Heroes of 9/11

ANN CURRY: A BUSINESS MAN WHO ESCAPED THE ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001... MAN: YOU COULD SEE THE HUGE HOLE IN THE TOWER.

JUST, YOU KNOW, TERRIBLE MOMENT IN HISTORY.

ANN: SEARCHING FOR THE COMPLETE STRANGER WHO SHOWED HIM AN ACT OF KINDNESS IN THE MIDST OF DEVASTATION.

MAN: EMILY WALKED UP TO ME AND SAID, "YOU NEED A HUG," AND I NEEDED A HUG.

ANN: AND A MILITARY CHAPLAIN PLUNGED INTO THE CHAOS AT THE PENTAGON ATTACK SITE... MAN: JUST OVERWHELMING.

YOU CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MUCH DESTRUCTION THERE WAS.

NOTHING IN MY THEOLOGICAL TRAINING HAD PREPARED ME FOR THAT.

ANN: TRYING TO TRACE THE MYSTERY FELLOW CHAPLAIN WHO GAVE HIM THE COURAGE TO CARRY ON.

FOR THAT MINISTRY THAT HE GAVE TO ME AT A CRITICAL POINT.

CHARLIE PUTH: ♪ WE'VE COME A LONG WAY... ♪ ANN: THE TIDES OF HISTORY HAVE THROWN STRANGERS TOGETHER... PUTH: ♪ ...TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT WHEN I SEE YOU AGAIN ♪ ANN: AND TORN LOVED ONES APART.

PUTH: ♪ WHEN I SEE YOU AGAIN ♪ ANN: NOW THE SEARCH IS ON... WE'RE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER.

ANN: TO BRING THEM TOGETHER AGAIN.

[CRYING] LOOK AT YOU.

I NEED A REAL HUG.

PUTH: ♪ WHEN I SEE YOU AGAIN ♪ IT IS RARE WHEN THE COURSE OF A NATION AND INDEED THE ENTIRE WORLD CHANGES ON A SINGLE DAY, BUT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.

MOST OF US CAN REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE DOING AND WHERE WE WERE THAT DAY, BUT TWO MEN FROM VERY DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE CAN ALSO REMEMBER POWERFUL ACTS OF KINDNESS THAT HELPED THEM THROUGH THAT TRAUMATIC TIME AND FOREVER CHANGED THEIR LIVES.

MAN: MY OLDEST SON HERE AND MIDDLE SON.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.

YEAH.

RIGHT, THAT TIMING, THAT WAS THE CHRISTMAS BEFORE 9/11.

MMM.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: IN 2001, PATRICK ANDERSON WAS 42 YEARS OLD AND BUILDING A LIFE AND A BUSINESS IN HIS HOME STATE OF MICHIGAN.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE MAN YOU WERE, THE LIFE YOU WERE LEADING?

WELL, AT THE TIME I WAS A HUSBAND, FATHER.

I HAD 3 CHILDREN, ONE WHO WAS JUST BORN.

I HAD STARTED A BUSINESS.

CERTAINLY I WAS A YOUNG MAN IN A HURRY.

I MEAN, I WAS AMBITIOUS.

IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH, FROM WHAT YOU JUST SAID, THAT YOU WERE LIVING IN SOME WAYS THE... AMERICAN DREAM, YEAH.

[HORNS HONKING] ANN, VOICE-OVER: IN THE DAYS JUST BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11, PATRICK LEFT HIS HOME IN MICHIGAN AND TRAVELED TO NEW YORK FOR A BUSINESS CONFERENCE.

ITS LOCATION, THE MARRIOT WORLD TRADE CENTER, A 22-STORY HOTEL THAT SAT IN BETWEEN THE FAMOUS TWIN TOWERS.

IT WAS BUSINESS AS USUAL UNTIL 8:46 A.M. ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE CONFERENCE WHEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED.

[AIRPLANE APPROACHING] [GLASS SHATTERING] [SIREN] PATRICK: THE BUILDING SHOOK.

AND THERE WAS THIS SOUND.

AND IT WAS LIKE A THOUSAND CHINA CABINETS FALLING OVER.

NOT ONE CRASH, BUT JUST A HUNDRED CRASHES.

I IMMEDIATELY WENT OVER AND LOOKED OUTSIDE AND, YOU KNOW, RIGHT THEN YOU SAW THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE DEAD.

THERE WAS DEBRIS ON THE GROUND.

THERE WAS FIRE.

I KNEW THAT SOMETHING VERY BAD HAD HAPPENED.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: AS NEW YORK AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY WAS WAKING UP TO NEWS OF THE LARGEST TERROR ATTACK IN U.S. HISTORY, ALONE IN HIS HOTEL ROOM, MILES FROM HIS FAMILY, PATRICK WAS EXPERIENCING IT FIRSTHAND.

THIS IS THE HOTEL KEY FROM THE MARRIOTT.

DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TO GRAB.

WHEN I HAD TO LEAVE THE ROOM, I REMEMBER LOOKING AROUND SAYING, "WHAT HERE IS WORTH RISKING MY LIFE TO TAKE OUT?"

AND I DECIDED NOTHING.

SO I JUST DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MY RIGHT SHOE ON WHEN I LEFT THE ROOM.

I HAD ONE SHOE ON, ONE SHOE OFF.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: NOW, 16 YEARS AFTER THE ATTACK THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING, PATRICK IS BACK IN NEW YORK ON THE SITE WHERE THE HOTEL ONCE STOOD.

PATRICK: ABSENT SPACE NOW WHERE THOSE TOWERS WERE.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN THE STAIRWELL RIGHT HERE.

AND THE MARRIOTT LOBBY WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE.

AND THE ENTRANCE TO THIS WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWER WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT HERE.

PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMING IN AND OUT.

THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN RUNNING OUT.

MAN: COME ON, LET'S GO!

AND FIREMEN WERE ORDERING EVERYONE TO GO THAT WAY.

MAN: COME ON!

COME ON!

YOU HAD TO WAIT FOR YOUR TURN TO RUN SOUTH.

AND THEY SAID RUN SOUTH, CROSS THE STREET, AND DO NOT LOOK UP.

PUT YOUR HANDS OVER YOUR HEAD, CROSS THE STREET, DO NOT LOOK UP.

THOSE WERE THE FIREMAN'S ORDERS.

PATRICK: WHEN IT BECAME MY TURN TO RUN, I DISCIPLINED MYSELF NOT TO LOOK UP FOR 2 OR 3 SECONDS, SO I WAS ALREADY 40 YARDS.

THAT'S WHEN I FINALLY LOOKED UP.

THAT'S WHEN THE SECOND PLANE CAME OVER ME.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: JUST MOMENTS AFTER PATRICK LEFT THE HOTEL, AT 9:03 A.M., THE SOUTH TOWER WAS HIT BY A SECOND HIJACKED PLANE.

REPORTER: A MAJOR DISASTER IS OCCURRING IN NEW YORK CITY THIS MORNING.

A BOEING 767 HIJACKED... PATRICK: THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT ALL OF AMERICA HAD, THE MOMENT WHEN YOU REALIZED THAT IT WASN'T AN ACCIDENT, THAT PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY TRYING TO KILL EVERYONE.

AND IT WAS A MOMENT WHERE JUST TIME STOPPED FOR ME, WHERE I COULD NOT COMPREHEND THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: PATRICK WAS ONE OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS FLEEING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER COMPLEX AS REALITY WAS SINKING IN.

PATRICK: I WAS CERTAIN THAT BUILDING WAS COMING DOWN.

I FELT LIKE I HAD TO FIND SOMETHING, GET UNDERNEATH IT.

AND THERE WAS A GARBAGE TRUCK RIGHT THERE.

AND I SAW IT, AND I--BOOM, RIGHT UNDERNEATH IT.

[SIRENS] PATRICK: YOU'RE IN COMPLETE SURVIVAL MODE.

WHEN I GOT UNDER THE TRUCK, THERE WAS TWO OTHER GUYS THERE WITH ME.

MOTOR WAS RUNNING, SO THE DRIVESHAFT WAS TURNING RIGHT HERE, AND I'M UNDER THE TRUCK.

I PRAYED FOR MYSELF AND THE TWO OTHER GUYS.

AND THEN I GOT UP AND RAN.

AND I RAN ANOTHER BLOCK.

AND THEN I RAN ANOTHER BLOCK BACK THERE.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: AS PATRICK WAS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE IN NEW YORK, IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ANOTHER HORRIFIC ATTACK WAS UNFOLDING.

MAN: STOP ALL DEPARTURES.

LOOKS LIKE IT WENT INTO THE PENTAGON.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: AT 9:37 A.M., A THIRD HIJACKED PLANE WAS DELIBERATELY CRASHED, THIS TIME INTO THE HOME OF AMERICA'S MILITARY DEFENSE.

JUST A FEW MILES AWAY, ARMY CHAPLAIN TIMOTHY MALLARD HAD BEEN WATCHING THE BREAKING NEWS IN NEW YORK, WHEN SUDDENLY THE DANGER WAS ON HIS DOORSTEP.

I HEARD THE AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT HIT THE PENTAGON.

JUST THE LOUDEST EXPLOSION I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE.

WOMAN ON RADIO: YES, WE'RE AWARE OF THE EXPLOSION.

WE HEARD THAT IT WAS A PLANE DOWN.

CAN YOU CONFIRM?

ANN, VOICE-OVER: TIMOTHY WOULD NORMALLY HAVE BEEN AT WORK THAT DAY IN THE PENTAGON, BUT BY CHANCE, HE HAD STAYED HOME TO LOOK AFTER HIS SICK CHILDREN.

THAT DECISION MAY HAVE SAVED HIS LIFE.

TIMOTHY: THE AIRLINER IS UP TO HERE, RIGHT.

THIS IS THE WEST WEDGE OF THE PENTAGON, RIGHT OFF 110.

AND THE PLANE CAME OVER AND WENT STRAIGHT IN.

ANN: YOUR OFFICES WERE IN THIS VICINITY?

THAT'S CORRECT.

I KNEW AT THAT POINT WE WERE UNDER ATTACK.

I CALLED MY WIFE AND SAID, "YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME HOME.

I GOT TO GO IN."

WOMAN ON RADIO: WE HAVE A REPORT OF A PLANE CRASH SOMEWHERE IN THE AREA OF THE PENTAGON.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET FURTHER.

SO WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE D.C. AREA WAS FLEEING THE SCENE, YOU WERE TRYING TO HEAD IN?

YEP, YEP.

RIGHT.

SO WHEN YOU ARRIVED AT THE PENTAGON, DESCRIBE THE SCENE.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A GASH OR A CUT IN THE BUILDING.

YOU THINK, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE?

AS A CHAPLAIN, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE, RIGHT?

HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE TRAPPED IN THERE?

[SIRENS] [INDISTINCT CHATTER] ANN, VOICE-OVER: IN ALL, 184 PEOPLE-- SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS-- WERE KILLED IN THE PENTAGON ATTACK.

IN NEW YORK, THE DEATH TOLL AT THE TWIN TOWERS WAS STILL RISING.

THEN, LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER THE SECOND PLANE HIT, AT 9:59 A.M., THE SOUTH TOWER COLLAPSED.

FIRST BUILDING STARTED TO COME DOWN, AND I PRAYED FOR THOSE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE.

DUST CLOUD'S COMING, AND THERE WAS A SECURITY GUARD RIGHT THERE, AND SHE SAID...

SO I RAN IN THAT DOOR.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: JUST 3 BLOCKS FROM GROUND ZERO, STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL OFFERED PATRICK A SANCTUARY FROM THE DESTRUCTION OUTSIDE.

THE STAFF AND STUDENTS WERE TRYING TO MAINTAIN CALM.

PATRICK: IT WAS A SURREAL SCENE.

I REALIZED THAT THEY'RE STILL TAKING SENIOR PICTURES 3 BLOCKS FROM THE WORLD TRADE CENTER WITH CAP AND GOWNS AND EVERYTHING.

STUDENTS WERE OVER THERE TRYING TO USE THE PAYPHONE, WHICH DIDN'T WORK.

PHOTOGRAPHERS AROUND HERE.

I HAD SEEN MORE THAN THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM HAD SEEN.

BUT YOU FELT WHAT A TERRIBLE TIME THIS WAS WHEN YOU WERE IN THIS BUILDING.

WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN YOUR HEAD, DO YOU THINK, AT THAT MOMENT?

IT WAS SINKING IN NOW.

YOU'RE A REFUGEE, BUT YOU'RE A REALLY SMALL, SMALL PART OF WHAT HAPPENED.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DEAD.

IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT BY YOU.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY FAMILY, TOO, BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: IN THIS MOMENT OF ISOLATION AND DESPAIR, A STRANGER APPROACHED PATRICK.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN SLUMPED UP AGAINST ONE OF THESE WALLS HERE WHILE SENIORS WERE GETTING THEIR PICTURE TAKEN.

AND AT ONE POINT, PHOTOGRAPHER'S ASSISTANT SAW ME, WALKED UP TO ME, AND SAID, "YOU NEED A HUG."

AND I NEEDED A HUG, SO I WAS HAPPY THAT SOMEONE WAS, YOU KNOW, REACHING OUT TO ME IN ANY WAY.

AND THAT WAS EMILY KATHERINE MARONEY.

ANN: YOU STOOD UP.

YES.

SHE PUT HER ARMS AROUND YOU.

YES.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DO FOR EACH OTHER THAT THEY DON'T KNOW-- OFTEN THEY DON'T KNOW THEM VERY WELL, BUT IT JUST COMES FROM YOUR HEART, COMES FROM YOUR SOUL, AND YOU HELP SOMEBODY.

AND THAT WAS JUST-- EMILY DID THAT FOR ME THAT DAY.

THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME I'VE EVER SEEN HER.

A COMPLETE STRANGER.

A COMPLETE STRANGER, YES.

AND I FELT LIKE THIS IS GENUINE LOVE FROM THIS PERSON.

SHE'S GONNA HELP ME.

AND IT WAS, "I'M GONNA TAKE YOU SOMEPLACE "AWAY FROM GROUND ZERO AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT A PLAN WHERE YOU'RE GONNA GO."

AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT SHE COULD HAVE DONE THAT WAS MORE VALUABLE TO ME THAN WHAT SHE DID.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: EMILY MARONEY TOOK PATRICK'S ARM, AND TOGETHER THEY JOINED THE THOUSANDS FLEEING THE CHAOS OF LOWER MANHATTAN.

FOR THE NEXT 3 HOURS, SHE SUPPORTED HIM AS THEY WALKED UP THE CROWDED WEST SIDE HIGHWAY AND BACK TO THE STUDIO WHERE SHE WORKED.

THERE, EMILY SHARED HER LUNCH WITH PATRICK, HELPED HIM CONTACT HIS FAMILY, AND MAKE A PLAN OF WHERE TO GO NEXT.

ONLY ONCE SHE KNEW HE WAS SAFE DID SHE MAKE HER OWN WAY HOME.

NOW HE'S HOPING TO FIND HER AGAIN.

PATRICK: IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE HER AGAIN SO I'D BE ABLE TO TELL HER, "I REMEMBER YOUR KINDNESS TO ME.

"I NEVER FORGOT YOU.

"YOU WERE THERE FOR ME FOR 3 HOURS WHEN I NEEDED IT, AND THAT WAS A WONDERFUL THING."

ANN, VOICE-OVER: ARMY CHAPLAIN TIMOTHY MALLARD ALSO FOUND HIMSELF INDEBTED TO A GOOD SAMARITAN IN THE WAKE OF THE 9/11 ATTACKS-- A FELLOW MILITARY CHAPLAIN.

TIMOTHY: ARMY CHAPLAINS ARE RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

WE TRAIN WITH UNITS.

WE DEPLOY WITH THOSE UNITS.

SHOW ME YOUR WAYS, O LORD, TEACH ME YOUR PATHS.

GUIDE ME IN YOUR TRUTH AND TEACH ME.

TIMOTHY: ONE OF THE MAIN DIFFERENCES FOR US AS CHAPLAINS IS THAT WE'RE NON-COMBATANTS.

WE DON'T CARRY WEAPONS.

THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE BREAD OF HEAVEN.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED THE ATTACKS, TIMOTHY WAS ASSIGNED TO OFFER PASTORAL CARE AND SUPPORT TO THE HUNDREDS OF EMERGENCY WORKERS AND SOLDIERS SIFTING THROUGH THE WRECKAGE AT THE PENTAGON.

ONE OF THE KEY TEAMS HE WAS TASKED WITH HELPING WAS A FEMA TEAM FROM TENNESSEE.

THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN THE JOB OF MAKING THE BUILDING SAFE BEFORE RECOVERING THE VICTIMS.

TIMOTHY: A TEAM WOULD FIND A BODY OR A SET OF REMAINS.

AND WE HAD A DOC AND A CHAPLAIN ON EACH OF THE TEAMS.

DOCTORS WERE ALWAYS TO DECLARE THAT YES, THIS PERSON HAS-- IS DEAD.

AND THEN I OR MY COLLEAGUES, THE CHAPLAINS, WOULD SAY A BLESSING.

ONE CAN IMAGINE THAT IT WAS A PRETTY GHASTLY SIGHT.

I REMEMBER BEING UTTERLY STUNNED AT HOW FRAGILE THE HUMAN BODY IS AND THE SUFFERING.

AND JUST ALSO FEELING SO INADEQUATE.

NOTHING THAT I HAD IN MY THEOLOGICAL TRAINING HAD PREPARED ME FOR THAT.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: DESPITE TIMOTHY'S 7 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE, HE, LIKE MANY OF THE EMERGENCY AND ARMY PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE SITE, FOUND THE SHEER NUMBER OF DEAD OVERWHELMING.

BY HIS FOURTH CONTINUOUS DAY ABSORBING THE GRIEF OF OTHERS, TIMOTHY'S EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND FAITH WERE BEGINNING TO FAIL HIM.

TIMOTHY: I GO IN FAIRLY EARLY, AND I GO TO THE CHAPLAIN'S TENT.

SOMEBODY FROM THE FEMA SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM FROM TENNESSEE RUNS IN AND SAYS, "CHAPLAIN," YOU KNOW, "WE NEED YOU DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW."

AND THE WHOLE TEAM IS GATHERED AROUND THE TRUCKS.

ONE OF THEM SAID, "WE'RE NOT GONNA GO BACK INTO THE BUILDING "UNTIL YOU TALK TO US.

"WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING."

SO THEY'RE REFUSING TO GO IN BECAUSE THEY'RE SO-- RIGHT.

THEY'RE OVERWHELMED, YOU KNOW, AND SCARED.

I JUST WENT THROUGH A DISCUSSION.

I STARTED ASKING ABOUT THE SORT OF VISCERAL NATURE OF WHAT THEY'VE EXPERIENCED.

MAYBE IT'S OUR TRAINING IN PREACHING, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THOUGHT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING MORE.

I HAD IN MY CARGO POCKET MY NEW TESTAMENT PSALMS AND PROVERBS.

AND SO I OPENED TO THE 23rd PSALM AND I STARTED READING IT.

"THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.

"I SHALL NOT WANT.

"HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES.

HE LEADETH ME BESIDE STILL WATERS."

AND WHEN I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I SAID, "YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH," I TURNED AND I LOOKED AT THE BUILDING.

AND I LOOKED AT THAT HUGE GASH, AND I JUST...

STARTED CRYING.

AND...MAYBE THAT GAVE PERMISSION FOR OTHERS TO CRY AS WELL.

BUT THEN I REALIZED I HAVE TO FINISH THE PSALM.

LITERALLY, YOU AS THE READER ARE WALKING DOWN INTO THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, BUT THEN OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

AND SO I CAME BACK TO THE WORDS AND I FINISHED THE PSALM.

AND I SAID, "I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, "FOR THOU ART WITH ME.

"THY ROD AND THY STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME.

"SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME "ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.

AND I WILL DWELL ON THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER."

AND THEN I REMEMBER ONE OF THE GUYS SAYING, "OK, NOW WE'RE READY TO GO."

AND THEY WENT BACK AND STARTED THEIR DAY.

AND SO AFTER YOU SAID GOOD-BYE TO THESE RESCUERS, WHAT DID YOU DO?

I WENT BACK TO THE CHAPLAIN'S TENT.

THE IMMENSITY OF THE TRAGEDY AND THE SUFFERING HIT ME.

I JUST WENT INTO A CORNER, IN A DARK CORNER, AND JUST WEPT.

THE DEEP-SEATED SENSE OF UTTER ABANDONMENT, RIGHT, AND THEN DISTANCE AND SEPARATION FROM GOD, YET STILL FACED WITH THE TASK OF LEADING, YOU KNOW, CARING FOR PEOPLE, COMFORTING THEM, MINISTERING TO THEM IN THEIR OWN SUFFERING.

AND SO THIS QUESTION, YOU KNOW, HOW AM I GONNA GO ON?

ANN, VOICE-OVER: AT THE VERY MOMENT TIMOTHY FELT HIS FAITH HAD DESERTED HIM, A STRANGER APPEARED BY HIS SIDE, A FELLOW CHAPLAIN.

AS I WAS ON MY KNEES, DOUBLED OVER, I SENSED HIM THERE.

HE PUT HIS HAND ON MY SHOULDER.

I'D NEVER MET HIM BEFORE.

DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS.

BUT THIS SENSE OF KINDNESS AND COMPASSION FOR ME AND A WILLINGNESS TO JUST PRAY.

I FELT THANKFUL, STRENGTHENED, COMFORTED.

DID YOU KNOW HIS NAME?

NOPE.

I KNEW THE UNIFORM, RIGHT.

I KNOW, OH, IT'S THE COAST GUARD CHAPLAIN, YOU KNOW.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS.

YOU REMEMBER HIS FACE?

THE SMILE.

THIS COMFORTING SMILE, LIKE THE BURDEN HAS BEEN PULLED OFF OF ME, THEN A SENSE OF RESOLVE: "OK. "I CAN GET THROUGH TODAY.

NOW I CAN DO THIS."

AND THEN WE PARTED AND I NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: IT'S TAKEN 16 YEARS FOR TIMOTHY TO FEEL HE CAN FACE THAT TRAUMATIC TIME IN HIS LIFE.

BUT NOW HE IS READY TO TRACK DOWN THE CHAPLAIN WHO HELPED HIM CONTINUE NOT JUST ON THAT DAY, BUT EVERY DAY SINCE.

TIMOTHY: LITTLE DID I KNOW HOW CRITICAL THAT EXPERIENCE WOULD BE FOR WHAT GOD WOULD CALL ME TO DO LATER, TO DEPLOY AND SERVE IN FUTURE COMBAT OPERATIONS.

HOW WILL IT BE A BLESSING FOR YOU TO SEE HIM AGAIN?

IF I CAN SAY THANKS, THAT WOULD BE A BURDEN LIFTED, A DEBT OWED THAT WOULD BE HOPEFULLY PAID.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: AS TIMOTHY VOWS TO FIND THE UNKNOWN CHAPLAIN, PATRICK ANDERSON IS BACK IN NEW YORK STARTING HIS SEARCH FOR EMILY MARONEY, WHOSE SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS HELPED HIM SURVIVE THE TRAUMATIC EVENTS OF 9/11.

BACK AT STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL, HE'S MEETING WITH TEACHER JAMES LONARDO.

IN 2001, JAMES WAS IN CHARGE OF ORGANIZING THE YEARBOOK PHOTO SHOOT, CUT SHORT BY THE EVENTS UNFOLDING 3 BLOCKS AWAY.

JAMES: THIS IS THE AREA WHERE THEY WERE TAKING THE PHOTOS.

AND WE WERE IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE AND THE TV WAS ON, AND WE WERE WATCHING.

REPORTER: WE HAVE SEEN THE ENTIRE LOWER HALF OF MANHATTAN COMPLETELY COVERED IN SMOKE.

AND YOU COULD SEE THE CROWD, PEOPLE WALKING BY, JUST COVERED IN ASH AND SOOT AND DEBRIS.

EVERYONE WAS JUST IN SHOCK, NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: PATRICK IS HOPING JAMES MIGHT KNOW HOW HE CAN CONTACT EMILY.

AND THERE'S SOMEONE I LOST TOUCH WITH THAT I MET HERE.

RIGHT.

THE WOMEN WHO WAS THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S ASSISTANT THAT DECIDED RIGHT HERE SHE WAS GONNA TAKE CARE OF ME.

THE STUDIO THAT WAS HERE WAS CALLED THORNTON'S STUDIO.

THEY'VE BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING OUR STUDENTS FOR YEARS.

THEY'RE RIGHT HERE IN MANHATTAN, NOT TOO FAR AWAY, ON WEST 25th STREET.

MAYBE MR. THORNTON WOULD KNOW WHERE EMILY KATHERINE MARONEY IS.

SURE.

MR. LONARDO REMEMBERED THE NAME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO AND THE OWNER, WHO'S STILL THERE, APPARENTLY.

SO THAT'S A CLUE, A PRETTY DARN GOOD CLUE.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: PATRICK HEADS NORTH, RETRACING THE ROUTE THAT HE AND EMILY WALKED TO HER PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO ON 9/11.

THE JOURNEY STIRS UP PAINFUL MEMORIES.

PATRICK: THE STREETS WERE FULL OF PEOPLE SHOCKED AT WHAT HAPPENED.

WOMAN ON RADIO: THE ENTIRE STAFF OF THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN SCATTERED AROUND TOWN.

THERE'S NO REACHING ANYBODY.

THEY GATHER AROUND CARS WITH DOORS OPEN, THEY WOULD LISTEN TO THE RADIO.

WOMAN ON RADIO: WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN IN PLACE FOR EXACTLY THIS SORT OF THING... WE LOOK UP AND WE SEE FIGHTER JETS FLYING AROUND OVER MANHATTAN.

VERY FEW CARS.

AND YOU KNEW HOW-- I MEAN, THERE WERE ALMOST NO AMBULANCES COMING BACK.

THAT'S PART OF THE WAY YOU KNEW HOW SO MANY PEOPLE HAD DIED.

[SIREN] ANN: SO YOU HEARD THE SIRENS OF THE AMBULANCES GOING DOWNTOWN?

THEY WENT DOWN AND THEY WEREN'T COMING BACK.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: CHAPLAIN TIMOTHY MALLARD IS BACK AT THE SITE WHERE A STRANGER GAVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO CARRY ON.

AFTER THE PENTAGON ATTACK ON 9/11, HE WORKED DAY AND NIGHT FOR WEEKS AT THE CRASH SITE.

I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT HERE SINCE I LEFT.

IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: IN THE YEAR THAT FOLLOWED, THE PENTAGON WAS REBUILT, THE INJURED RECOVERED, AND TODAY IT REMAINS THE BEATING HEART OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE STONES FROM THE DAY WHEN THE AIRLINER HIT THAT WAS ABLE TO REMAIN IN PLACE.

AND SO THEY LEFT THIS AS A MEMORIAL STONE.

SEE THE CRACK IN THE STONE, THE SCORCH MARKS.

IT'S LIKE A WOUND TO THE SOUL, YOU KNOW.

IT'S JUST INDELIBLY MARKED ON WHO YOU ARE.

IT NEVER GOES AWAY.

IT NEVER GOES AWAY.

I WILL ADMIT THAT I MADE A MISTAKE.

I IMMEDIATELY THREW MYSELF BACK INTO WORK, AND I THINK I TRIED TO NOT SPEND TIME PROCESSING MY OWN SENSE OF GRIEF.

I TRIED TO PUT ASIDE MY OWN EXPERIENCES IN ORDER TO SERVE OTHERS.

YOU CAN DO THAT FOR A TIME, AND I DID THAT FOR SOME YEARS.

I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE REALIZED IS I'M AS MUCH IN NEED OF HEALING AS ANYONE.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: DETERMINED TO FIND THE UNKNOWN CHAPLAIN WHO CONSOLED HIM, TIMOTHY IS VISITING THE UNITED STATES ARMY CHAPLAIN CENTER AND SCHOOL AT FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

I DONATED MOST OF MY ARTIFACTS AND MEMENTOS, PAPERS FROM 9/11 TO THE MUSEUM FOR OUR REGIMENT, WHICH IS LOCATED HERE AT THE SCHOOL.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: AMONG THE ARTIFACTS IS A DIARY THAT TIMOTHY KEPT IN THE DAYS AFTER 9/11.

HE'S HOPING IT MIGHT REVEAL CLUES AND DETAILS THAT HE'S FORGOTTEN IN THE YEARS SINCE.

15th OF SEPTEMBER.

THE MORNING I WENT DOWN TO TENNESSEE TASK FORCE ONE.

"80 PEOPLE, THE ENTIRE TEAM, VERY CATHARTIC, VERY EMOTIONAL."

"FINALLY BEGAN TO GET IN TOUCH "WITH MY OWN SENSE OF HOW MUCH THE PAIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH US AT TIMES."

AND I WROTE AFTER THAT, "SO TIRED, SO VERY TIRED."

SORRY.

AFTER 9/11, I DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THOSE NOTES.

I PUT ALL THIS STUFF AWAY.

AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE LOOKED AT THAT SINCE-- SINCE THAT TIME.

I DON'T SEE ANY MENTION OF THAT COAST GUARD CHAPLAIN.

I HAVE THAT MEMORY, BUT THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS THAT OCCURRED THAT I DIDN'T WRITE DOWN.

CHAPLAINS AND OTHER PEOPLE JUST SHOWING UP FROM UP AND DOWN THE EASTERN SEABOARD FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, WHERE WE DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE COMING.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: DISAPPOINTED AND WITH STILL NO CLUES TO THE CHAPLAIN'S IDENTITY, TIMOTHY MUST NOW WIDEN HIS SEARCH AND ENLIST THE HELP OF HIS FORMER PENTAGON COLLEAGUES.

BUSINESSMAN PATRICK ANDERSON IS FOLLOWING UP HIS FIRST LEAD ON THE TRAIL OF EMILY MARONEY, WHO TOOK HIM UNDER HER WING ON 9/11.

AS LOWER MANHATTAN WAS EVACUATED, THEY WALKED 2 1/2 MILES TOGETHER, ARRIVING AT THORNTON PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO, WHERE SHE WORKED.

I REMEMBER WALKING INTO THIS OFFICE, AND IT WAS LIKE WE'RE COMING BACK FROM THE DEAD.

NO ONE SAID A THING.

THEY JUST LOOKED AT US LIKE WE WERE COMING BACK FROM THE OTHER WORLD, ALMOST.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: TODAY PATRICK IS HOPING THE STUDIO BOSS EDWARD THORNTON MAY REMEMBER EMILY AND KNOW HOW TO FIND HER.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

I WAS IN THE MARRIOTT WORLD TRADE CENTER, AND I ESCAPED, AND I ENDED UP IN STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I'M SITTING AGAINST A WALL, AND YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER'S ASSISTANT CAME.

SO YOU WERE A LITTLE BIT IN SHOCK AT THE TIME.

I WAS A LOT IN SHOCK, YEAH.

EVERYONE WAS.

RIGHT.

YEAH, WELL, EMILY, THAT WAS THE LAST DAY SHE WORKED FOR US.

OH, YOU'RE KIDDING.

YEAH.

REALLY?

YEAH, SHE WAS TERRIFIED, BUT SHE HELD THROUGH THE DAY.

THAT WAS HER LAST DAY?

YEAH, 'CAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO WORK IN NEW YORK CITY ANYMORE.

SHE WAS TERRIFIED.

WOW.

WE NEVER SAW HER AGAIN.

REALLY?

YEAH.

POOR GIRL.

YEAH.

BUT SHE WAS WONDERFUL TO ME.

YEAH.

I MEAN, SHE REALLY HELPED ME OUT AND SHOWED ME SUCH CARE.

SHE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT LIFE AND EVERYTHING, BUT SHE WASN'T GOING TO COME BACK.

YEAH.

SHE WOULDN'T EVEN COME BACK IN THE CITY?

NO.

RIGHT.

AND THEN I LOST TOUCH WITH HER.

YEAH.

AND I LOST TOUCH WITH HER.

I MEAN, THERE'S NO WAY I WOULD KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD OF HER.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER AND PHOTOGRAPHER ASSISTANT DID FOR ME ON THAT DAY.

I APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

PATRICK: I DON'T BLAME HER.

IT WAS A TERRIFYING MOMENT.

OBVIOUSLY SHE MADE A DECISION.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO STAY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

BUT I HOPE SHE'S DOING WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO IN HER LIFE.

I STILL HOPE TO MEET HER.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: WHILE PATRICK CONSIDERS HIS NEXT MOVE, HE DECIDES TO PAY HIS RESPECTS AT GROUND ZERO.

THE NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM COMMEMORATES THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE ATTACKS.

EACH OF THE FOUNTAINS MARKS THE FOOTPRINT WHERE THE NORTH AND SOUTH TOWERS ONCE STOOD.

PATRICK: IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL.

IT'S VERY TOUCHING, AND IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE IMMENSE SCALE OF THESE BUILDINGS AND SOME HINT ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE HERE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: ALL 2,977 VICTIMS WHO DIED ON 9/11 ARE NAMED HERE.

WHEN I THINK OF 9/11, I THINK OF, OF COURSE, THE LOSS, BUT I ALSO THINK ABOUT THE BIG HEROISM AND THE SMALL HEROISM.

THE PEOPLE JUST HELPING FOLKS, THAT'S PART OF THE POSITIVE MESSAGE OF A TRAGEDY LIKE THAT, IS THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE TO DO THINGS TO HELP PEOPLE.

YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S A REASON FOR YOU TO BE THERE, THERE'S A REASON FOR YOU TO DO SOMETHING.

PART OF YOUR PURPOSE IS ALSO TO SAY SOMETHING TO EMILY.

YES.

WOULD YOU BE THE SAME MAN IF SHE HAD NOT BEEN THERE?

I'M NOT A PERFECT PERSON.

I WASN'T BEFORE 9/11, I'M NOT NOW, BUT BEING THROUGH THAT CHANGES YOU IN THE SENSE THAT YOU REALIZE HOW THOSE SMALL THINGS AND THE HUMAN GIFTS CAN BE SO IMPORTANT.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: SEEING THE MEMORIAL LEAVES PATRICK EVEN MORE DETERMINED TO FIND EMILY AND TO THANK HER.

WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT SHE CAME FROM LONG ISLAND, HE IS GOING IN SEARCH OF LOCAL CHARITIES WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP.

IT'S JUST HELPING THAT SOLDIER, THAT FAMILY MEMBER, ONE ON ONE.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: IN THE YEARS SINCE THAT TERRIBLE DAY, ARMY CHAPLAIN COLONEL TIMOTHY MALLARD HAS HAD LITTLE TIME TO REFLECT ON HIS OWN REACTION TO THE ATTACK AT THE PENTAGON.

HE'S BEEN KEPT BUSY, MINISTERING TO THE TROOPS ON TOURS OF DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN AND LATER, IN IRAQ.

TODAY, HE'S BACK ON U.S.

SOIL AND IS USING HIS EXPERIENCE TO SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARMY CHAPLAINS.

I NEVER ANTICIPATED THE COST TO THAT SERVICE, AND IT TOOK A TOLL ON MY SPIRIT, MY SOUL, ON MY FAMILY AT TIMES.

SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO NOT MINIMIZE THE ISSUE OF SUFFERING IN YOUR OWN LIFE, TO PERHAPS REFRAME SUFFERING AS A GREAT GIFT, BECAUSE FOR ME, IT HAS BEEN IN SOME WAYS.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: THIS NEW ROLE HAS MADE TIMOTHY REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH HE OWES THE COAST GUARD CHAPLAIN WHO DID SO MUCH FOR HIM AFTER SEPTEMBER 11.

HAVING DRAWN A BLANK FROM HIS DIARY, TIMOTHY HAS ARRANGED TO SEE HIS FORMER SUPERIOR OFFICER, RETIRED CHAPLAIN LARRY RACSTER, IN HOPES OF GETTING A NEW LEAD.

AS THE OIC OF ALL OUR MINISTRIES OUT THERE, YOU HAD VISIBILITY ON ALL THE CHAPLAINS AND THE PERSONNEL WHO SERVED THERE, SO I WONDER IF YOU COULD HELP ME WITH THAT PROCESS.

I WENT AHEAD AND PULLED UP THE ROSTER OF THE CHAPLAINS WHO WERE WORKING WITH US OUT ON THE ATTACK SITE, AND THERE'S ABOUT 60 OF THEM ON THIS SHEET.

SO IF I REMEMBER RIGHT FROM OUR CONVERSATION, THIS CHAPLAIN WAS FROM THE COAST GUARD.

C.G.?

YEAH, THAT'S-- COAST GUARD.

THERE HE IS, GILBERT.

THE ONE THING IS, I DIDN'T GET A LOOK AT HIS NAME TAG THAT DAY.

HE'S THE ONLY COAST GUARD ONE ON THERE.

HE'S PROBABLY RETIRED NOW.

AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, HE WAS THE CHIEF OF CHAPLAINS OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD.

THE PROBLEM'S GONNA BE GETTING IN HIS RECORD AND FINDING WHERE HE'S RETIRED AT AND HIS NUMBER.

I MEAN, IT'S VERY HARD TO TRACK PEOPLE DOWN IN THEIR RECORDS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY RETIRE, ALTHOUGH, IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND FACEBOOK, YOU'LL PROBABLY FIND HIM THERE QUICKER THAN YOU WILL GOING THROUGH THE NAVY.

I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING CLOSER TO THE END.

I USED TO PLAY FOOTBALL, SO THE ANALOGY IN MY HEAD IS WE'RE MOVING THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD.

I'M NOT VERY SAVVY AT SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU KNOW, BUT I'LL DO MY BEST.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: WITH THE NAME OF COAST GUARD CHAPLAIN GILBERT IN HAND, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 16 YEARS, TIMOTHY HAS SOME NEW INFORMATION FOR HIS SEARCH.

THE LIST DOESN'T CONTAIN EVERYBODY WHO ACTUALLY WAS THERE WORKING, BUT IT'S A START.

BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE COAST GUARD CHAPLAIN NOW.

HIS NAME IS CHAPLAIN CAPTAIN GILBERT.

I DON'T HAVE A FIRST NAME.

IF HE WAS THE MOST SENIOR CHAPLAIN AT THE COAST GUARD, PRESUMABLY IF HE'S NOT THE PERSON THAT I'M LOOKING FOR, THEN HE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE HAD VISIBILITY ON ALL THE OTHER COAST GUARD CHAPLAINS THAT DID HAPPEN TO HAVE SERVED THERE AT THAT TIME.

HERE I HAVE A FORMER NAVY CAPTAIN, RETIRED 2006, AND CHAPLAIN OF THE COAST GUARD.

REVEREND LEROY GILBERT, SENIOR PASTOR AT THE MT.

GILEAD BAPTIST CHURCH IN WASHINGTON, D.C., SO HERE IN TOWN.

I MAY HAVE SEEN HIM OUT THERE, BUT I DON'T RECALL THAT THIS IS THE CHAPLAIN THAT ASSISTED ME.

[TELEPHONE BEEPS] [LINE RINGS] LEROY: HELLO, THIS IS PASTOR LEROY GILBERT.

MY NAME IS CHAPLAIN TIMOTHY MALLARD.

I'M IN THE ARMY AND WAS STATIONED AT THE PENTAGON.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: TIMOTHY HOPES THAT REVEREND GILBERT MAY KNOW THE IDENTITY OF THE MYSTERY COAST GUARD CHAPLAIN.

LEROY: WOULD YOU RECOGNIZE THIS PERSON IF YOU SEE A PICTURE OF HIM?

I THINK I PROBABLY COULD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'LL SEE YOU AT 2:30.

GOOD TALKING WITH YOU.

OK. BYE-BYE.

SO I HAVE A MEETING THIS AFTERNOON WITH DR. GILBERT AT HIS CONGREGATION.

THAT'S AN EXCITING LEAD.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS FOLLOWING THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS, AMERICA WAS STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM A NATIONAL TRAUMA.

HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARITIES WERE SET UP TO SUPPORT THE VICTIMS IN THEIR GREATEST TIME OF NEED.

ONE SUCH CHARITY IS TUESDAY'S CHILDREN, STILL RUNNING TODAY.

HI, PATRICK.

TERRY SEARS.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED NEAR EMILY'S HOME IN LONG ISLAND TO HELP FAMILIES THAT LOST A LOVED ONE ON 9/11.

OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS EXPANDED TO HELP SURVIVORS LIKE PATRICK AND EMILY.

RECOVERY FROM SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN TAKE A LIFETIME.

YEAH.

ANNIVERSARIES ARE TOUGH.

MM-HMM.

THEY'RE TOUGH FOR ME.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A SURVIVOR, YOU YOURSELF MUST HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED, AND YOU CAN GO THROUGH SOMETHING JUST LIFE-CHANGING AND SO TRAUMATIZING AND SO KIND OF DEBILITATING EMOTIONALLY, BUT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE HEALING PROCESS, ACTUALLY BE STRONGER BECAUSE OF IT.

THERE'S NO STATE... ANN, VOICE-OVER: WITH CONTACTS ACROSS THE LOCAL LONG ISLAND COMMUNITY, TERRY HAS BEEN SEARCHING ON PATRICK'S BEHALF.

WELL, I HAVE SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL TO SHARE WITH YOU.

I THINK WE HAVE EMILY'S CONTACT INFORMATION HERE.

WOW.

EMILY K. MARONEY.

OK.

BUT YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO HER?

I HAVE NOT.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: THE NAME AND LOCATION ARE A MATCH WITH WHAT PATRICK REMEMBERS.

NOW, WITH AN EMAIL ADDRESS, HE AT LAST HAS A CHANCE TO RECONNECT WITH HIS GUARDIAN ANGEL FROM 9/11.

HE FIRES OFF AN EMAIL RIGHT AWAY, BUT AFTER 16 YEARS, WILL HE GET A RESPONSE?

WHILE PATRICK WAITS, TIMOTHY HAS COME TO MEET PASTOR LEROY GILBERT, A FORMER COAST GUARD CHAPLAIN WHO ALSO SERVED AT THE PENTAGON ATTACK SITE.

TIMOTHY: GOOD AFTERNOON, PASTOR.

CHAPLAIN, HOW YOU DOING?

GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I THINK I REMEMBER YOUR FACE FROM THE PENTAGON.

WE PROBABLY SAW EACH OTHER OUT THERE.

YEAH.

I'M PROBABLY A LITTLE OLDER.

YOU, TOO.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: LEROY HAS A MEMORY FOR THE DAYS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11 THAT HE WANTS TO SHARE WITH TIMOTHY.

I SENT MY ASSISTANT TO THE PENTAGON TO PROVIDE A MINISTRY FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD TO DEAL WITH THE BODIES.

WHEN HE CAME BACK, HE WAS TELLING ME A STORY ABOUT A YOUNG ARMY CHAPLAIN WHO WAS OVERCOME WITH GRIEF.

I THINK IT WAS ME.

I REALLY DO.

MY GRIEF JUST KIND OF CAME OVER ME LIKE A WAVE.

BUT I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, THAT CHAPLAIN, AND I NEVER GOT HIS NAME.

AGAIN, IT WAS KIND OF DARK.

AND IT'S BEEN 16 YEARS, BUT THERE'S A REAL SENSE IN WHICH MY MINISTRY IS CONTINGENT ALMOST ON THAT ONE MOMENT.

THE CHAPLAIN WAS MY ASSISTANT, AND HIS NAME IS CHAPLAIN DOUG WAITE.

HE'S RETIRED NOW.

I THINK I GOT A PICTURE.

OH.

THAT'S AN OLDER PICTURE.

OH.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: COULD LEROY'S ASSISTANT BE THE CHAPLAIN THAT TIMOTHY HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR?

YEP.

IT'S THE...

IT'S THE EYES.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW?

YEAH, HE'S A REAL COMPASSIONATE GUY.

I HAVE CHAPLAIN WAITE'S NUMBER.

AND THAT'S HIS NUMBER HERE.

TIMOTHY: NOW I HAVE A NAME AND A PHONE NUMBER, AND I CAN CONTACT THIS CHAPLAIN, AND HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO SET UP A REUNION AND SEE HIM AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THAT DAY OUTSIDE THE PENTAGON.

TO NOW BE THIS CLOSE TO RECONNECTING WITH SOMEBODY WHO WAS PIVOTAL TO ME AT A POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I NEEDED THAT, I MEAN, WHAT A TREMENDOUS BLESSING.

I COULDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: WITH TIMOTHY JUST ONE PHONE CALL AWAY, PATRICK HAS HAD A RESPONSE TO HIS EMAIL.

"HI, PATRICK.

THIS IS EMILY.

"I'M AMAZED TO HEAR FROM YOU.

"YOU'VE GOT THE RIGHT EMAIL.

I WOULD LOVE TO SPEAK WITH YOU."

WONDERFUL.

"HOPE TO SPEAK SOON."

THERE SHE IS.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

THAT'S SO COOL.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, PATRICK ANDERSON WAS IN NEW YORK ON BUSINESS WHEN HE WAS CAUGHT IN THE WORST TERROR ATTACK IN MODERN TIMES.

REPORTER: THE SMOKE, THE BLACK SMOKE AND FIRE.

PATRICK: YOU COULD SEE THE HUGE HOLE IN THE TOWER, THE FLAMES.

JUST, YOU KNOW, TERRIBLE MOMENT IN HISTORY.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: A COMPLETE STRANGER, EMILY MARONEY, SAW HE WAS IN TROUBLE AND STEPPED FORWARD TO HELP HIM.

EMILY: IT WAS CHAOS.

IT WAS CONFUSION.

IT WAS A MOMENT OF SHEER TERROR, I THINK, FOR EVERYBODY.

AND IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT KIND OF PANDEMONIUM WHEN I SAW PATRICK.

HE WAS CROUCHED IN THE CORNER BY HIMSELF, LOOKING SHELL-SHOCKED.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: THEY SPENT 3 HOURS TOGETHER BEFORE GOING THEIR SEPARATE WAYS.

NOW, MORE THAN 16 YEARS LATER, THEY ARE ABOUT TO MEET AGAIN.

PATRICK: THINKING ABOUT THE DAY WE MET OBVIOUSLY BRINGS UP A LOT OF EMOTION.

AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE HER AND TELL HER THANK YOU IN PERSON.

OH, MY GOD.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I'M GOOD.

EMILY: I DON'T HAVE WORDS.

HOW ARE YOU?

I'M FINE.

HOW ARE YOU?

I'M GREAT.

I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU.

OH, MY GOSH.

DON'T CRY.

I WON'T.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

WE LIVED.

YEAH.

AND YOU HELPED ME.

YOU CAME UP TO ME.

MM-HMM.

AND YOU LOOKED AT ME.

REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID?

"YOU LOOK LIKE YOU NEED A HUG."

YOU HAD YOUR HEAD IN YOUR HANDS.

YEAH.

AND YOU WERE SITTING, AND I JUST THOUGHT, "OK, HE'S IN TROUBLE."

EVERYONE ELSE IS-- WE'RE ALL FREAKING OUT, WE'RE ALL WORRIED, WE'RE ALL NOT KNOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING.

IT'S CHAOS.

WHEN I ASKED YOU IF YOU WERE A PARENT OR A TEACHER, I AM ALMOST CERTAIN THAT YOUR WORDS WERE, "I AM FROM MICHIGAN."

[LAUGHS] AND I WAS JUST LIKE, "OK.

I NEED TO DEFINITELY BRING HIM ALONG."

SO I WAS JUST LIKE, "LET ME GO HELP HIM.

HE'S NOT OK." ANN, VOICE-OVER: IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS THAT FOLLOWED 9/11, PATRICK RECOVERED FROM THE EXPERIENCE BY FOCUSING ON HIS FAMILY AND BUSINESS BACK IN MICHIGAN.

BUT NEW YORKER EMILY STRUGGLED TO RETURN TO HER NORMAL LIFE.

ONE OF ALMOST HALF A MILLION NEW YORKERS SUFFERING FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, SHE FOUND IT HARD TO RETURN TO THE HEART OF THE CITY.

I KEPT GOING IN ON THE TRAIN AND PANICKING TO THE POINT WHERE I LITERALLY THOUGHT I WAS GONNA PASS OUT AND POTENTIALLY DIE.

OH, GOSH.

I'M GRATEFUL TO SAY IT'S LONG PAST ME.

OK.

I RIDE FREELY ON THE SUBWAYS WHEREVER I WANT.

I'VE GONE DOWN NOT TO THE SITE, BUT I'VE BEEN AS FAR DOWN AS SOUTH FERRY.

I'M GOOD TO GO, BUT IT TOOK SOME YEARS TO GET THROUGH IT.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: PART OF EMILY'S RECOVERY HAS CENTERED ON RETRAINING AS A CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST, AND TODAY SHE WORKS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AT A NURSING HOME AND MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY IN NEW YORK.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

REALLY?

YEAH.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

I'M HOPING ONCE I'M LICENSED THAT MAYBE MY DREAM JOB WILL COME FIND ME.

YEAH.

PATRICK, WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?

I STARTED THIS MICHIGAN REMEMBERS FUND, SO NOW WE HAVE AN ORGANIZATION IN MICHIGAN AND WE REMEMBER THE VICTIMS, BUT WE ALSO REMEMBER HEROES AND, YOU KNOW, ORDINARY PEOPLE THAT DID EXTRAORDINARY THINGS, LIKE YOU.

OH.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

YOU'RE SO WELCOME.

IT'S MY PLEASURE.

YOU HELPED ME, TOO.

I DID?

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING SOMEONE NICE TO TALK TO.

I GOT TO HOLD YOUR HAND.

I GOT TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND FOR 3 HOURS.

I FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT A FRIEND BACK.

EVEN THOUGH I ONLY KNEW HER FOR 2 OR 3 HOURS, SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE WITH ME.

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT HER.

IT'S THAT SAME PERSON, AND IT TAKES YOU BACK IN TIME TO THAT MOMENT AND THOSE EMOTIONS.

THAT, TO ME, IS REALLY POWERFUL AND NOT SOMETHING I WOULD EXPECT, SO... SHE WENT THROUGH THIS TERRIBLY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, AND SHE DECIDED TO CHANGE COURSE IN HER LIFE.

SHE'S STILL A WONDERFUL PERSON.

SHE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON THAT DAY.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT WHAT'S SHE'S DOING NOW, SHE SEEMS HAPPY WITH IT.

GOOD FOR HER.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: ARMY CHAPLAIN TIMOTHY MALLARD COUNSELED AND SUPPORTED EMERGENCY WORKERS AFTER THE PENTAGON ATTACK ON 9/11.

THE TRAUMATIC EVENTS LED HIM TO EXPERIENCE A CRISIS OF FAITH UNLIKE ANYTHING HE HAD KNOWN BEFORE.

TIMOTHY: THE SENSE OF EXISTENTIAL ALONENESS.

AND THE WORD THAT COMES TO MIND IS TERROR.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: BUT IN HIS DARKEST HOUR, CHAPLAIN DOUG WAITE WAS THERE FOR HIM.

I JUST REMEMBER BEING SO MINISTERED TO BY HIS SENSE OF PEACE.

HE IMPARTED THAT TO ME.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: THEY WERE COMPLETE STRANGERS BEFORE THEN AND HAVEN'T SEEN EACH OTHER SINCE.

BUT IT WAS A MOMENT THAT TIMOTHY HAS DRAWN STRENGTH FROM FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS.

NOW TIMOTHY IS ONLY MOMENTS AWAY FROM MEETING HIM AGAIN.

HOW WILL IT BE A BLESSING FOR YOU TO SEE HIM AGAIN?

IT'LL BE A CAPSTONE FOR MY OWN HEALING.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: TIMOTHY AND DOUG HAVE AGREED TO MEET AT ST. PAUL'S CHAPEL IN MANHATTAN, A CHURCH JUST ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM GROUND ZERO THAT WITHSTOOD THE COLLAPSE OF THE TWIN TOWERS.

DOUG: TIMOTHY WAS A YOUNG JUNIOR ARMY CAPTAIN, AND WE JUST HAD A VERY BRIEF ENCOUNTER.

I ALWAYS WONDERED, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED TO TIMOTHY.

I DIDN'T KNOW HIS NAME.

TIMOTHY: MY HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS ARE TO BE RECONNECTED, YOU KNOW, PHYSICALLY, TO SEE ONE ANOTHER, BUT MORE SPIRITUALLY AS ONE HUMAN SOUL TO ANOTHER.

I HOPE I GET TO HUG HIM.

SOLDIERS ARE VERY VISCERAL IN THAT WE HUG ONE ANOTHER, WE SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

[CHUCKLES] THERE HE IS.

HEY, BROTHER.

IT'S SURE GOOD SEEING YOU, MAN.

YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN?

YEAH.

IT'S BEEN 16 YEARS.

I KNOW.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.

YEAH.

HOW THE TIME HAS GONE BY, HUH?

I SAW YOU IN THE BACK OF THE TENT.

IN DESPAIR.

AND YOU LOOKED TO ME LIKE YOU WERE OUT OF COMMISSION.

YEAH.

SO I WENT BACK THERE AND TRIED TO CONSOLE YOU.

I JUST COULDN'T LEAVE YOU BACK THERE, YOU KNOW.

I JUST--I KNEW YOU WERE IN TROUBLE AND... YEAH.

I REMEMBER YOUR HAND ON MY SHOULDER.

AND JUST THERE WAS A POINT WHICH I TURNED AND SAW YOUR FACE, AND THAT'S WHAT WAS SO COMFORTING, BECAUSE YOU HAD THE SAME SORT OF EXPRESSION THAT YOU DO NOW.

YOU KNOW, THIS REAL SENSE OF KINDNESS AND EMPATHY FROM GOD.

I OWE YOU A DEBT OF THANKS BECAUSE YOU MINISTERED ME AT A TIME WHEN I NEEDED IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY ENJOYED ABOUT BEING A SENIOR CHAPLAIN WAS TAKING CARE OF CHAPLAINS.

I MEAN, THAT'S OUR JOB, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

I'M GLAD YOU'RE STILL DOING IT AND THAT GOD HAS MADE YOU A SENIOR CHAPLAIN NOW, SO ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE ARMY.

YEAH, IT'S HUMBLING.

YOU CAN PASS THAT STUFF ON.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: IT BECOMES CLEAR WHY THE TWO CHAPLAINS NEVER CROSSED PATHS AGAIN.

JUST DAYS AFTER THEIR ENCOUNTER AT THE PENTAGON, DOUG WAS REASSIGNED TO NEW YORK, ACCOMPANYING BEREAVED FAMILIES TO GROUND ZERO.

DOUG: IT WAS THE WORST THING I'D EVER SEEN.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW HOW BAD THE PENTAGON WAS.

WELL, JUST MULTIPLY IT BY A HUNDRED.

IT WAS JUST OVERWHELMING.

YOU COULDN'T EVEN THINK.

I MEAN, I STARTED HAVING NIGHTMARES THAT NIGHT, YOU KNOW.

ESCORTING THOSE FAMILIES DOWN WAS LIKE DOING A HUNDRED FUNERALS AT ONCE.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: IN THE YEARS AFTER 9/11, DOUG WENT ON TO LEAD THE CHAPLAIN MINISTRY IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA IN 2005.

HE RETIRED IN 2012 AFTER 30 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE.

FOR BOTH OF THESE CHAPLAINS, SEPTEMBER 11 AND ITS AFTERMATH HAS HAD A LONG AND LASTING IMPACT.

I HAVE PTSD FROM 9/11.

YEP.

DO YOU?

I DO.

THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO IN SEMINARY TO PREPARE FOR THAT.

NO.

YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO INTEGRATE SUFFERING INTO YOUR PERSON... THAT'S RIGHT.

THEN INTO HOW YOU MINISTER TO OTHERS.

AND I THINK THE DAY THAT YOU SAW ME AND MINISTERED TO ME, I THINK I WAS JUST OVERWHELMED BY THAT SUFFERING.

YEAH.

IT'S SO EASY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN TO YOU.

IT'S JUST HELPING THAT SOLDIER, THAT FAMILY MEMBER ONE ON ONE... TIMOTHY: IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I TELL YOUNG CHAPLAINS TO INTEGRATE YOUR SENSE OF CALLING AS A SERVANT OF GOD, BUT A SERVANT OF THE NATION AS WELL.

TAKE CARE OF THOSE CHAPLAINS.

AND I'LL CONTINUE TO PORE MYSELF INTO THEM LIKE YOU DID FOR ME.

THANK YOU FOR SEEING MY NEED AND BEING WILLING TO INTERCEDE FOR ME.

AND I'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.

OH!

MY BOSS AT THAT TIME, CHAPLAIN G.T.

GUNHUS, HAD THESE COINS MADE.

AND THIS IS MY ONLY ONE THAT I HAD FROM THAT, BUT I WANT YOU TO HAVE IT.

"UNITED STATES ARMY CHAPLAIN CORPS.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY."

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW YOU WERE IN THE COAST GUARD, FOR ME THAT DAY, YOU WERE AN ARMY CHAPLAIN.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO THANK YOU, BROTHER.

DOUG: I WAS DOWN THERE AT THE PENTAGON TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE.

I MEAN, I WAS TALKING TO ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY.

AND IT IS VERY HUMBLING TO THINK THAT MY LITTLE PIECE OF THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON HIM.

TIMOTHY: THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR ME THIS AFTERNOON.

TO RECONNECT WITH DOUG AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, TO HEAR HIS STORY OF HOW HE FELT COMPELLED TO MINISTER ME, IT WAS AMAZING, AND IT WAS VERY HUMBLING.

ANN, VOICE-OVER: HISTORY THREW THESE STRANGERS TOGETHER AND UNBREAKABLE BONDS WERE FORGED IN THE SHADOW OF TRAGEDY.

NOW THAT THEY'VE FOUND EACH OTHER AGAIN, A NEW CHAPTER CAN BEGIN.

PATRICK: SHE WAS A GUARDIAN ANGEL THAT CAME AND KIND OF HELPED ME.

AND MOST SURPRISING TO ME IS SHE EXPLAINED HOW I HELPED HER.

TO KNOW THAT APPARENTLY I MADE THAT BIG OF AN IMPACT ON HIM IS DEEPLY MOVING.

IT'S HUMBLING, IT'S TOUCHING, IT'S FLATTERING, BUT IT JUST--IT'S A POWERFUL FEELING.

TO HEAR FROM DOUG OF HIS OWN STRUGGLE WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IS DAUNTING, AND YET IT'S ALSO ENCOURAGING TO KNOW THAT HE AND I SHARE THAT SAME BOND.

BOTH OF US ARE DEALING WITH IT, AND I HOPE THAT WE'LL STAY IN TOUCH TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

IT'S A LIFELONG THING TO DEAL WITH.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER IN AND THROUGH THAT NOW FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

- [Narrator] Next time, a New Yorker who fought racism, searching for the Southern girl who protected her.

- We had had somebody shoot into the house.

Thelma was standing with her rifle.

- Protecting the house.

- Yeah.

- [Narrator] And 50 years after the Civil Rights Movement, one woman searches for the activist who inspired her.

- It was just so wrong.

That's where I discovered what it was I was willing to die for.

♪♪ ANNOUNCER: "WE'LL MEET AGAIN" IS AVAILABLE ON DVD.

TO ORDER, VISIT SHOPPBS.ORG OR CALL 1-800 PLAY-PBS.

ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON iTUNES.

IS THERE SOMEONE FROM YOUR PAST WHO YOU WANT TO MEET AGAIN?

SHARE YOUR STORY AT PBS.ORG/MEETAGAIN.