My 9/11 [Image 3 of 10]

DC, UNITED STATES

09.07.2016

Photo by Lance Cpl. Dana Beesley   

Communication Directorate             

Gunnery Sgt. Joey Woods, 34 — Birmingham, Alabama

I was a Radio Operator stationed in Lone Park, California at Vanderburgh Air Force Base.

I just transferred to the 11th MEU. I went there to primarily help out with noncombat evacuation operations. We were headed down to Camp Pendleton when we saw on the news that 9/11 had occurred.

I was confused because I didn't know why it had happened or who would do something like that to America.

At the time I was a young Marine and I didn't know if I was going to combat.

My family was scared at first, but they understood that I had signed up to do the intangibles, and they accepted that. At the time, I couldn't tell them what we were planning to do or if I would be put in harm's way but I told them not to worry because I was doing what I wanted to do — I was coming back home.

At the beginning, I was immature, and seeing that, I knew that everything was getting real. I became very mature very quickly, knowing I had to be on top of my game and couldn't be complacent.

I think it changed the landscape of how we fight in the Marine Corps and opened a lot of people's eyes.
I think that being 19 years old at the time of 9/11, it forced me to be a leader. We had heavy deployment rotations, and I became an NCO very quickly. I want my Marines to know what we do in training is to get to a point where they understand that the time could come where they’re called to lead, and they have to be in a certain mindset, hands down.

You can't be afraid.

• Date Taken: 09.07.2016
• Date Posted: 09.10.2016 22:15
• Photo ID: 2844016
• VIRIN: 160907-M-XU431-004
• Resolution: 4760x3199
• Size: 6.89 MB
• Location: DC, US
• Hometown: BIRMINGHAM, AL, US