John Grote reflects on 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks while attending a Pentagon anniversary ceremony
John Grote, a retired colonel and former major in the Iowa Army National Guard, returned to the Pentagon to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. During the attacks, Grote entered the building to rescue survivors from the Navy operations center, enduring injuries from dripping jet fuel. He received a Public Heart and the Soldier’s Medal for his efforts. Officials and former presidents gathered across the country to honor the 184 lives lost at the Pentagon and the thousands of victims at the World Trade Center and in Pennsylvania. The administration announced that the 9/11 attacks fundamentally altered U.S. air travel, surveillance, and banking regulations. Grote noted that while he felt survivor's guilt for those he could not reach, he viewed his actions as a simple response to what he would hope someone would do for him. He also noted that the 9/11 attacks inspired his two sons to join the military. Grote is scheduled to testify as a prosecution witness in the 2028 trial of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three other defendants.
Sources
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Former Iowan reflects on surviving the Pentagon attack 25 years after 9/11
Iowa Public Radio
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Arlington County remembers 25 years since 9/11 terrorist attacks
ARLnow