JUNCTION CITY — On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and on Flight 93 over Shanksville in western Pennsylvania two members of the Fort Riley Museums staff looked back on the way those attacks would have an impact at Fort Riley.
Director of Fort Riley Museums Dr. Robert Smith noted the attacks certainly affected the Army. American troops were ordered into Afghanistan to pursue the Al-Qaeda perpetrators and remain involved there over the last 20 years. There were troop deployments from Fort Riley during that time.
After many years as an open post, Smith noted that Fort Riley also became a closed post. "I've noticed that the training has been more significant here since 9/11 in operational security. We watch what we do, ( what ) we say and if we see something we say something." Smith observed that the world has changed. "History's going to realize that and we're going to that now, that our way of life has changed dramatically since that day."
Museum Specialist Debra Clark was working at Fort Riley in Sept. of 2001. "Just like everybody else when somebody told you the news your feeling is numbness. We can't believe this is happening, is this really happening? "Employees were able to watch some of the developments on television. "To this day brings some pretty bad memories."
Clark remembers on Sept. 11, 2001 she had gone off-post for an appointment and when she tried to return to the installation there was a long line of vehicles waiting to enter Fort Riley and there was another long line of people leaving. One of her co-workers told her from his car to turn around because they were sending them home.
Traffic backups occurred in the days after the terrorist attacks for those motorists trying to access the installation. "I try to come to work about the same time but after your first day of coming back you did get hit with lines that just went down the highway and nobody really knew what was going on so the only thing that they could actually do was search each and every car. This went on for some time, so when you roll on the post or any base you just have to roll with the punches so to speak. "
In addition to a closed versus open post Clark noted that 9/11 changed the installation into one with more security, which is still needed today. Smith added that there is also the see something say something training, while Clark felt that we are more aware of terrorism today.