A People’s History of the Civil War: Struggles for the Meaning of Freedom – David Williams

On December 12, 2021 By Genyc79In Civil WarLeave a comment

Williams

I may have stated this before, but I absolutely love history. However, I have come to realize that there is much about my own country that I still need to learn. Of all the subjects that remains often misunderstood and debated is the American Civil War. There is the common belief that the war about ending slavery but to others it was a case of “Northern aggression”. The truth is that there were multiple reasons for the war and not solely because of one above the others. But I do believe that Major Gen. Smedley Butler (1881-1940) was correct when he said, “war is a racket”. The realization that conflict has a monetary value unsettles the mind and spirit. The truth is rarely pleasant but always required to set the record straight. Author David Williams does just that in this remarkable account of the conflict that tore America apart. It can be argued that the Civil War is still affecting American society. I agree to an extent but for us to understand how and why, a full understanding of America and the war is needed. We can start at the beginning with the issue of slavery which is labeled as the major reason for the war. The image of the Confederacy and “Deep South” was one of abundant slave owners and plantations across the region. But as a I learned here, that was not always the case. In fact, what Williams shows is that the South was nowhere near as coherent as one might think. Nor was the number of slave owner and plantations in existence as one might suspect. As I read the book, I was quite surprised to learn of the reality behind the slave owning South and how it affected morale and pride during the war.

Slavery was a critical issue the country faced as tensions continued to rise. Abolitionist were determined to see it fall and rebellions such as the one led by John Brown (1800-1859) caused pro-slavery parties in the South to take notice. The election of Abraham Lincoln installed fear in the hearts of Southerners, some of whom were certain that he would “take their slaves away”. Washington was aware of abolitionists efforts but what was the real role of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1965)? Apologists have long sought to absolve Lincoln for many things that do not portray him in the most positive light. What can be seen in the book is that Lincoln’s actions and beliefs did not always fall in line with the iconized version presented in history books. In fact, Frederick Douglass was more explicit in his view of the President following Lincoln’s re-election:

“Though they had succeeded in keeping McClellan out of the White House, Radicals were not enthusiastic about giving Lincoln a second term. “When there was any shadow of a hope,” wrote Frederick Douglass, “that a man of a more decided anti-slavery conviction and policy could be elected, I was not for Mr. Lincoln.”

There is far more to Lincoln’s role revealed in the book and readers may be surprised. His plan for free Blacks will certainly cause readers to pause. However, his role in the conflict can neither be overstated or understated. He was a crucial part of the Union effort that ended in victory. And his actions, regardless of true motives, did help end the system of human slavery in the United States.

Once the war begins, the course of battle is anything but predictable. However, the author reveals interesting facts about the Confederacy and its ability to achieve victory. When President Barack Obama won his second term, there was calls for “secession” by those unable to accept his re-election. To any rational individual, it was clear that would not happen. But what did happen when Southern States left the Union after Lincoln’s re-election? And what was the final straw that pushed them over the edge? The answers to those questions can be found within and the author also discusses another motive for secession that businesspeople in the North recognized and refused to accept. It soon becomes clear in the book, that slavery is only one of many reasons for the South declaring its independence.

One of the best parts of the book is the discussion about life in the Confederacy. I strongly recommend readers look at Janet Elizabeth Croon’s “The War Outside My Window: The Civil War Diary of LeRoy Wiley Gresham 1860-1865″, which is an excellent read about life in a Southern family that supports the Confederate effort. Far from the united South we may have been led to believe, there was much taking place in the Confederacy that was far from encouraging. And as the author points out:

“By 1864, President Davis publicly lamented that two-thirds of Confederate soldiers were absent, most of them without leave“

In the North, things were also not as unified, and the image of the “liberal” North is directly challenged by William’s work. Frankly, though the North was free territory, racial harmony was a myth and social conditions could be just as bad as the South. Blacks were free but still lived like slaves. Interestingly, even before Union victory, members in Congress began to think of how Blacks could be enfranchised. Their efforts and those of the Radical Republicans are highlighted to show the missed opportunities that presented themselves to a country at a crossroads and in need of change. Lincoln’s actions and those of his successor Andrew Johnson (1908-1875), left much to be desired.

Surprisingly, what is left out of discussions about the Civil War are the true feelings of Southerners who have been painted with the broad brush of being “sympathizers” to the Confederacy’s mission. The truth is far more complicated and fare less glamorous. In fact, life for poor whites in the Confederacy was not much better and the dark reality is brought to life in the story told here. Desertion was a major problem but there were other factors at play that made the desirability of serving under Davis’ army plummet. Further, battlefield conditions, life as a solider and death for any number of reasons made it clear that war is hell, and no one should take part. To drive home this point, I refer to this section in the book by the author who relays that”

“In The Impending Crisis of the South, published in 1857, Helper argued vigorously that the “lords of the lash are not only absolute masters of the blacks . . . but they are also the oracles and arbiters of all non-slaveholding whites, whose freedom is merely nominal.”

As the war raged on, casualties began to rise from injuries and other conditions that brought death and destruction. Over six-hundred thousand men died in the American Civil War and the manners in which they perished were often barbaric and tragic. The author thoroughly examines the unsettling aspect of the soldier’s experience which included injuries in combat, inadequate clothing and supplies, famine, infections, viruses, and the lack of advanced medical knowledge. In short, life in the 1800s was rough and even rougher if you were an enlistee fighting in a savage conflict deemed to be a “rich man’s war”. Williams’ book should remove any notion of a valiant effort. On both sides, brutality was common, and desertion remained an issue throughout the war. And the induction of both slaves and Native Americans into the war was not because those in power had a “change of heart”. The real reasons are far more sobering. The Native American experience has been discussed by other authors and their removal from their lands remains one of the darkest aspects of America’s creation. The experience of the Indian tribes is also discussed here in relation to the war and readers will shake their heads in disgusts and disbelief.

After I finished the book, I had a moment of silence wherein I allowed myself to digest everything I had read. I had learned of things never presented to me before in any classroom that I can recall. American history is often difficult to accept because the image of America is designed to lift one’s spirits. And while there are aspects of life in the United States that are wonderful, our nation’s history contains dark moments. And it is imperative that we learn the truth so that they never again take place. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the truth regarding the American Civil War. Highly recommended.

“History is the sum total of things that could have been avoided” -Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967)

ASIN: ‎B007OWQN7Q

Last Boat Out of Shanghai: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Fled Mao’s Revolution – Helen Zia

On December 5, 2021 By Genyc79In ChinaLeave a comment

Shanghai Throughout history, war and destruction have been constant reminders of the fragility of peace. On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany’s army invaded its neighbor country Poland and ignited the Second World War, the conflict that changed the world in ways one could have imagined. Adolf Hitler’s (1889-1945) quest for world domination inspired other nations to launch their own offensives. National Fascist Party leader Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) plunged Italy into the conflict and in Japan, Hirohito (Emperor Shōwa)(1901-1989) initiated the Japanese campaign to completely control all of Asia. Prior to the conflict, China found itself the target of Japanese invasion and amid internal civil war between the Chinese Communist Party led by Mao Zedong (1893-1976) and Kuomintang under the control of Chiang Kai-Shek (1887-1975). While Hitler’s army was marching across Europe, death and destruction accelerated across Asia and in China, the horror escalated to unthinkable heights. Chinese who were able to leave, fled their homes in search of a new life. This book is the story of that exodus and four individuals who risked it all for freedom. The lives of Benny Pan, Ho Chow, Bing Woo, and Annuo Liu come into focus as examples of the struggle Chinese faced as they sought to escape China before Mao’s army seized control over the entire country.

As I read the book, I noticed how the four stories are told in an alternating pattern. The book moves chronologically but the author switches between each story over time. Some readers may find this to be challenging as opposed to one section telling the story from start to finish of one person. However, the format here works because the author does not solely tell their stories but the history of Japanese occupation and the dark reality of life in Shanghai during the war. The story of Shanghai is often neglected but in 1937, the Japanese made it the eye of their rage and when Japan’s army did invade, the misery under which Chinese lived increased exponentially. The atrocities conducted by Japanese units is documented and the story of Nanjing remains one of its darkest parts. However, the Japanese had accomplices and the actions by Chinese doing the bidding of Tokyo will cause readers to shake their heads is disgust or disbelief. For young Benny Pan, the reality of aiding the Japanese hits home when he learns more about his own father. I am sure that what he learned became a heavy burden to carry for years to come.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Chinese remained loyal to their homeland but had no desire for communist rule and had hope that Chiang Kai-Shek would defeat the communists. Mao proved to be a bigger foe and more popular figure than expected. Annuo Liu is still a young girl when her father answers the call to aid the Nationalists in the fight against the communists. Her mother becomes the backbone of the family, and their story of survival highlights the role thousands of women found themselves in as their husbands were called to fight and defend China from enemies within and abroad. Annuo’s story is nothing short of miraculous. Her father makes appearances throughout the book, but his experiences changed him permanently and his daughter who ages on her own begins to resist his rule as a new life with personal independence becomes possible. The dark reality of Communist rule settles in and for Annuo, the writing is on the wall and America becomes destination number one. While I read her account, I could not help to think how I would have felt to see my father walk out the door to parts unknown while my mother struggles to provide with little to no resources. The human spirit is one of the strongest things I have ever witnessed, and this book is proof.

Chinese who did escape Shanghai faced uncertain futures abroad such as Ho Chow who arrives in America as a student and Bing who is matched with a suitor that facilitates her arrival in America. Each took a different path to the United States, and both faced exile back to their country of birth. However, America is the land of opportunity and through fortune, determination, and sacrifice, they establish permanent homes in the land of the free. Ho Chow’s story became my favorite and his unwavering focus on studies and survival are nothing short inspirational. Of course, there is a dark side to their move to America and that is the prejudice awaiting Chinese immigrants in America. Today it may be hard to imagine but at one time, immigration from China severely restricted or prohibited as shown in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. America was certainly an improvement from Shanghai but far from paradise and the Chinese that did move to the United States faced new battles such as learning English, navigating the immigration system, and combating anti-Asian feelings due to the events of Pearl Harbor and allied efforts to defeat the Japanese military. But they persevered and made America their home. For Benny Pan, leaving China for good came after significant hardship and personal sacrifice after Mao’s Communist Party took over the nation. His struggle exemplifies the fear and paranoia that arrived with the communist regime. The Chinese Communist Party made it clear that opposition was permitted and during Mao’s reign, millions perished through his failed “Great Leap Forward” and “Cultural Revolution”. The invasion of Japanese military units and later oppression by communists, resulted in the separation of families, friends and colleagues, many of whom never saw each other again.

Chiang Kai-Shek fled after suffering defeat and went on to form the nation of Formosa known as Taiwan today. The autonomy of this smaller island nation draws the ire of Beijing which remains determined to force it into submission. And in the process, it reinforces why so many of its people left China more than sixty years ago. But the Generalissimo was not above reproach himself and the author reveals several secrets about the Nationalists that caught my attention. Some Nationalists were not as “patriotic” as they appeared. Dark alliances were formed under the guise of resisting “communist influence”. China became a hotbed of discontent on all sides, and no one was safe. Life became cheap and death a daily reality. Even the suspicion of being a “leftist”, “nationalist” or “Japanese puppet” was enough to induce violence and incarceration. Helen Zia beautifully brings the past alive and shows the panic people faced as everyone worried about making the last boat out of Shanghai. Highly recommended.

“A professor in China told me that, in modern China, everyone’s story is a tragedy. Unfortunately, the same may be said about those from many other regions of the world. My deepest appreciation goes to all who struggle to overcome the scars of exodus; their lives are cautionary tales that show why such tragedies of history must not be repeated.”

ASIN: ‎ B07CR2CMGR

Why The Vietnam War?: Nuclear Bombs and Nation Building in Southeast Asia, 1945-1961 – Michael Swanson

On November 8, 2021 By Genyc79In Uncategorized4 Comments

swanson Fifteen days from now, the fifty-eight anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s (1917-1963) murder will be upon us. His death continues to remind America of a lost opportunity and leader taken before his time. His presidency inspires debate to this day with some believing that he brought the country dangerously close to nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Others feel that he had yet to reach his full potential as a leader. The truth is far more complicated and both sides often omit the difficulties Kennedy faced behind the scenes from those within his own administration. After the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion which led to Kennedy firing top officials of the Central Intelligence Agency, he then found himself under pressure to intervene in the nation of Laos. Again, Kennedy resisted, drawing the ire of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Cold-War hawks in Washington. But the hawks were determined and saw Vietnam as the next battlefield to confront “Soviet influence”. But the question that has always haunted this nation is why did we get involved in Vietnam? What threat did North Vietnam pose to the United States even though it is more than thirteen thousand miles away from American soil? My uncle who served in Vietnam has only spoken of his experiences a handful of times. He keeps the war suppressed in his memory and does his best to stay secluded during July 4th celebrations as the fireworks remind him of being in combat. I often wondered if he has asked himself why he was deployed thousands of miles away from home to a country some Americans did not know existed prior to the conflict. Michael Swanson asked himself about Vietnam and has explored the war paying close attention to its origins and this book is the first of what will be a multi volume set about America’s involvement in Southeast Asia.

Swanson quickly establishes that the Vietnam War started sixteen years earlier than 1961. In fact, the war has its origins in the ascension of North Vietnam to power in the wake of World War II. The evacuation of Japanese military personnel created a power vacuum that allowed the North Vietnamese to take control and establish its headquarters in Hanoi. Washington was paying close attention to the developments and the rise of Ho Chih Minh (1890-1969). He was known as Uncle Ho and proved to be a charismatic figure as well as an icon for millions of Vietnamese who strongly favored an independent Vietnam, free of French colonial rule. And this is what policy makers in Washington failed to realize. However, there were those on the ground who saw Ho Chih Minh’s potential and the futility of French attempts to reclaim Indochina. In the book, we learn the name of former Lieutenant Colonel Archimedes Patti (1913-1998), a former Office of Strategic Services officer who emerges as the voice of reason no one wanted to hear. Patti warned officials back in Washington of what he saw firsthand but sadly, his reports were shelved. And when reflecting back on the war, Patti stated:

“Ho Chi Minh was on a silver platter in 1945,” remembered Archimedes Patti, “we had him. He was willing to, to be a democratic republic, if nothing else. Socialist yes, but a democratic republican.

I recall a Vietnam veteran years ago telling me that he couldn’t understand why America got involved after seeing the French evacuate. He was drafted at 19 and has always maintained that Vietnam was one of the scariest experiences in his life. His question was valid. Why did we take the place of the French and why did we help them in the first place? The author pieces together the story to show Washington’s early involvement in French affairs and I could only shake my head at what he reveals. But there is always more than meets the eye. Swanson knows this and proceeds to explain what was taking place back in Washington that paved the way for such disastrous foreign policy. In fact, he bluntly states that after World War II:

“The United States, however, sought to control societies in order to improve them, in order to incorporate them into the modern capitalist world order through nation building. But becoming an empire changed the United States forever, and led it to fight a disastrous war in Vietnam.”

When John F. Kennedy took office, he had to have known the difficulties he faced from what his predecessor Dwight E. Eisenhower (1890-1969) called the military industrial complex. However, what Kennedy may not have known is that America’s involvement in Vietnam did not start with Eisenhower but with another president, Harry S. Truman (1884-1972). This part of the story came as a surprise because the focus on Truman’s actions in office are often related to World War II and the National Security Act of 1947. But it does make sense that his role is revisited as Vietnam began to draw Washington’s attention not long after the Japanese surrender. I could not help when reading the story that had Truman decided not to get involved in Vietnam, world history might have taken a different course. As the story moves forward, Eisenhower’s administration passes with Vietnam remaining a French issue. It remains dormant until, when the intelligence community and military found itself irate over the president’s refusal to support military intervention across the globe. And it is here that the Vietnam story heats up and Swanson takes us deep inside Kennedy’s administration to explain the true reasons for military engagement in Southeast Asia.

Kennedy had sought to prevent Americans from getting engulfed in a ground war in Vietnam. Swanson captures the essence of the story here and I strongly recommend John Newman’s JFK & Vietnam: Deception, Intrigue and the Struggle for Power which discusses JFK’s battles with his own cabinet and the Joint Chiefs over escalation. Newman leaves no doubt that Kennedy knew Vietnam was a deathtrap for American forces. But war hawks were not ready to admit it and as Swanson shows, a power struggle did in fact take place with a majority of people pushing Kennedy to approve troops and the president pushing back against them. Readers will express surprise at the actions of those working “for” the president. Kennedy was struggling to maintain control over his own administration. Readers with an interest in his assassination will find this aspect of the story highly relevant.

Vietnam veterans known dark truths about the war that many would prefer not to know. Swanson’s job here was not to pacify anyone but to explain why Vietnam happened. And in order to understand the war, it is crucial to understand the importance to Washington of South Vietnam and its former leader Ngo Dinh Diem (1901-1963). Admittedly, there is much about his life I am still learning of, but I now have a better understanding of the truth in regard to South Vietnam and why personnel stationed in the country were sounding the alarm bells to those in power in Washington. And what I read resulted in anger at those who knew the issues in South Vietnam and the low chance of success. Frankly, Washington knew it could not win in Vietnam without a massive commitment of troops and the use of nuclear weapons. But the public backlash at those two concepts would have been political suicide so America had to operate in a limited capacity. But the pressure to invade never let up and as the story moves forward, the stage is set for a showdown between Kennedy and the military industrial complex. However, the book ends before the tragic fates of Diem and Kennedy play out. As Swanson explains, that will be the focus of the next part in the series. But he does summarize the story contained within with this statement that sent chills down my spine:

“The more hawkish members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff viewed Southeast Asia as simply part of a conflict with China over who would control the entire region. When they advocated intervention in Laos in 1961 their plans were for a regional conflict that carried with it a ladder of escalation, the final step of which was an atomic attack on China if they retaliated, one in which they thought they could break the back of Red China.”

Kennedy himself said it best when he observed: “These brass hats have one great advantage, if we … do what they want us to do, none of us will be alive later to tell them that they were wrong.” We can only speculate as to what would have transpired had he lived. I personally believe that the Vietnam War would have never happened. Kennedy was determined to resist the military and dismantle the Central Intelligence Agency but the events in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, changed that permanently. His successor Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) had different plans for Vietnam, and they included the flexing of American military muscle that claimed the lives of fifty-eight thousand Americans and over one million Vietnamese. It remains the war that America did not win. And there thousands of veterans alive today still carrying the scars from that war. If you want to know why the Vietnam War happened, this is a good place to start.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08FHBS17K

John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster: The True Story of the Lawyer Who Defended One of the Most Evil Serial Killers in History – Sam L. Amirante and Danny Broderick

On November 6, 2021November 6, 2021 By Genyc79In True CrimeLeave a comment

gacy On May 19, 1994, American serial killer John Wayne Gacy (1942-1994) was executed by lethal injection at Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet, Ill, after being convicted of multiple murder charges. It is believed by some people that there were more victims of Gacy that have never been identified. The truth went to the grave with Gacy but what is on the record are the thirty-three homicides attributed to Gacy during his reign of terror. His attorney, Sam Amirante, had just started his own private defense practice when Gacy sought him out for legal representation. Amirante could not have known that his first client would catapult him into the public spotlight in ways none one could have imagined. This is the story of how it happened and how Amirante’s life changed while he defended one of America’s deadliest serial killers.

I previously reviewed the book by former prosecutor Terry Sullivan titled Killer Clown: The John Wayne Gacy Murders that focused on the efforts by law enforcement and the district attorney to build a case against Gacy. It is an interesting look into how the murder investigation developed and the impact it had on police and the people of Illinois. Amirante’s book is equally as effective but views the case from the other side. Essentially, how do you defend a monster who has just told you about murders that he has committed? After getting himself drunk, Gacy arrived at Amirante’s office for a pre-arranged visit and confessed to his lawyers that he had committed multiple murders, leaving Amirante and his partner speechless. It soon becomes clear that insanity is the only defense. But how do you defend a man who does not think there is anything mentally wrong with himself? There was no “blueprint” in dealing with a client like John Wayne Gacy and Amirante had been given an impossible task. But to his credit, he mounted a defense in the face of enormous evidence that proved Gacy’s guilt, in particular the human remains found in the crawl space underneath his house. Readers may wonder how Amirante was able to do his job knowing that thirty-three men lost their lives at the hands of Gacy. The answer is quite simple and Amirante delivers the explanation showing his belief in the legal system he swore an oath to uphold:

“It’s much easier to hate the bad guy than it is to support the hard reality that if we are to continue to enjoy our freedoms, if our Constitution is to survive, it has to be supported in all circumstances, even when to do so seems hard.”

Whether he believed Gacy would be found innocent by reason of insanity is not entirely clear. In fact, Amirante explains on multiple occasions throughout the book how the evidence helped seal Gacy’s fate. And in a twist of fate, it was a small photo receipt belonging to Nissan Pharmacy Kim Byers was found in Gacy’s house that unraveled the murder mysteries. And though the receipt belonged to someone who was still alive, it established that Robert Jerome Piest (1963-1978) had been in Gacy’s house. The fallout from that discovery eventually led to Gacy’s arrest and showed America the dark side of human nature. According to people who knew him, Gacy was well-liked, successful and viewed as a family-oriented person. Neighbors could not believe that the man they said hello to, had been murdering young men and burying them underneath his home and dumping other remains in nearby rivers. But the evidence did not lie and with Gacy’s statements, jurors found it fairly easy to convict him. But to his credit, Amirante was a shrewd lawyer and wins small victories through the trial. Law students and those interested in legal practice will appreciate his explanations of the criminal defense system and the strategies used to save Gacy’s life, if possible.

Amirante does not attempt to exonerate Gacy for his behavior. But he did believe that Gacy suffered from some level issue of mental disability. But his client’s ability to compartmentalize various aspects of his life made defending John Wayne Gacy an insurmountable task. And even when he was convicted of the murders, Gacy was mentally somewhere else. A sentence of capital punishment was handed out, but Gacy appeared to be indifferent to his own fate. As Amirante explains:

“Only one person in the room was dry-eyed, only one. John Wayne Gacy stood at the defense table, bewildered and lost.”

There are mysteries of Gacy’s life that are lost to history. He is no longer here to explain his past actions in further detail. That may be a good thing as his past deeds are some of the most macabre in American history. Despite his atrocious crimes, he was entitled to due process, a component guaranteed under the laws of this nation. Amirante knew his client was a monster, but he had a job to do as a defense lawyer. And in this book, he does it admirably, even at great personal sacrifice. His family went through quite an ordeal as detailed in the book and it should not be overlooked by readers, how difficult it must have been for him to defend his client. To Amirante’s disappointment, Gacy was convicted by a jury of his peers, and I believe rightfully so. Serial killers will always be with us but that should never deter us from understanding how they are created in the hopes that future killers can be prevented. John Wayne Gacy will remain a case study in homicidal rage and a killer that continues to haunt America. We may not like the legal system at times and might prefer the court of public opinion, but if we believe in the constitution, then even the worst of us are innocent until proven guilty. This book is a prime example of an attorney who deeply believes in the American legal system and performed a task that many would have avoided. Good read.

“There are two reasons that will cause good men to abandon their long-standing, dearly held morals, values, and principles and revert to more primitive, barbaric practices to resolve conflict. That is when their hearts are filled with anger or when their hearts are filled with fear.”

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005HJ9MOE

Nothing Left to Prove: A Law Enforcement Memoir – Danny R. Smith

On October 10, 2021 By Genyc79In UncategorizedLeave a comment

Smith A friend whom I have known since elementary school recently finished twenty years with the New York City Police Department. Though eligible for retirement, he continues to serve the city where he was born. I and other friends have never failed to remind him to be careful on the dangerous streets of New York. Long hours, dangerous criminals and bureaucratic obstacles can sometimes make being a police officer a difficult and thankless job. And when I watch the hit show The First 48, I am always amazed at the skills of homicide detectives as they solve crimes in cities across America. Danny R. Smith served as a homicide detective in the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for seven out of the twenty-years he reported for duty. This is his story as part of law enforcement in the City of Angels.

The book begins with Smith revisiting the day when he knew that the time had come for him to make his exit from the force. The scene he arrives upon is macabre, but we learn towards the end of the book when he explains the full details surrounding the discovery, that the reason for the find is far simpler and less sinister. However, Smith had reached his breaking point but in order for us to understand why, we have to go back in time to the beginning of the wild ride he took during two decades of service. Expectedly, he explains how he joined the Sheriff’s Department and the path he took to homicide. And it is at that part of the book that the story heats up. As we follow him from one case to the next, the dark side of Southern California comes into vivid focus. But the book is far more than just a former officer’s tales of war on the streets. In the mix of murders, burglaries and other crimes, Smith shows us his personal life and the struggles he endures due to injuries on the job and the mental challenges that come with daily exposure to the deadly side of humanity. It will be hard for any reader not to appreciate the enormous sacrifices made by the people in law enforcement.

As expected, there are dark moments in the book, but Smith also adds the right amount of humor at times to take the edge off. And what he shows is that the life of a homicide detective is anything but orthodox. His journeys took him across the United States in pursuit of fugitives who could not escape justice. And the stories he tells of transporting prisoners back across the country are both humorous and interesting. The lengths to which detectives go to capture a suspect are eye opening. But not all suspects are apprehended and crimes do remain unsolved as we see in the book. But it is not for lack of effort. Smith was a first-class detective who was thoroughly committed to his job and the people of Los Angeles.

The riots in Los Angeles after the acquittal of police officers charged with beating motorist Rodney King (1965-2012) remain fresh in the minds of all who remember them. I remember watching the aftermath play out on television as Los Angeles went up in flames. Smith was on the ground and discusses the riots highlighting how dangerous the situation was. But during his career, he experienced the loss of fellow officers. Each death hits home for Smith and he remembers his fallen officers with grace and how it affected those who continued to do the job. And the harsh reality that the show must go on is apparent as more calls come in for Los Angeles’ finest. The hours are long and the work is dangerous, and I can only imagine the number of stories that did not make it into the book. Smith’s eyes have seen things that can haunt a person for a long time or make them smile on occasion.

Smith was as seasoned as detectives come but even he could not avoid fate. The physical and mental toll of being a police officer comes into focus as the job wears him down over time. And as the book moves closer to the conclusion, the writing is on the wall. Smith was reaching his end, but I personally did not want the book to finish. His memories had me glued to the screen and I hated to put the Kindle down. I can now see why the book has a five-star rating on Amazon. This incredible memoir is perfect for anyone who is interested in the life of a police officer/homicide detective. Smith is now retired but he will forever be a part of Los Angeles history.

“For those who haven’t been there, know that the great majority of cops are kind and caring souls, driven to the profession with the desire to help others, to protect the weak from bullies and predators, and to stand up for those who are unable to stand up for themselves. We sacrifice holidays and special occasions and sometimes much, much more, to make a difference in our communities. To make a difference in your communities.”

Danny R. Smith

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09FGWT2WV

Reconstruction After the Civil War (The Chicago History of American Civilization) – John Hope Franklin With a New Foreword by Eric Foner

On October 2, 2021October 2, 2021 By Genyc79In American HistoryLeave a comment

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Manson in His Own Words – Charles Manson with Nuel Emmons

On September 28, 2021September 29, 2021 By Genyc79In True CrimeLeave a comment

Emmons The name Charles Milles Manson (1934-2017) is among the most notorious in American history. During August 8-10, 1969, followers of Manson committed a series of gruesome murders that shocked the country and revealed the dark side of human nature. Though Manson never committed any of the murders himself, he helped coordinate their efforts and provided the encouragement needed for the heinous deeds to be carried out. Among the victims was Folger’s coffee heir Abigail Folger (1943-1969) and actress Sharon Marie Tate Polanski (1943-1969). Initially, law enforcement was mystified by the crimes, but a break came in the case through the boasting and subsequent confession of Susan Atkins (1948-2009) who was being held on murder charges in the death of Gary Hinman (1934-1969). Her statements and evidence gathered by investigators lead directly to Manson and others involved. Manson received a death sentence for his role in the crimes, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison after the California Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972. He remained in prison until his death on November 19, 2017. The general consensus is that Manson was the epitome of evil but who was he behind the scenes? And how did he have such a hold over so many people? Was Manson and evil genius or a fraud one would expect to find in the fictional Oz? Nuel Emmons asked himself similar questions and decided to find out for himself by visiting Manson in prison. And the result is this book which gives Manson a platform to speak for himself.

Books of this nature are always subject to controversy because the debate will arise as to how much is the speaker’s own words and what percentage of the book was revised or added by editors. Emmons explains that he knew Manson from prison where he had served time for a variety of crimes. By the time he interviewed Manson he had put his own criminal life behind him. What is clear is that Emmons did visit Manson and had served time with him so there is no reason for me to doubt that he spent considerable time with him. I am certain that some parts of the manuscript were cleaned up by Emmons and the publishers, but I also believe that Manson did provide a significant amount of the information found in the book. And what I read stands in stark contrast to the image of Manson found in pop-culture.

Manson begins with his childhood which has been discussed countless times. An absent father and dysfunctional mother-son relationship set him down the wrong path from an early age and his experiences at the Indiana School for Boys shattered the remaining innocence found in children and young adults. I warn readers that this part of the book is not easy to read. We will probably never know the whole truth about Manson’s experiences there, but they did change his outlook in life. Marriage and fatherhood enter the story and I learned a few things about Manson that I was unaware of before. But as I read through the book, I began to see how he was failed by those closest to him and those in positions of power who could have changed his life. He evolves as a creation and reflection of our society.

It is not long in the story before Manson begins to pick up fellow drifters and build a following. After obtaining a van from a pastor whose daughter he had eyes on, his journey across America kicks into high gear. And one by one, newcomers enter his circle and begin to follow “Charlie” anywhere he decides. The word cult might be too strong to describe the situation, but Manson could have easily accumulated the number of followers that believed in figures such as David Koresh (1959-1993) and James Warren “Jim” Jones (1931-1978). But the question still remains, why did they follow Manson? From what is found in the book, it is apparent that Manson is no genius and in fact, he points out his failures more than once. Of course, there are times where Manson makes himself out to be a good Samaritan but even that is up for debate. His selfishness and lack of direction in life set the stage for his followers to do his bidding even at the expense of their own freedom and the tragic loss of life that came later. His flock began to see him as almost godlike but the dysfunction brewing under the surface soon rises to the top. The use of narcotics combined with black market money-making schemes soon places Manson in tough positions and the actions of followers Charles “Tex” Watson and Susan Atkins initiated the downward spiral that culminated with the Tate-Labianca murders.

Manson tries to absolve him of guilt in the Gary Hinman debacle but personally I was not convinced. But he does admit that he could have prevented the Tate-Labianca murders but chose to do nothing. And his rational for his followers’ actions is just mind boggling but does reaffirm that widespread belief that Manson was out of his mind. But perhaps the darkest part of the book is his reaction to all of the murders. This should remove all doubt that there was a “softer” side to Charles Manson. This part of the book falls in line with the man we know from the media. Emmons largely stays behind the scenes as Manson is talking but he does make this statement towards the end which I believe accurately sums up the myth of Charles Manson:

“The “God” he perhaps was to his followers was turned into a monster for the rest of us. Yet Manson has no superhuman powers, neither divine nor demonic. The image of “the most dangerous man alive” bears little resemblance to the man I have been visiting these past seven years. Perhaps the myth of Charles Manson satisfied our hunger for sensationalism, but certainly it also absolved us of the darker side of the humanity we share with him.”

Charles Manson is gone forever but his ghost and past deeds will remain with us for an eternity. This is an interesting look at figure who was once believed to be the most dangerous man in America. Whether that was true or not is up to you.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004I6DD56

Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History – S.C. Gwynne

On September 18, 2021 By Genyc79In American History3 Comments

Quanah If you have had the chance to view a map of North American Indian tribes prior to the formation of the United States, you may have been just as surprised as I was to see how many were in existence. The story of North America’s early inhabitants known simply as Native Americans, is deeply complex and ultimately tragic. In 2016, 20th Century Fox released Alejandro González Iñárritu’s The Revenant in which Leonardo DiCaprio assumed the role of real-life fur trapper and trader Hugh Glass (1783-1833). The film is hauntingly beautiful with a musical score that adds the right touch of emotion and suspense. Parts of the story are fictionalized but it is largely based on true events. The movie accurately portrayed life in North America in the early 1800s as the United States was continuing to expand well into Native American territories. The violence on screen is shocking but also an accurate depiction of the savageness in the battles that did occur. What is not shown in the film are the wars that had been taking place between tribes. The absence of widespread hegemony between tribes meant that territory was of the utmost importance and the threat of attack from enemies was constant. Some tribes were known to be more dangerous than others and none were as deadly and feared as the Comanches. Their large numbers and presence across large portions of land in the western half of North America made them a threat to anyone who ventured into parts unknown. In this spellbinding book, author S.C. Gwynne tells the incredible story of the Comanche Indians’ rise and fall, and the life story of their last big chief, Quanah Parker (1845-1911).

Before I proceed, I must warn readers that the book is not for the faint at heart. It is an unfiltered look into North America’s violent past and shatters any illusions about white settlers being welcomed with open arms by natives eager to accept the white man’s way of life. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The Comanches had no intention of living the “white way” and were content with their lives. And anyone who threatened that way of life or intruded upon it was fair game. The Comanches commenced raids upon white settlements and against other tribes, pillaging, and plundering. Readers sensitive to descriptions of violence will find some parts of the story difficult to accept. In 1836, the Parker family found themselves victims of the Comanches and during a raid, a nine-year-old girl named Cynthia Ann Parker (1827-1871) was kidnapped with her brother John Richard Parker (1830-1915) and integrated into the Comanche tribe. And as Gwynne explains, this act ignited a four-decade war between whites and the Comanches. And during those forty years, there was bloodshed, heartbreak and a Civil War that changed American history. The Comanches could not have known at the time that the young girl would have more of an impact on the future of their tribe than anyone knew. Gwynne drives home the point with this explanation:

“The kidnapping of a blue-eyed, nine-year-old Cynthia Ann in 1836 marked the start of the white man’s forty-year war with the Comanches, in which Quanah would play a leading role. In one sense, the Parkers are the beginning and end of the Comanches in U.S. history.”

As a primer to the main story, Gwynne provides thorough explanations regarding other tribes important to the story and the involvement of Mexico. The image of life that comes into focus is of one that was short and brutally hard. The introduction of diseases to native tribes decimated populations. Today, smallpox and cholera are well understood and prevented but in the early 1800s they were deadly killers. And those unfamiliar to these viruses almost always faced a certain death. As I read the book, I found myself speechless at times due to the descriptions of daily life. From one day to the next, nothing was guaranteed and the threat of violence from other tribes and bandits was always on the mind of many. And it is imperative to recall that at the time Parker was taken in May 1836, there were only twenty-four states in the Union. Territory west and north was unorganized and further south, the land was part of Mexico. Comanches fiercely roamed these territories and even made raids into what is now the State of Texas. And it is here that the story heats up as the Parker family is torn apart during the Fort Parker Massacre. Some readers might wonder if Washington should have expected such an attack. The truth is that there was much Washington did not know and Texas had been placed in a precarious position as Gwynne explains in this passage:

“Texas was thus left alone, broke and militarily punchless, for ten years to confront two implacable enemies: Mexico on the south, and the Comanche nation on the west and north. The fledgling country would never know peace. Mexican incursions persisted; the city of San Antonio was captured twice by large Mexican armies in 1842.”

The harsh reality is that Washington had no clear answer for the Indians and things in Texas were about to take a deadlier turn. The tragedy of the Parkers deeply concerned Texans and Washington but they were not the only settlers that suffered. Gwynne includes accounts of other settlers who met dark fates as they ventured into unknown territory. Raiding, pillaging, rape and scalping were the tools of the trade and the Comanches did not hesitate to use them. Because of the horrific acts of sexual violence, parents might want to use discretion should they decide to purchase this book for minors. What I learned about the Comanche raids on the settles and other tribes, is interesting for it shows the acrimony that existed between the natives, and it also explains why the U.S. Government had no choice but to find a way to turn the tide in the conflict with the Indians.

Following the massacre, the book is essentially two stories in one. The mission to find Cynthia and John Parker comes into focus but finding them would not be easy. And it is not until the entry of former Texas Governor Lawrence Sullivan “Sul” Ross (1838-1898) into the story that major success occurs. Finding the Parkers was a priority but dealing with the Comanches and other Indians became priority number one. In the process, thousands of men died at the hands of the Comanches. Troops and even the Texas Rangers had never faced a similar enemy and were at times lost in their approach. To drive home the point about the power behind the Comanches, Gwynne sums up their dominance and states that:

” Comanches fought entirely on horseback and in a way no soldier or citizen in North America had ever seen.”

Battles between whites and the natives increase in frequency and some notable figures appear whose names are cemented in American history such as Christopher Houston “Kit” Carson (1809-1868), Samuel Colt (1914-1862) and John Coffee Hays (1817-1883). Carson and Hays learned first-hand that the United States was not prepared to do battle with the Indias. Their opponents possessed skills and knowledge of the terrain that white settlers had not yet obtained. However, Colt invents an equalizer in the form of a weapon that became synonymous with the wild west. And as technology improves, the natives soon find themselves struggling for survival. Further, the United States later employed a powerful asset named Ranald S. McKenzie (1840-1889) who has largely faded into history. His story and later acquaintance with Quanah Parker are discussed here and provide an interesting back drop to the main story being told. McKenzie became integral to the battle against the Comanches but never gained the fame and recognition one would expect. His own tragic life story is revisited bringing home the horrors of war. Cynthia Parker does reappear in the story and her life is equally as tragic and also surreal. Her marriage to former Comanche Chief Pete Nacona (1820-1964) and their children was highly unusual and at the time that knowledge came to light, a majority of people could not believe it. But this is her story which includes separation from her birth family and integration on the Comanche nation which she remained loyal to for the rest of her life. Her son Quanah becomes the focus of the remaining parts of the book as he assumes the mantel over a tribe facing its own demise. But Quanah is not a fool and makes a surprising decision that had an enormous impact on the Comanches. His actions were not isolated but taken typically after all other options had been exhausted. It could be said that his actions sealed the fate for the Comanches.

It is easy to see the Comanches as bloodthirsty savages, but Gwynne is careful not to make that mistake. In fact, he does make himself clear that multiple factors were at play that led to the Fort Parker Massacre and conflict with the American Government. And there was horrific acts of violence committed by all asides. Ignorance of the native tribes and territorial boundaries undoubtedly added to the tensions that simmered. The Comanches wanted to live their way of life on land they believed was theirs. Their ancestors had lived on the land and they believed it was theirs for life. They were fine with their existence and did not desire to become “civilized”. White settlers and government officials often made the mistake of seeing the natives as “savages’ that needed to convert to Christianity and the ways of the white man. But what they did not understand is that the natives had no concept of that, nor did they want to. The Comanches committed unspeakable acts upon many but as shocking as it for me as New Yorker in 2021 to understand, for them it was life as they knew it. Violence played itself out over and over again across this continent and it was accepted by many and employed by others. It is unsettling but it is also part of the history that created the country I call home. S.C. Gwynne has done an incredible job here and this book is excellent. It may be hard to read at times, but this is the story of the Comanches that Americans should know.

ASIN:‎ B003KN3MDG

Billy the Kid: An Autobiography – Daniel A. Edwards

On September 14, 2021 By Genyc79In American HistoryLeave a comment

kid I vividly recall the first time I saw the 1988 Hollywood film Young Guns in which Emilio Estevez played the role of William H. Bonney also known as Bill the Kid (1859-1881). The film was sensational and for many years it was the sole source I had for what Bonney’s life was like. Of course, as a kid I was naive to the way Hollywood works and the liberties that filmmakers take. Today, I know that the story of Billy the Kid is far less glamorous. And while it is true that the Kid did commit several murders, he was not a psychopathic killer or reckless outlaw. Researchers have done their best to set the record straight about the Kid’s violent life. Daniel A. Edwards has thrown his hat into the mix and in this intriguing book, he examines the claim of William “Brushy Bill” Roberts (1879-1950) that he is Billy the Kid and had not been shot by Pat Garrett (1850-1908) on July 14, 1881, in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Brushy’s claim was quite bold, and he has been written off by some as a crackpot. By all accounts, Brushy was born in 1879 and if so, his claim to be the Kid holds no weight due to the fact that it is generally accepted that the Kid was born in 1859, twenty years earlier. However, Roberts did have knowledge of important events that was not widely known in an era before the internet, social media, and the ease of access to information we have today. His claims are eye catching but is he really the Kid? There is much in the book that could lead readers in either direction. I came away with mixed feelings.

In all fairness, Edwards is aware that Brushy’s claims were quite extraordinary. Anyone claiming to be Billy the Kid must have known what would come with that revelation. Further, after the Kid’s death, he was still being placed on wanted posters across the southwest. The Kid had earned a reputation as a gunslinger and was certainly known to the region. I do find it a little hard to believe that Roberts was able to slip away from Garrett’s trap and continue to live under the radar as he claims. But on the other hand, how did Robert know such critical information not widely available? Edwards does his best to rectify the matter and I do believe he presents a compelling case that Garrett might have shot the wrong man in 1881. His attempt to prove Roberts was the Kid does not come off as strong and at times is a little difficult to believe.

The author does provide a good explanation of the Kid’s early life based off of what is known. Historians have never had extensive material to use, and details of the Kid’s childhood are sketchy. The exact month and day of the Kid’s birth are unknown and likely lost to history as record keeping then was not as efficient or present as it is now. What is clear is that the Kid did not live an ordinary life and moved frequently during his childhood. The film was correct about his closeness to John Tunstall (1853-1878) and his participation in the Lincoln County Wars. Edwards revisits the feud providing a clear and concise narrative that does not glorify the Kid nor demonize him. I did take notice of the figures that wore badges at the time. And I believe this is a critical part of the Kid’s story that explains some of his actions. Today it might be hard to picture corrupt lawmen, but it was uncommon in Billy’s time and money talked. This is not an excuse for murder but rather it allows the reader to understand the climate in which the Kid and others deemed to be “outlaws” lived in. It was called the “wild west” for good reason.

The crux of the book is the alleged murder of the Kid by Garrett. I believe there is strong evidence that Garrett may have shot the wrong person that night. The official story of the Kid’s death comes from one major source: Garrett himself. His description is at odds with the Kid we learn of in the book. Added to this are statements by several individuals who were very firm in their belief that Garrett did not kill Billy that night. These statements include sworn affidavits in which the affiants also swear to seeing the Kid in person years after his alleged death. I have no reason to suspect that they were not being honest but is it possible that the Kid did survive but that Roberts was not him? I think it is very possible and that many details about the Kid’s life and death will never be known. It is an issue that has stirred researchers into action for decades but this article might be of interest to those who read this book. The article clears up a few things that are discussed in the book, in particular the absence of a death record for the Kid. The reason for the absence of the document is actually quite simple and makes perfect sense as per the article.

I believe that Edwards had an impossible task in proving without a doubt that Roberts was the Kid. But where he succeeds is in casting doubt on a story that has been widely accepted for over one hundred years. Of course, Garrett may have shot the Kid that night and his story tells exactly what happened. There is the chance that Garrett was mistaken due to the darkness in the room. Sadly, DNA examination is not possible as the Kid’s resting place was washed away in a flood in 1904. There is a tomb at Fort Sumner cemetery today which might contain some of his remains. But without exhumation it will be impossible to know.

In death, Billy the Kid became an American icon and a symbol of the old west. The fascination with his life continues but the reality is that the Kid was one of many men who carried and used a gun in an era filled with lawlessness. There were other gunslingers, some just as dangerous as or even deadlier than the Kid. I am sure that a good number met their fates at the gallows. The Kid would have joined them had he not been handy with a pistol. He took lives but lived in a world that operated on violence and corruption. We are forced to asked if the Kid a cold-blooded killer or product of his environment? You be the judge. The story presented here in interesting and will raise eyebrows but is it accurate? And did Billy the Kid die at the hands of Pat Garrett? Edwards leaves it up to you to decide.

ASIN: B00P44T42M

After the Fall: New Yorkers Remember September 2001 and the Years That Followed – Mary Marshall Clark (Editor), Peter Bearman (Editor), Catherine Ellis (Editor), Stephen Drury Smith (Editor)

On September 11, 2021 By Genyc79In General Reading, Historical Account1 Comment

fall Twenty years ago on this day, life for New Yorkers and Americans changed permanently. The crash of United Airlines Flight 93 and attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon forced America to confront a new deadly reality that terrorism could strike at any time and at any place. Nearly three-thousand people left their homes that morning never to return. As a New Yorker, I can assure you that what we saw that day was beyond horrific and the collapse of both towers at the World Trade Center complex is something that no one will ever forget. Anyone who was in New York City that day and in particular Manhattan, has their own story of what they recall at the moment they learned America was under attack. The editors of this book conducted interviews with various New Yorkers, some of whom were at the World Trade Center during the collapse. Others who gave their time are the heart and soul of New York City and the people we pass on the streets, in the subways, in stores and in other parts of the five boroughs. And through their words, the true horrors of that day come back to life and remind us that tomorrow is not promised.

As I read through the interviews, I noticed the diversity among the speakers which is undoubtedly what makes the book as strong as it is. Some are American citizens by birth and others are immigrants to the land of opportunity. Regardless of their origin, they are each American citizens and deeply affected by what they saw that day. But I must warn readers that some descriptions of the day’s events are graphic and those sensitive to subject matter involving death might want to use discretion. The speakers do not hold back and tell us what they remember as it happened. Videos and photos of people who fell or jumped from the towers can be found online and has been included in multiple documentaries. But reading the words from those who were up close to the events gave me a chill. Further, I realized that the number of people who died in that manner is probably much higher than what has been shown. And these are only some of the memories revisited that are heartbreaking.

Some readers might be surprised at how each person responds to the tragedy. In fact, the changes in each person vary greatly with some becoming dovish in their political views and a few advocating for a tough response. However, not one person is in favor of America embarking on a path of destruction. Their lives were changed forever, and they lost people close to them but what they have to say about 9/11 is deeply profound and a testament to the human spirit that can shine even at the darkest moments. A few of the interviews did stand out and filmmaker/journalist Robert Snyder made this comment which I think exemplifies New York City:

“And I guess the final thing I’d say is that for all the heroism of the uniformed workers [on September 11] we cannot forget that ordinary people, who were not wearing uniforms, helped out too. I was saved by women wearing McDonald’s uniforms. Those were the uniformed people who saved me.”

There were many heroes that day who did their jobs without missing a beat. Others came to the rescue of those in need and aided in the recovery process. That day, all hands were on deck. However, in the wake of the tragedy, opportunists were not far away and one revelation by a volunteer medical technician at the pile (rubble of the WTC) is beyond disturbing. But I cannot say I was completely surprised and believe that it was one example of actions taken by some volunteers present at the pile. Human beings are certainly some very strange creatures at times.

In the years following 9/11 the people interviewed have moved on with life, but the attacks remain with them. Each has struggled in his/her own way but continued through life confronting their demons the best way they know how. The death and destruction they witnessed that day was unimaginable but unfortunately a reality that some re-live every day. Those of us who were not there and observing from a distance may not be able to fully relate to what they deal with, but I believe in learning their stories and reading what they have to say, we give them the time and space they deserve to tell others what they know about a dark that America cannot and will not forget. And nor should it. Highly recommended.

ASIN‏:‎ B005GPSKQ0

This post will be a little different as I decided to include what I remember of the attacks. I have often been asked as a New Yorker, to explain what was taking place in various parts of Manhattan. I did not work at the World Trade Center (“WTC”) complex but had been there many times before September 11th. Though twenty years have passed, it still feels as if the attacks happened yesterday. I am sure the same applies to thousands of others who were in New York City that day. This may sound cliche, but that Tuesday morning began as quiet as one could expect. Others have mentioned in interviews that the weather was perfect that day. I concur and the sky that morning was the bluest I have ever seen. There were no clouds or strong winds, plus there was little to no humidity that day. It was a stunningly beautiful September morning. When I left home, I was upbeat and looked forward to a quiet but productive day at the office.

That morning I decided to take the 3 train into Manhattan, and I recall that very few people were on board. A little before 9:00 a.m., the train reached the Park Place Station where it was held by the station dispatcher. The conductor did not have much to report and seemed to be as confused as the passengers. But I distinctly recall that while the doors were open, a group of office workers entered the car. A woman sitting close to where they were standing, overheard their discussion and said, “what did you say?” One of the men replied, “a plane hit the World Trade Center”. All of us in the subway car looked at each other not knowing what to expect. My first thought was what idiot decided to fly into the WTC? And how could they not see that huge tower? I assumed that the Fire Department would handle it and that someone in a small Cessna or similar aircraft had not been paying attention at the controls. We had no idea of the magnitude of the emergency.

Eventually the train left the station but all of us were left a little uneasy knowing that some sort of aircraft had crashed into the WTC. As the train pulled into 34th Street, I thought to myself that once I reached the office, I could find out exactly what was going on. After walking through Penn Station and down West 31st Street, I reached 21 Penn Plaza at the corner of 9th Avenue where the office was located. I took the elevator up to the 15th floor and while walking down the hall I noticed that the everyone was in the conference room with the television on. This was strange because there were no depositions or meetings scheduled for that day. I poked my head in and caught a glimpse of the television screen. At that point, I realized that the first plane which struck the North Tower was definitely not a Cessna. I also realized that the second plane was no accident. America was under attack. Instantly I headed to the men’s restroom which had windows facing Lower Manhattan. And there I had an unobstructed view of both towers on fire. The black smoke was surreal and at first, I found myself speechless.

I do not recall who, but someone had a radio turned on and we would hear bits of information coming through. The television was still on, but I don’t know if any of us heard what was being said. Cell phones networks were jammed so getting a call to go through was nearly impossible and because it was 2001, I had no idea what text messaging was and doubt that my phone at that time even had the ability to do it. But surprisingly, email was still working so I logged into the computer and sent a message to my girlfriend at the time who was working at John Jay College on West 59th Street. She was already on her way home as most people were. In fact, on 9th Avenue, there were hundreds of people walking north towards the Port Authority Bus Terminal and their apartments. I had never seen so many people walking on 9th Avenue at any given time. The scene was surreal and looked like something out of a Hollywood film. You could hear fighter jets in the skies and emergency sirens everywhere as police, fire and emergency medical vehicles raced downtown towards the WTC. By this time, people had already left our building and were headed to pick up their kids and loved ones. The boss had wanted the staff to stay a little longer until things calmed down but the idea most of us had was to get out of Manhattan. But we assumed that the towers would be fine. You see, up until that point, almost no one thought they would collapse. I did not think that would happen but did feel that a lot of reconstructive work would need to be done to repair the damage from the planes. But when the South Tower fell, the dark reality set in. Not long after that, the North Tower fell, and all hell really broke loose. My boss had been watching from the men’s room and when he came back, his face was serious, and he said “I just watched both of those buildings fall”.

Immediately after the second tower collapsed, the only thought we had in the office was to get out if possible. But the problem was that New York City had gone into full lockdown mode. The tunnels and bridges had been shut down and subway service had been suspended until further notice. Most people just started walking unless they could catch a bus or carpool with a colleague or in some cases a stranger. Surface transit was running but in limited capacity and in some cases re-routed and/or re-deployed for emergency use. Realizing that without the trains, I would be forced to walk for at least several hours, I stayed at the office as there was no clear way for me to get home. I remember that the noise from the fighter jets streaming over Manhattan became louder and made us even more nervous. Further, the collapse of the towers caused debris to damage a Verizon switching station near 7 World Trade Center. The result was interruption in phone service for thousands of customers. At this point, I realized I hadn’t spoken to my parents, but I knew my father was working in New Jersey that day. My mother was near Grand Central Station and far away from Lower Manhattan. I knew she was safe as well, but it was unsettling that I had not been able to speak to either of them. My brother was safe at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York.

We continued to watch the news and gasped at the images from the Pentagon. At this point, the office manager nearly shaking with rage. Rumors had started that another plane might be headed to Manhattan, so authorities took no chances and made everyone leave and get out of Lower Manhattan. But in midtown there were hardly any police on the streets as most had been sent to help out at the WTC and the surrounding area. The news coverage continued to play on the television, and we spent the rest of the morning trying to reach as many people as we could to find out if they were safe. It was clear that no one was working on anything that day. We knew that the office was a safe location and thankfully, there was no issue with the power in the building. Around noon, I went to the men’s room and looked out the window only to see a cloud of dust from the debris blowing across Lower Manhattan. It felt as if we were all in a bad dream that we could not get out of. None of it seemed real. I thought to myself, how could they be gone? The buildings were each over 100 stories tall, how could they collapse to rubble that fast? Nothing made sense that day.

I don’t remember exactly when the news came out about the hijackers’ identities but when it did, I felt a chill because the delicatessen on the ground level was operated by immigrants from Yemen. And we knew they would become a target for anyone looking to vent their rage. Thankfully, I never heard of any acts of violence being committed against them. As we learned more about those fingered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, it became clear that this attack would have long lasting repercussion and life would not be the same again. True, most of us remembered the first bombing of the WTC in 1993 but that was nothing like what we saw that day. The first bombing occurred on a cold February day that brought light snow to the Big Apple. But make no mistake, the bomb set off by Ramzi Yousef sent shockwaves through the city. However, the towers continued to stand and though hundreds were injured there were fewer than ten deaths. I was at home watching the news live as emergency crews moved to contain the situation. Yousef was eventually caught and now resides at the Supermax facility in Florence, Colorado. Had he not been captured; his next plan would have unleashed a wave of terror unlike anything we had ever seen.

If I said to you that none of us were afraid that day, I would be lying. The truth is that we had no idea what was coming next and were horrified at what we saw. And if the Pentagon could be attacked, what was next? The White House? In hindsight I see that would not have happened as all air traffic had been grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”). But at the time, we were unaware of the nationwide shutdown in effect and did not learn of it until later in the day. Around 3:00 p.m., I made plans to leave the office because limited subway service had been restored. Lower Manhattan had become a disaster zone and we did not learn of the full damage to the 1/9 subway line until weeks later. (Today, only the 1 train runs, the 9 was retired several years ago) Outside the building, people were moving fast and trying their best to get home. But one thing I noticed is how quiet the streets were. Many people were in shock and lost in their thoughts. Some were crying as they walked. We were all moving around but when you looked into someone’s eyes you could tell that they too were thinking about what was happening to New York City and America. Later I thought that some of the people I passed might have known someone who worked at the WTC or had a relative there that day. And others had gone nearly an entire day without being able to reach their loved ones. I managed to catch a downtown C train and transferred at 14th Street for a Canarsie bound L-train. At Broadway Junction, the L becomes elevated, and I remember looking out the window and seeing the smoke still rising in the distance. Everyone on the train was staring into the distance trying to comprehend what our eyes were seeing. None one said a word. The attack had left us speechless.

When I finally reached home the apartment was empty. My mother had to wait in Manhattan for an express bus which was delayed due to the tunnel closures. My dad had been forced to camp out at a gas station along route 1/9 once the entry ways into NYC were sealed. The next day he came home exhausted and had one of the stiffest drinks I’ve seen him take. After I took off my shoes, I turned on the television to watch Mayor Giuliani’s press conference. To this day I have never seen him look as somber as he did that evening. After being forced to flee the command center near the WTC complex, the mayor had to confront the reality that thousands of people were feared dead and over 300 firemen were missing. (Later I learned that the siren sounds in video footage were the alarms firemen had that were set to go off if they were incapacitated) The full death toll would not be known for several weeks later. That first night the focus was still on rescuing anyone still alive. Outside my building the street was quiet. In fact, the city was quiet as we came to terms with what happened that day. The nightmare was far from over and soon pictures of those missing began to appear all over Lower Manhattan. There were so many faces that it was haunting to think about their last moments before the collapse. I watched the news that night but to be honest, things became a blur as my mind could not focus on anything. The realization that the WTC was gone was too much to bear. How could NYC exist without the Twin Towers? Nearly every film about New York City had a shot of the towers somewhere in the film. To say that they were iconic is an understatement. I then thought of the people that died. What happened to them? The scenes of the complex showed nothing but wreckage. Two 100 story buildings were reduced to nearly nothing. Where are the people? The thoughts became darker and more disturbing, and I did not sleep that night. The images of the gaping holes in the tower, people jumping and the mushroom cloud of debris spreading across Lower Manhattan stayed in my mind for months afterwards. After the attacks, my girlfriend at that time switched jobs and found a law office position on Broadway a few blocks from Ground Zero. When I picked her up from work in the evenings, I saw the complex up close and it was surreal to see the ground still smoking months after the attacks. The building in which the Central Intelligence Agency (“CIA”) had its office was sheared in half. I had never seen anything like it and hope I never do again.

I am sure that I probably left small details out of this narrative not by choice but rather because they have been suppressed after so many years. Tonight, as I write this, the lights are shining bright at Ground Zero as a reminder of what once stood there twenty years ago. While walking home from the gym, I took a few minutes to take a good look at the lights and the realization that two decades have passed since the attacks. The devastation we witnessed that day was unprecedented but New Yorkers are resilient. The collective effort I saw from people of all backgrounds in the wake of the attacks made me proud to be American and a native of the city that never sleeps. We knew that we could never go back to the way things were on September 10th. We had no choice but to heal, repair and ultimately rebuild. And it is this unwavering determination to keep going that serves as the basis for the pride that runs deep through the Five Boroughs of New York City.

FREETHINKING BIBLIOPHILE

Author: Genyc79