Remembering an American hero

Published Nov. 29, 2011
By Senior Airman Eric Summers Jr.
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- It has been described as one of the most tragic days in the history of the United States. None who lived through the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the downing of Flight 93 near Shanksville, Penn., will ever forget the loss of more than 2,900 innocent lives.

To remember and honor those who were lost, a room in the Manhattan Dining Facility at this undisclosed location in Southwest Asia was named "Twin Towers." On Nov. 22, a military member with family ties to the New York City Fire Department presented a special gift to be displayed in the room to help commemorate the first responders who gave the last full measure of devotion.

"There were 2,996 deaths due to the terrorist hi-jacking of four airplanes that day," said Maj. John Wiebe, a personnel director with U.S. Special Operations Command Central. "Of that, 343 were New York City firefighters and paramedics that were killed in the terrorist attack -- among them was their chief."

Peter Ganci Jr., who at the time of the attacks was the Chief of the New York City Fire Department, was one of the first responders on scene at the World Trade Center and perished when the North Tower collapsed. Though he lost his life, his legacy lives on in the Twin Towers room thanks to his nephew -- Wiebe.

"When I started coming here and saw this model of the Twin Towers -- I came in this room named the Twin Towers and I said 'wow this is pretty cool -- this is some cool stuff'," the Long Island, N.Y., native said. "I and the [Manhattan DFAC] NCOIC at the time had got to talking and I said 'you know I have some family members in New York and if you like I can get a P. J. Ganci Jr. picture.'"

And he did. Only he wasn't expecting a ceremony to honor his late uncle and the others who passed that tragic day.

"I thought it was going to be something simple, where I just take the picture and then there it is on the wall," said Wiebe. "But it turned out great -- thankfully so -- the family thanks you."

The ceremony included 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters who took the opportunity to honor their brethren.

"Any chance I get, [I like] to honor firefighters or police officers, or Soldiers, Sailors, Marines or Airmen who have given everything in the line of duty, sacrificed everything for a complete stranger," said Tech. Sgt. Timothy Smith, 379th ECES fire department, deployed from Dover Air Force Base, Del. "It mirrors what military members do; go where they're told to go, to protect, and die if necessary, for people they've never met. So it's especially important to me as both an Airman and a firefighter to participate in ceremonies like this one."

Wiebe described Ganci as a humble person, someone who would have been moved by the ceremony.

"It's been quoted that Peter J. Ganci Jr. wouldn't tell you he was the highest ranking uniformed officer in the New York city fire department, instead he would tell you 'I'm a fireman,'" Wiebe said. "I will tell you that is very true. I would say he was called by God for a purpose -- to be a fireman -- he led by example, culminating as the chief of the fire department which was the sum of his years.

"He enjoyed being a fireman, in fact he loved it," Wiebe added. "He served 33 years with a smile on his face and that's how we should remember a chief and those we loved and lost that tragic day."

Smith said it was an honor to remember not just a hero, but a brother.

"Chief Ganci was a true hero and a model for all firefighters, military and civilian, to follow," Smith, a native of Runnemede, N.J., said. "I didn't know him, never met him, never worked for him, but it's a brotherhood.

"I can't put into words what it feels like, but to have a brother fall in the line of duty, it's moving," he added. "We're all attached in some way, from the newest military firefighter to the Chief of the Fire Department New York."

Wiebe concluded the ceremony with words to describe how the chief would want to be remembered.

"Chief Ganci would not want us to mourn, he would want us to laugh and enjoy life," the major said. "So please remember and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and take time to tell those you love how much you love them."

Chief Master Sgt. William Harner, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing command chief, said ceremonies like this remind us that many people serve our nation, not just military members.

"Not just military members, but firefighters and police officers are willing to give their life to protect American citizens," he said. "[Ganci] truly lived the firefighter ethos, because even with the highest position in the rank structure, he went out there to save lives with the other firefighters."