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On 11 Sep 01, at 0800 hours, I received a call from Mr. Larry, the father-in-law of my eldest daughter, telling me, "America is attacked. See on TV."

I, along with my wife, was on a visit from India to my daughter and staying on Oak Drive in Menlo Park and was having morning Indian tea.

The moment I switched on the TV, we were shocked to see visuals of an aircraft smashing into World Trade Center towers in New York, followed by billowing smoke and fire, the building crumbling down, people trying to flee from the scene. These were accompanied by a non-stop graphic running commentary.

Thereafter we also saw a visual of an aircraft, hijacked by the terrorists, crash-landing near the Pentagon in Washington. They wanted to crash into a high-security area but were prevented by the brave pilot.

Later on, I attended a commemorative function in the memory of victims of 9/11 held at the senior center in Redwood City, where I was working as a volunteer. I expressed my and my countrymen's sympathy and solidarity with the victims and the people of U.S.A. I also pointed out that India had been facing terrorism from across the border for the last two decades.

Lt. Col. M.S. Pelia (retired)
Durham Street
Menlo Park

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