Show Notes
I’m repeating this episode to honor Will Jimeno, all of the victims of 9/11, the survivors, the first responders who ran toward the danger, and all of their families. This episode originally aired in 2021, but Will’s story is one I believe should never be forgotten. September 11, 2001, is a day so many of us remember exactly where we were when we heard the news. It was a day that changed our country and countless lives forever.
Will was a rookie Port Authority police officer when he saw the shadow of American Airlines Flight 11 moments before it struck the World Trade Center. He and his fellow officers knew they had to go in and help. Will shares what it was like to walk into the towers knowing a plane had hit the building, never imagining what was about to happen. When the South Tower collapsed, Will became trapped beneath the rubble alongside Sergeant John McLoughlin and Officer Dominick Pezzulo. Only Will and Sergeant McLoughlin survived. Trapped for hours with little hope of being rescued, the two men shared deeply personal conversations about their families and the people they loved. Will even asked Sergeant McLoughlin to tell his pregnant wife that he wanted their baby girl to be named Olivia.
Eventually, Will and Sergeant McLoughlin were found and rescued by former Marines Jason Thomas and Dave Karnes. Both men suffered devastating injuries and faced a long road of surgeries, rehabilitation, and recovery. It was an absolute honor to speak with Will, hear his story, and learn how he chose to move forward from such an unimaginable experience. Will has dedicated his life to serving others, and his courage, resilience, and commitment to service are a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. I’m grateful to revisit this conversation and share Will’s story again as we remember September 11 and everyone whose lives were forever changed that day.
I’d love to hear from you. If you have questions for me, topics you’d like discussed, or stories you want to share, please reach out through my website at judgingmeghan.com or send me a message on Instagram at @judgingmeghan. Your questions may be featured and answered in an upcoming episode. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review really helps support the show and helps more people find these conversations.
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