Veterans Chronicles

Sal Cassano was born in New York City. He served in the U.S. Army and did a tour in Vietnam from 1966-1967, But even while he was serving overseas, plans were already in motion for him to become a New York City firefighter when he came home. In late 1969, Cassano joined the FDNY. By September 11, 2001, he was an assistant chief of operations overseeing Manhattan. He would finish his career as FDNY commissioner.

In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Cassano tells us about his service in Vietnam and becoming a firefighter. He also reveals how he first heard about the Al Qaeda terrorist attacks and why he knew instinctively after the first plane hit the World Trade Center that it was an act of terrorism.

Cassano also explains the grisly scene when arriving at the World Trade Center and the flurry of orders he was given when the South Tower came down. He also talks about going to the hospital, immediately returning to work, and finally rejoining his family after almost 48 hours away.

Later, Cassano details the challenges at Ground Zero and the sobering task of hiring many new firefighters after losing 343 in the World Trade Center. He also describes what President George W. Bush's visit to Ground Zero meant to the FDNY and what he hopes Americans will reflect upon 25 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Michael Hingson was hosting a training session in his offices on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower on the morning of September 11, 2001. As he reached for some paper, Hingson felt and heard a muffled explosion and the tower bent drastically before snapping back into place.

Of course, it was American Airlines Flight 11 crashing into the tower - the first of four planes hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists as part of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history.

Hingson was born blind but knew every inch of his office and the North Tower. Soon he, his guide dog, a colleague, and everyone else in their office began the long descent to the ground floor.

In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Hingson explains why he was so meticulously prepared for an emergency, how he quickly got a clue abut the cause of the explosion as soon as he entered the stairwell, and what it was like going down 78 floors with countless other people as the firefighters started to make their way up the stairs.

Hingson also shares escaping from the World Trade Center only to discover the South Tower was also on fire and what it was like getting caught in the dust storms from both towers collapsing to the ground near him.

Finally, Hingson details the fantastic performance of his guide dog, Roselle, that day and how his experience and Roselle's actions actually led to a career change as an author and public speaker.

Caster Salemi was 19 years old when Japan attacked the U.S. at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He tried to enlist in the U.S. Navy but was rejected. After working in a facility producing Norden bombsights, he was finally drafted into the U.S. Army. While training in Paris, Texas, Salemi was assigned to the 251st Field Artillery Battalion in a communications role. He was part of a unit firing 105mm howitzers.

In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Salemi tells about arriving in New Guinea, which brought high temperatures, high humidity, and tropical diseases. 

Salemi then talks about his service in Luzon, Philippines, starting in January 1945 and  describes the "constant combat" against the Japanese, including one battle that lasted two months straight. He also recalls how relentless the Japanese were and how cruel they could be. He also shares how the Japanese disrupted his artillery communications efforts.

Finally, Salemi details the end of the war and how one of those tropical diseases sent him home earlier than expected - and right through a typhoon.

Paul Evans joined the U.S. Navy as a young adult but after three years on ships he left the service. A short time later, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Before long, he was pursuing Army Special Forces. His job as a Green Beret would take him to the Gulf War and later to Afghanistan as one of the renowned "Horse Soldiers" just weeks after 9/11.

In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Evans tells us what valuable lessons he learned during the Gulf War that he put to good use in later conflicts. he also explains how Operational Detachment Alpha 595 (ODA 595) was going to be dismantled until the 9/11 attacks. Then their experience and skills became extremely valuable.

Evans also shares how their assignment in theater changed twice before they were tasked with helping General Abdul Rashid Dostum push the Taliban out of Mazar-i-Sharif, how ODA 595 was split up to help their new Afghan allies be as effective as possible, and how they called in devastating U.S. airpower against the enemy.

He also takes us inside the fighting leading up to Mazar-i-Sharif and how the Taliban fled, with one notable exception.

Don't miss this inside look at some of the first U.S. action following the worst terrorist attacks in U.S. history.

H.J. Burley Smith was 12 years old when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entered World War II. He followed the far closely, especially as his father served in the U.S. Merchant Marine.

Smith graduated from high school in 1946 and eventually decided to enter the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Long Island. By the time his years as a cadet and in training were complete, the Korean War was breaking out on the other side of the world. He was assigned to the USS Meredith Victory, which would soon be on its way to war.

In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Smith explains how much responsibility brand new junior third mates like him were given in navigating ships. He also shares the harrowing story of being the last ship in a convoy headed for the Inchon Landing during a fierce typhoon that nearly knocked him into the sea.

However, the USS Meredith Victory is best known for conducting the largest single-ship humanitarian evacuation in history - at Hungnam in North Korea in December 1950 after Chinese forces flooded across the border and temporarily forced the U.S. to retreat.

Smith, who is the last surviving crew member of the Meredith Victory, describes how the evacuation took place with the Chinese just a mile or two way, the very difficult conditions on board, and how more than 14,000 Koreans were eventually brought to safety and freedom.