT MUCH TERRORISM
THAT TOOK MY FATHER.
AND THAT MADE ME WANT TO FIGHT

232
00:35:25,990 --> 00:35:34,765
EVEN MORE TO PROTECT THE CITY OF
NEW YORK AND THE CITIZENS.
YOU MAY HAVE TAKEN MY FATHER
FROM ME, BUT THE PASSION IN THE

233
00:35:34,832 --> 00:35:42,673
BLOOD IS STILL THERE.
>> I'M JOHN PALOMBO.
I WORK IN 92 ENGINE IN THE SOUTH
BRONX.

234
00:35:42,740 --> 00:35:52,583
>> TOMMY PALOMBO, 69 ENGINE IN
HARLEM.
>> HOW OLD ARE YOU ON 9/11?
>> A BEAK WEEK AWAY FROM BEING 8

235
00:35:52,650 --> 00:35:55,720
YEARS OWED.
>> 9.
>> HOW MANY KIDS IN THE PALOMBO
FAMILY?

236
00:35:55,786 --> 00:36:01,559
>> TEN.
EIGHT BOYS TAND TWO GIRLS.
>> THE PALOMBO BROTHER'S DAD,
FRANK PALOMBO, WAS 46 WHEN HE

237
00:36:01,626 --> 00:36:10,434
DIED.
LADDER 105.
IN A SENSE, IT WASN'T 9/11 THAT
MADE THE PALOMBO BOYS

238
00:36:10,501 --> 00:36:17,909
FIREFIGHTERS.
IT WAS SEPTEMBER THE 12th AND
ALL THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED.
>> MY DAD'S BROTHERS AND SISTERS

239
00:36:17,975 --> 00:36:23,481
IN THE FIREHOUSE, THEY COOKED
FOR US.
THEY DROVE US PLACES.
THEY TOOK US TO SIX FLAGS.

240
00:36:23,548 --> 00:36:30,021
I REMEMBER GOING ON THEIR
SHOULDERS AND, YOU KNOW, THEY
WOULD TAKE US BY THE ARMS AND
SPIN US IN CIRCLES.

241
00:36:30,087 --> 00:36:36,394
>> THE FIREHOUSE TURNED OUT FOR
BIRTHDAYS AND GAMES.
>> THE STANDS WERE FILLED AT THE
HOCKEY GAMES, YOU KNOW?

242
00:36:36,460 --> 00:36:45,703
IT WASN'T THE SAME BECAUSE YOU
ARE MISSING THE ONE PERSON THAT
YOU WANT THERE, BUT THEY DO
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO FILL IT.

243
00:36:45,770 --> 00:36:54,912
THEY NEVER WILL, BUT --
>> THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY
COULD TO FILL IT.
AS HARD IT WAS FOR THEM, TAKING

244
00:36:54,979 --> 00:37:00,217
TIME AWAY FROM THEIR OWN
FAMILIES.
>> THE FIREHOUSE COOKED DINNER
FOR THE TEN PALOMBOS AND THEIR

245
00:37:00,284 --> 00:37:10,194
MOTHER EVERY MONDAY FOR FIVE
YEARS.
UNTIL THE FAMILY MOVED AWAY.
>> I AM A FIREFIGHTER, ENGINE

246
00:37:10,261 --> 00:37:17,802
214, LADDER 111 IN BED-STUY
BROOKLYN.
MICHAEL FLORIO.
>> HIS DAD, JOHN FLORIO, WAS 33

247
00:37:17,868 --> 00:37:23,641
YEARS OLD ON 9/11.
ENGINE 214.
THE SAME HOUSE WHERE HIS SON
WORKS TODAY.

248
00:37:23,708 --> 00:37:32,283
>> EVERYTH DAY I WALK IN, MY
FATHER'S PICTURE IS ON THE WALL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF MEMORIALS OF
HIM AND THE OTHER FOUR GUYS THAT

249
00:37:32,350 --> 00:37:38,656
PASSED ON 9/11.
I HAVE A LOT OF MEMORIES FROM
THE FIREHOUSE, BEING A YOUNG
BOY, AND JUST WALKING IN THERE

250
00:37:38,723 --> 00:37:43,394
EVERY DAY AND SEEING HIS
PICTURES, IT BRINGS BACK THOSE
MEMORIES.
IT MAKES ME FEEL CLOSER TO HIM

251
00:37:43,461 --> 00:37:53,004
BEING THERE EVERY DAY.
>> ATTENTION!
>> MORE THAN 60 CHILDREN OF
9/11'S FALLEN HAVE BEEN THROUGH

252
00:37:53,070 --> 00:38:01,212
THE TRAINING ACADEMY ON
RANDALL'S ISLAND IN THE EAST
RIVER AND ARE NOW ON THE JOB.
TO JOIN, THEY TOOK A WRITTEN

253
00:38:01,278 --> 00:38:10,287
EXAM THAT'S GIVEN ONLY ONCE
EVERY FOUR YEARS.
ABOUT 60,000 APPLICANTS TAKE IT,
AND ONLY THOSE IN THE TOP 10%

254
00:38:10,354 --> 00:38:19,563
EARN A PLACE IN THE RANK AND
FILE.
>> I AM VERY PROUD.
I FEEL THAT THEIR FATHERS WOULD

255
00:38:19,630 --> 00:38:28,806
HAVE BEEN VERY PROUD OF THEM.
>> DAN NIGRO, CHIEF GANCI'S
NUMBER TWO ON 9/11, WAS PROMOTED
TO CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT AND

256
00:38:28,873 --> 00:38:34,645
BECAME THE CITY FIRE
COMMISSIONER.
AMONG THE OTHERS IN OUR STORY,
JOHN SUDNIK, A CAPTAIN ON 9/11,

257
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ROSE TO CHIEF OF DEPARTMENT, AND
SO DID PETER HAYDEN.
SAL CASSANO BECAME FIRE
COMMISSIONER.

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00:38:44,655 --> 00:38:50,728
BATTALION CHIEF JOE PFEIFER
BECAME CHIEF OF COUNTERTERRORISM
AND NOW TEACHES CRISIS
LEADERSHIP.

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REGINA WILSON WAS STUDYING FOR
THE LIEUTENANT'S EXAM.
AND ORIO PALMER'S NAME LIVES ON
THE FDNY'S AWARD FOR THE MOST

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PHYSICALLY FIT FIREFIGHTERS.
>> A LOT OF BRAVERY.
A LOT OF BRAVERY WAS DISPLAYED
THAT DAY.

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AND FOLLOWED BY A LOT OF
SADNESS.
>> COMMISSIONER, IT SEEMS TO BE
A SAD DAY FOR YOU 20 YEARS

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00:39:17,955 --> 00:39:22,626
LATER.
>> I THINK FOR EVERYBODY THAT
WAS THERE THAT DAY, IT IS JUST
STAYED WITH THEM.

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THE SADNESS.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF GOOD DAYS.
PLENTY TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
THOSE OF US WHO SURVIVED.

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BUT IT'S A DAY THAT WILL NEVER
LEAVE YOU.
>> SADNESS BECOMES PART OF YOUR
LIFE?

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00:39:35,773 --> 00:39:49,487
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> YOUR FATHER SURVIVED THE
COLLAPSE OF THE FIRST TOWER.
AND INSTEAD OF MOVING TO SAFETY,

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HE WENT TO ANSWER THE MAYDAY
CALLS FROM HIS TRAPPED
FIREFIGHTERS.
>> RECEIVING REPORTS OF

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FIREFIGHTERS TRAPPED.
>> HE KNEW THAT THE OTHER
BUILDING WAS IN IMMINENT DANGER
OF COLLAPSING.

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00:40:04,668 --> 00:40:14,912
HE HAD DECIDED IN THAT MOMENT
THAT HE WAS NOT GOING HOME.
>> AND HE CHOSE HIS GUYS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE COULD GET

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00:40:14,979 --> 00:40:20,317
ANGRY ABOUT IT.
I KNOW MY SISTER AND MOTHER,
SOMETIMES WE HIT OUR HEAD
AGAINST THE WALL.

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00:40:20,384 --> 00:40:26,957
BUT WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS AND
YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT WAS THE
ONLY DECISION.
I KNEW THE WAY HE FELT ABOUT HIS

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MEN AND HIS JOB AND THE FDNY,
AND HE WAS GOING TO STAY AND SEE
THE JOB THROUGH.
>> HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO

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LIVE WITH HIMSELF IF HE LEFT
AND, YOU KNOW, ONE MORE GUY WAS
KILLED.
IT'S JUST THE WAY HE WAS.

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00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:52,116
IT WAS, I HAVE TO BE THERE UNTIL
THE LAST GUY IS OUT.
>> TODAY'S RECRUITS WERE
CHILDREN THEN.

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00:40:52,183 --> 00:41:03,327
AND SO THEY MUSTER BEFORE
MEMORIES.
THREE COLUMNS OF THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER AND 343 LIVES, WHICH ARE

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00:41:03,394 --> 00:41:16,907
HERE INDELIBLE IN TIME.
>> SO MANY OF US SACRIFICED SO
MUCH THAT THIS STORY CAN'T GET
LOST BECAUSE THE WORLD IS

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00:41:16,974 --> 00:41:28,552
CHANGING FAST, AND I DON'T WANT
THIS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S IN A
HISTORY BOOK THAT A PAGE IS
TURNED AND WE'RE FORGOTTEN.

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00:41:37,528 --> 00:41:53,677
>>> TWO DECADES LATER 9/11
RESPONDERS ARE SEEKING MEDICAL
>>> WE CANNOT DO JUSTICE IN THIS
HOUR, OR ANY NUMBER OF HOURS, TO

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THE SACRIFICES OF THE FDNY, THE
NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT,
THE PORT AUTHORITY POLICE, AND
THOSE WHO FOUGHT TO SAVE LIVES

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AT THE PENTAGON AND ON FLIGHT 93
IN PENNSYLVANIA.
AT THE TRADE CENTER, 2753 PEOPLE
PERISHED, BUT THERE WERE MORE

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THAN 17,000 IN THE TOWERS AND
99% OF THOSE BELOW THE FIRES
SURVIVED.
THAT MORNING, A WITNESS WATCHED

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00:42:25,142 --> 00:42:34,084
FIREFIGHTERS RUSH TO THE
STAIRWELLS AND WONDERED HOW THEY
FOUND THE COURAGE.
AFTER 22 YEARS OF REFLECTION,

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00:42:34,151 --> 00:42:42,693
IT'S CLEAR.
THEY CLIMBED TO RISE.
TO RISE TO THE CRIES 1,000 FEET
ABOVE THEM.

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00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:53,971
TO RISE TO THE DEFENSE OF THE
FIREFIGHTER BESIDES THEM.
TO RISE BEYOND DUTY TO A PLACE
OF SELFLESS DEVOTION.

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I'M SCOTT PELLEY.
WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH THE
SEASON PREMIER OF "60 MINUTES."