We look back at the events of September 11, 2001, through the personal account of local army reservist and veteran Robert Hahn. Hahn takes us through his experience being aboard a Delta flight departing Philadelphia bound for Salt Lake City when news of the attacks broke, forcing an immediate, unexpected landing in Kansas City, Missouri. He describes the eerie silence in the sky, the complete lack of information available to passengers at the time, and the immediate security protocols that took effect on the ground.
The discussion moves into the immediate aftermath of the groundings, detailing Hahn's attempt to seek shelter at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was turned away at gunpoint by base security equipped with a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. We examine how the chaos and rapid changes of that day served as an unexpected preparation for his subsequent military deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Hahn reflects on adapting under pressure, navigating the sudden shutdown of national airspace, and the contrast between that historic morning and his eventual service in Fallujah.
We wrap up the conversation touching on the unexpected twists of that week, including how Hahn ended up staying five days at a runway-adjacent hotel in Kansas City, retrieving a classic Jaguar car he had arranged to buy prior to the attacks, and his upcoming retirement from the Pitman Post Office. The segment offers a grounded look at how a day of national tragedy intersected with the lives of everyday citizens and service members across the country.
