A Glimpse into the Military Response on 9/11

On September 11, as first responders hurried to Ground Zero, the U.S. military also took swift action. Gen. Dan Caine, then-chief of Weapons and Tactics at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, had just entered a meeting when alerted about the North Tower being struck. Observing the second plane hit the South Tower on live television, Caine realized the nation was under attack.

Caine stated there was ‘no doubt’ the U.S. was at war, prompting immediate squadron preparations. He ordered the movement of weapons, including air-to-air missiles. With smoke from the Pentagon visible, Caine received a White House directive to scramble jets to defend Washington, D.C. The rules of engagement, described as ‘very liberal,’ included intercepting United Flight 93.

Brig. Gen. Dave Wherley, the wing commander, expressed trust in Caine’s decisions in this critical situation. Some jets took off unarmed due to time constraints. Lt. Col. Mark Sasseville and Heather Penney intended to ram hijacked planes, acknowledging it could be a fatal move. Penney highlighted that the military doesn’t send personnel on suicide missions, but the necessity of action was clear.

Caine’s jet, equipped with missiles, was prepared for possible action against a commercial airliner. All flights over Washington, D.C., were grounded, with a warning against non-compliance. Caine reflected on the responsibility, hoping to perform his duty without error.

Fortunately, United Flight 93 passengers stormed the cockpit, crashing the plane in a remote field, sparing Washington, D.C. from direct attack. Caine lauded the passengers’ bravery and the first responders’ efforts on that day.

“We take an oath in the military to protect and defend the United States of America. They got on an airliner, and yet they were the first ones that fought back in those dark, dark moments on September 11,” Caine said.

Caine continues to feel the impact of those events, realizing the depth of serving the country. What began as fascination for flying jets turned into understanding the magnitude of commitment and the examples of bravery shown on that day remain significant for him.