9/11 From the Eyes of a Survivor

Each year on September 11, Americans remember the terrifying terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City that resulted in the tragic deaths of almost 3,000 innocent people. However, I look back on it as the day on which I almost lost my dad. While too young to remember the event, I have grown up hearing my dad’s personal story regarding his frightening experience.

In September of 2001, my dad, Steve Vieltorf, made his way to Manhattan where he would be attending a three-week training session for his job. On the second day of training, he arrived at the South Tower of the World Trade Center and made his way up to the 61st floor. On the second day of training, around 9 a.m., confusion erupted throughout the building.

“All of the sudden people started yelling to get into the stairs,” he said. “I remember seeing paper flying around outside, which I thought was odd. The North Tower had been hit but no one knew yet.”

Eventually, people became aware of the plane crash on the other tower and began their long descent down the crowded stairs.

“I was confused because at the same time they were playing a message that the South Tower was secure and we should go back to our work. Obviously, most people ignored that.”

“There were firemen running up the stairs while we were all moving down,” he said. After making his way down about 20 floors, the building shook and shifted, throwing everyone off balance. This was when the second plane hit the tower. It took him about 45 minutes to get to the ground level. Nearly an hour passed before he escaped the building.

“I saw a lot of paper and debris, and even saw a seat from one of the airplanes that had fallen all the way to the ground,” he said.

He exited and turned left.  Ambulances and paramedics frantically raced  about the scene. “As I walked I saw a huge pool of blood, probably about four feet across,” he said. “On the next block, I passed the engine of one of the planes, burning in the lobby of a bank.”

He came across a pay phone and attempted to call his wife, but the lines were not working.  Seconds later, he witnessed the South Tower falling to the ground, and was able to run and find shelter from the debris in a close by building, escaping five short minutes before the tower crumbled.

“At that point I just started to walk back to my hotel,” he said. “I always say this is when I met my guardian angel. A man stopped me, gave me water, and asked if I needed help. He gave me directions to safety.” About 20 minutes later, the second tower fell.

“I finally came upon a pay phone that let me call home. All I said when the call went through is ‘I’m alive’. My wife said ‘I’m coming to rescue you’.”

At a young age, my older sister, Lauren Kil, once said, “An angel carried my dad out of that building.”

To this day, I still believe that to be true. I feel extremely lucky and thankful that my dad has been with me my entire life, because for many families the ending was not as fortunate. As the 16th anniversary approaches, it is important to remember and pray for the families who suffered a loss due to the devastating attack, while also honoring the people who worked to relieve the national pain of the event.