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Survivor's story: Inside the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001

Inside the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001

Ryan Yantis was a major working in the Pentagon when it was attacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001.

He will share his story about "Surviving 9/11" at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, at Naperville's 95th St. Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Drive.

It was around 9:30 a.m. when Yantis, who was a public affairs officer at the time, was preparing for a Domestic Operations Military Support meeting. He had just seen the second plane hit the World Trade Center and knew this was a deliberate attack on America. He had a hunch the Pentagon could be next.

He was on his way to the meeting with Lt. Col. Hunter Huntley when they stopped in Corridor 4. They started to argue. Where was the meeting? Which floor? Which ring? Huntley didn't know.

Frustrated, Yantis walked away with Huntley following, soon finding their meeting in Corridor 7.

Eight minutes later, the alarms sounded.

There had been an explosion.

The Pentagon had been attacked between Corridors 4 and 5.

"Had I been complacent and just followed him, we both would've been at the wrong place at the wrong time and would've been injured or possibly killed by the impact," Yantis said.

Although he was worried about other attacks - including another plane hitting the Pentagon - Yantis focused on getting his people to safety. He started carrying his injured and wounded colleagues on stretchers, got medical supplies from the Pentagon's treatment facility and helped get people away from the building.

"It was austere, smelled of smoke and soot everywhere, and there were tangible reminders of death and destruction," he said.

Later in the day, Yantis went back to work. He wrote the initial casualty announcement and escorted media into a news conference held by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

The next morning, he reported back to the Pentagon before sunrise.

Yantis later was promoted to lieutenant colonel and moved to Chicago in 2003. He didn't speak about his experiences on Sept. 11 for years.

"Talking about the Pentagon on 9/11 was very difficult at first, but I have gotten help for PTSD and in sharing what I can, when I can," he said. "This is a vital mission to help people know the bravery and sacrifice of so many in a time of challenge."

Although he has a closer perspective than most, Yantis believes that everyone living on Sept. 11 is a survivor. He continues to share his story to inspire people to overcome challenges in the face of danger, but he also wants to be an accurate witness to history.

"I want people to know how I witnessed good people running to help others when things went bad," he said. "The actions of the terrorist were not the only 'historic' actions that day."

Yantis also will present "Surviving 9/11" as part of the library's Brown Bag Lecture series at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, at the 95th St. Library.

For more information about the Naperville Public Library, visit www.naperville-lib.org.

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