Thunder Dog - Michael Hingson [69]
I’m grateful to Michael’s friends and family who granted interviews and made me feel welcome: Karen Hingson, David Frank, Dr. Marc Maurer, Dr. Fredric Schroeder, Terry Barrett, Todd Jurek, Bob Phillips, Aaron Klein, Billie Castillo, K. Cherie Jones, Dava Wayman, Dick Rubinstein, Ellery Hingson, Hollybeth Anderson, James Gashel, Kevin Washington, Mark Riccebono, Mat Kaplan, Mr. Herboldsheimer, Robin Keith, Tom Painter, and his dear aunt Shirley Stone.
Finally, deep thanks to my agent, Chip MacGregor. I appreciate your wisdom and your passion for books that change lives (although I’m still not convinced Mark Twain is the best American writer ever). To Brian Hampton and Bryan Norman, thanks for believing in this story and loving Roselle and Mike as much as I do.
TIMELINE FOR
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
12:30 a.m. In Westfield, New Jersey, Roselle wakes Michael, shaking in fear due to an approaching thunderstorm.
5:00 a.m. Michael Hingson wakes to his alarm, gets up, dresses, eats breakfast, and prepares for work.
5:45 a.m. Terrorist leader Mohamed Atta and associate Abdulaziz al-Omari pass through security in Portland, Maine, preparing to board a flight to Boston.
6:00 a.m. Primary Day election polls open in New York. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is out, due to term limits. Charlie, the owner of Happy Fox Taxi, picks up Roselle and Mike for a ten-minute ride to the New Jersey Transit station.
6:48 a.m. The 6:18 train finally arrives in station after several announced delays.
7:15 a.m. Michael and Roselle arrive in Newark and transfer to a PATH train for the World Trade Center.
7:43 a.m. Michael and Roselle arrive at the World Trade Center station and walk through the underground parking lot on the fourth sublevel to an elevator that takes them to the lobby of Tower 1, the north building. Michael’s security card is scanned by security, and they proceed to the express elevator.
7:50 a.m. Michael unlocks the door to the Quantum, Inc. suite on the 78th floor of the North Tower. Minutes later, David Frank and six other people arrive for the sales training presentations. One of the guests goes back downstairs to greet others expected to arrive. Remaining in the office are Michael, Roselle, David Frank, and five other people.
8:35 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sends a message to NORAD: American Flight 11 out of Boston has been hijacked.
8:46 a.m. American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center (WTC 1), cutting through floors 93–99.
8:47 a.m. Michael calls his wife, Karen, to tell her there’s been an explosion.
8:50 a.m. Michael, Roselle, and David enter Stairwell B.
8:55 a.m. The first burn victim passes Michael in the stairwell. Five minutes later, another burn victim passes by.
9:03 a.m. United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center (WTC 2). Inside the stairwell, Michael and others hear nothing of the explosion.
9:08 a.m. Someone passes water bottles up the stairs.
9:10 a.m. A column of firefighters passes by Michael and the group, beginning at the 30th floor. Mike speaks to the first firefighter. The FAA closes New York City airports.
9:21 a.m. All bridges and tunnels in New York are closed by the Port Authority.
9:26 a.m. All nonmilitary flights are grounded in the United States, orders of the Federal Aviation Administration.
9:30 a.m. President Bush, speaking from Sarasota, Florida, says the United States has suffered an “apparent terrorist