[The Blue Angel]

I was onboard the USS Spruance DD-963. The morning started off as a normal getting underway. As I was walking down the passageway I heard someone say, "A plane just hit the WTC!!" So I ran to mess deck to see what happened. As the TV turned on, all we saw was the HUGE fireball from the second plane hitting the WTC. There was nothing but silence on the mess deck. Minutes later General Quarters sounded!! Everyone ran to there Battle Stations. I headed up to the bridge as we were ordered to get underway in a hurry. My position was on the portside bridgewing as a bearing taker for getting underway. As I was out on the bridgewing I noticed 2 commercial airliners circling to the North of the base. I let the Officer of Deck know about the planes. He told me to keep an eye on the them. If they headed our way to let him know!! Then the thought of taking down a commercial airliner got my stomach in a knot. Scary thought!! After awhile the commercial airliners headed for Jacksonville International Airport. Finally it was out turn to get underway. We then headed out to sea.