Remembering 9/11

by Peter Twitchell

It just dawned on me on this day 9/11/2001 between 9:30 and 10 o’clock I was camped across from the Aniak gravel bar watching two American jet fighters behind the Korean Airlines passenger jet coming in so low and so loud into the Aniak airport that morning.

I really didn’t have a clue as to what was happening because I refuse to listen to radio when I’m out hunting.

I didn’t have a single clue as to what was happening that entire day until I went down river and instead of going onto Bethel stopped in Tuluksak to visit my cousin Gertrude Evon Alexie and her family and husband Joe Alexie. I was so tired and getting cold after butchering and loading a bull moose into the boat inside the creek I was camped in and decided I was going to spend the night with Joe Alexie and his family.

I walked up to the house which is close to the Tuluksak Slough, leaving everything in the boat- camping gear, gas, guns, and a moose covered with tarp.

I knocked on the door and was invited in. I noticed Joe and Gertrude Alexie and their children huddled around a television set watching a movie so intently and quietly I thought to myself, “Oh another Hollywood movie,” then I saw the jet plowing into a tall sky scraper.

After some hot coffee and some moose stew I got up, went to where the family was watching the television set, and said, “What are you watching? Must be a really good movie.”

Gertrude burst out, “They’re attacking us!”

I realized that this was not a movie! It was a real thing. Terrorists had flown two passenger jets into the Twin Towers in New York City!!

My curiosity had been awakened, I thought, “Lord help us!”

Then I thought back to the entire day after seeing an unusual sight when a Korean passenger jet liner landed in the town of Aniak with two American fighter jets trailing behind it that morning. And how unusual it was that entire day, not seeing one Bush airplane or any aircraft flying overhead that entire day.

Later back in Bethel the reporter on the news set reported that all aircraft had been grounded.