September 11, 2001 – a day that started as an average Tuesday and quickly turned into one of the most consequential days in the history of our nation. Tobyhanna Army Depot remembers the 2,977 people who were killed in the senseless attacks and honors the heroes whose sacrifices saved countless others.
As Tobyhanna Army Depot prepares to join Americans everywhere in observing the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, four current members of Team Tobyhanna who worked at the depot on 9/11 have shared their memories of the day as well as their perspectives on the period that followed.
In them, one will find firsthand accounts that capture the horror of the day, the period of resolve that followed, and the effects the attacks had on the depot and our nation.
Chief of the Internal Review and Audit Compliance Office Brian Ross recounts thinking it was a tragic accident at first before the sobering reality that our nation was under attack began to sink in.
“I was in our headquarters building when the first plane hit the tower. At some point after that I remember walking down the ramp and noticed a lot of people watching the TVs that were mounted to the columns in the lobby. I went over to see what was happening and there was the live news coverage discussing the plane crash and it was at that moment they showed the second plane hitting the other tower and you could see the realization sinking in with everyone there that something bad was happening. I remember when we were told they were shutting down the depot and that everyone should leave. Then when we came back to work, heightened security included long lines at the gate, MPs, vehicle inspections, and the dogs searching inside the vehicles.”
Chief of the Army Community Service Branch Linda Kerr remembers the uncertainty and weight of the day led her to tears. Kerr said despite the unthinkable events of the day, our nation chose to unite.
“Our School Age Children had just boarded the bus for Tobyhanna Elementary Center, and my co-worker and I were cleaning up after breakfast at the Youth Center. We routinely had the morning news on—ABC that day—and weren't paying close attention until Diane Sawyer reported that a plane may have struck one of the World Trade Center towers. My co-worker and I froze. We moved to the couch and sat in complete shock and disbelief. As the footage aired, I turned to her and said to go home, stay alert, and keep the news on. What followed was nothing short of surreal. From the bay window, I watched government trucks hauling jersey barriers toward the perimeter, clearly fortifying the installation. Soon after, the Directorate Office called: the depot workforce was being released, and we were instructed to secure the facility and evacuate immediately. In the rush to secure the building and pack up, I reached the approach to the gate before realizing I had left my depot badge on my desk. I made an immediate U-turn—and instantly noticed three security vehicles following directly behind me. When I pulled back into the parking lot, officers exited their vehicles immediately to question my movements. Overwhelmed by the tension of the day, I broke down in tears. An officer escorted me inside, monitoring every movement as I retrieved my badge from my office, then followed my vehicle all the way out through the Stroudsburg Gate. That was the moment the reality sank in: in the fog of that morning, no one knew where the threat was coming from or who to trust. Were we at war? Returning to normal operations took a long time. For weeks, we were met at the gates by armed National Guardsmen from Massachusetts. Every vehicle was inspected thoroughly inside and out, accompanied by intense questioning: Where are you going? What is your role? Whose bag is that? Did you pack it? Experiencing FPCON Delta on our own installation was something I never imagined seeing in my lifetime. Yet, amid the heartbreak of September 11, 2001, I will always remember September 12th. I have never seen our country more united, standing tall and resolute together—even as we mourned the heavy price paid for that unity.”
Electronics Mechanic Supervisor Eugene Golembeski said what began as a normal day quickly saw depot employees sent home to return to heightened security.
“I came into work like any other morning. I’ll never forget where I was that day. I remember working at my bench and Bill Ercolani came downstairs and told me that a plane just flew into one of the towers. At first, I thought it was an accident until the second plane hit the other tower. Shortly after the news came on across PAVIS and everything stopped. I remember seeing everyone standing around staring at the TV as everything unfolded. The depot stopped that day. Once the Pentagon was hit, it didn’t take long until the decision to send the workforce home came along. The following days resulted in heightened security. I remember seeing dogs and security checking under incoming vehicles with mirrors and random vehicle searches. The news was playing on PAVIS all day.”
Management Analyst Jacqueline Vass said just as her day was beginning, news of the attacks reached her. Shocked and in disbelief, Vass and her fellow team members soon realized this was a day that would change the course of history.
“The morning of September 11, 2001, began like any other workday. I checked in with the staff, reviewed our daily tasks, and prepared for the day ahead. Nothing seemed unusual. Then, a coworker came into the office and asked, ‘Did you hear what happened?’ We turned on the television and learned that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. As word spread throughout the depot, people gathered around the television. While we were watching, we saw the second plane hit the other tower. In that moment, the situation became even more frightening and real. We were all shocked and struggling to understand what was happening. As the morning continued, we heard that another plane had struck the Pentagon. I had friends who worked there, so I immediately tried to call them to make sure they were safe. However, the phone lines at the depot were inundated with calls, and the volume overwhelmed the system. I was unable to get through, which added to the uncertainty. Announcements were made instructing everyone to remain in place. The depot went into lockdown, and the workforce stayed there until the afternoon, when employees were given an early dismissal. In the days and weeks that followed, security was increased, and many procedures and processes changed the way we operated. The events of that day affected all of us. What had started as an ordinary morning became a moment none of us would ever forget.”
The events of 9/11 serve as a reminder of how rapidly our nation’s needs can evolve, and why Tobyhanna Army Depot’s mission remains critical. In addition to Tobyhanna meeting increased demand for military equipment, hundreds of Tobyhanna employees voluntarily deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn.
25 years later, Tobyhanna Army Depot remains as committed as ever to our shared promise to never forget 9/11, the 2,977 lives lost, and the bravery of the heroes of the day.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is designated as the Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, electronics, avionics, and missile guidance and control. TYAD provides cradle-to-grave lifecycle support through depot-level repair, systems integration, software and cyber engineering, and field support.
A key enabler of operational readiness for joint and allied forces globally, TYAD leverages new and emerging technologies to further expand the Department of War’s organic capabilities for microelectronics, secure communications infrastructure, unmanned aerial systems, joint all-domain command and control, integrated air and missile defense and the Army’s Next Generation Combat Systems.
TYAD’s ability to rapidly surge production, deploy field support teams and scale for contingency or theater-level operations makes it a vital contributor to strategic readiness and operational reach.
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