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TAKING IT IN STRIDE: U.S. Troops Patrol on the Front Line Against Terrorism
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
(11:06 AM ET)
By Matthew Rosenberg
Associated Press Writer

"The best way to honor the memory of those who died on Sept. 11 is to be doing what we were sent here to do -- take the fight to the enemy in the field and hunt down terrorists," said Gen. McNeill.



"Pursuing the war on the anniversary of the attack is what makes today a big day," said Lt. Col. Tim Strasburger, an A-10 pilot based at Pope Air Force Base outside Fayetteville, N.C. "There isn't a place I'd rather be or a job I'd rather be doing."

Some Air Force soldiers marked the day with an old tradition -- writing
messages on bombs and missiles carried by the A-10s. "In memory of 9-11-2001," read one message on a Maverick missile. Another paid tribute to the New York police and fire departments. And there were, of course, other sentiments scribbled on ordnance: "To the Taliban, we come with gifts."



BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- AP
At first light Wednesday, Sgt. Dallas Donelson was out on the flight line as he is every day, preparing A-10 Thunderbolt jets for daily patrols, checking essential systems and loading weapons.

"Hopefully, we're going to get some of those guys today on the anniversary of what they did to us," said Donelson, a member of the ground crew that maintains the "Warthogs."

Hopes aside, the anniversary of last year's attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon is being treated mostly as just another day at Bagram Air Base, the U.S. military headquarters in Afghanistan.

The only ceremony at Bagram was a 20-minute memorial for a prayer, a moment of silence and the lowering of the flag -- timed to coincide with the moment the first plane hit the twin towers.

"Those of you who are here on this battlefield, you're the heroes and heroines of today, it is you who are relentlessly are taking this fight to the enemy, it is you to whom your nation owes it's gratitude," Lt. Gen. Dan K. McNeill told the more than 200 soldiers who attended the ceremony.

"The war is not over, without doubt we are winning but we do not have it won," said McNeill, the top commander of the war in Afghanistan.
(More: New Jersey Online News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

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