How we remember, 13 years later


From tragedy to unity


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On Sept. 11, 2001 I was 7,500 miles away from ground zero, a second-grade student at Camp McTureous in the western part of Uruma City in Okinawa, Japan.

I don’t think I understood the gravity of the situation when it happened; 13 years later I’m still unsure if I do.

Here’s what I do understand: Sept. 10 was a hell of a lot different than Sept. 12.

On Sept. 10, vehicles driving toward the base, one of 10 such satellite installations spread through the island that made up Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, were met with smiles and waves from the locals and a casual inspection from two Military Police officials stationed at the front gate. Standard procedure called for a presentation of military identification, though this became less common if a rapport was built with guards. Most were waved through the gate with little incident.

On Sept. 12 vehicles driving toward the base, the smallest of the 10, were met with cautious glances from an uneasy local population and multiple Military Police officials clad head-to-toe in tactical gear and wielding machine guns.

I have precious few memories of that period in our history. That is one that sticks. Overnight, Camp McTureous put its finger on the trigger; I imagine 7,500 miles away the scene looked much the same.

I don’t think 9/11 really ever hit home for me because I never felt unsafe. I was constantly surrounded by Marines who were easily a foot taller and a hundred pounds heavier than the average Okinawan.

Locals were excited to see Americans in public to the point where trips to historic Katsuren Castle or the beaches to the north in Nago almost became annoying because of the excessive hospitality.

I never considered there were wolves at the door.

Back home, I suppose it would be too easy to say everything changed. In reaction to the overwhelming grief and confusion that became part of our cultural lexicon in the 2000s and since, America has tightened its borders, increased its security networks and systematically targeted terrorism in all of the dark corners of the world.

In the 13 years since 9/11, I would argue we are no less afraid.

The feeling of vulnerability is the most pervasive and long-lasting effect of 9/11. It’s easy to give in to that, to distrust our neighbors, keep the guns pointed and remember how we were hurt by the outside world.

I spent two more years in Japan after the tragedy. In those days the security was tight, but after the initial shock, we were met with unprecedented compassion and kindness from the international community.

When I returned home, a shared pain and sense of solidarity had already swept across the country. 

But out of this atrocity came unity and strength.

I have precious few memories of that period in our history, but that is one that defines it for me.

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About Malachi Barrett

Editor-in-Chief Malachi Barrett is Battle Creek senior majoring in journalism with a minor in ...

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