This 9/11 story is of the hero—a
Catholic and daily communicant– who tried to take back the plane from
terrorist before it crashed in PA. It is
shared through the eyes of his loving father and was originally published exclusively
in “Amazing
Grace for Families.”
Catholic and daily communicant– who tried to take back the plane from
terrorist before it crashed in PA. It is
shared through the eyes of his loving father and was originally published exclusively
in “Amazing
Grace for Families.”
Looking down over the Omaha beaches of Normandy, France, my son, Thomas Jr.
pointed to the stretch of land which is now a cemetery holding more than 9,000 WWII
American soldiers. “That’s where some of the fiercest fighting took
place,” he explained.
pointed to the stretch of land which is now a cemetery holding more than 9,000 WWII
American soldiers. “That’s where some of the fiercest fighting took
place,” he explained.
My son had planned this trip of a lifetime with me. As a history buff, he
was enamored with the heroism of the men who stormed the beaches at Normandy
over sixty years ago on what become known as D-Day. The operation remains
the largest invasion from sea to land in history; involving close to three
million troops crossing the English Channel to take back France from German
occupation. It was a bold and bloody mission in which rapid enemy fire failed
to halt these heroic men from marching forward into almost certain death–all
in the name of freedom.
was enamored with the heroism of the men who stormed the beaches at Normandy
over sixty years ago on what become known as D-Day. The operation remains
the largest invasion from sea to land in history; involving close to three
million troops crossing the English Channel to take back France from German
occupation. It was a bold and bloody mission in which rapid enemy fire failed
to halt these heroic men from marching forward into almost certain death–all
in the name of freedom.
Although I knew well of the history, I listened intently as my son
explained the battle. “Here they were, coming in under all that fire,” he
said with an otherworldly expression on his face. Then he looked
thoughtful for a moment. “I wonder if I would have had the courage to
come onto that beach under such a hail of fire.” I said nothing.
Tom was deep in thought. But I knew my son would never lack for
courage. He was thoughtful and loving and never backed down in the face
of adversity.
explained the battle. “Here they were, coming in under all that fire,” he
said with an otherworldly expression on his face. Then he looked
thoughtful for a moment. “I wonder if I would have had the courage to
come onto that beach under such a hail of fire.” I said nothing.
Tom was deep in thought. But I knew my son would never lack for
courage. He was thoughtful and loving and never backed down in the face
of adversity.
Just a few months later, on September 11, 2001, my wife Beverly and I would
be desperately praying for our courageous son. After seeing the World Trade
Center Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. get struck by
terrorist-commanded planes, Tom’s wife, Deena called to tell us that Tom was on
flight 93 from New York. He was returning to California from a business
trip. When Islamic terrorists had taken over the plane, he called his
wife. “Are you okay?” she had asked.
be desperately praying for our courageous son. After seeing the World Trade
Center Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. get struck by
terrorist-commanded planes, Tom’s wife, Deena called to tell us that Tom was on
flight 93 from New York. He was returning to California from a business
trip. When Islamic terrorists had taken over the plane, he called his
wife. “Are you okay?” she had asked.
“No, I’m not,” he reported. “I’m on a plane that has been
hijacked.” The crew had been killed and a passenger knifed. The
rest of the passengers were herded to the back of the plane. Tom became
determined to take back the plane before the hijackers could reach their
target, later presumed to be Washington, D.C. He directed Deena to
call the FBI and police.
hijacked.” The crew had been killed and a passenger knifed. The
rest of the passengers were herded to the back of the plane. Tom became
determined to take back the plane before the hijackers could reach their
target, later presumed to be Washington, D.C. He directed Deena to
call the FBI and police.
 |
| Tom Burnett Jr. |
We sat by the phone and television; shocked by the surreal plot our own
dear son was entangled in. We prayed unceasingly, waiting frantically for
word from Deena. Both the FBI and the police were at her house within minutes
to monitor Tom’s calls. He would call her a total of four times, keeping
her posted and asking for prayers.
dear son was entangled in. We prayed unceasingly, waiting frantically for
word from Deena. Both the FBI and the police were at her house within minutes
to monitor Tom’s calls. He would call her a total of four times, keeping
her posted and asking for prayers.
When Tom called again to report that the knifed
passenger was dead, Deena told him about the other hijacked planes hitting
buildings in New York and Washington. “Oh my God, it’s a suicide
mission,” she heard him tell others. Tom noticed the plane
turn and head south. “We’re over a rural area,” he told Deena. “It’s
fields, I’ve gotta go.”
Minutes later, he called again. “They’re
talking about crashing this plane into the ground. We have to do something. I’m
putting a plan together.” The last time he phoned Tom announced:
“We’re going to take back the plane,” he said. “We can’t wait
for the authorities. I don’t know what they could do anyway. It’s up to us. I
think we can do it.”
“What do you want me to do?” Deena had
asked.
“Pray, Deena,” said Tom. “Just
pray.” Then his last words were: “We’re going to do something.”
Moments later, the plane crashed in a field in
Pennsylvania. When we listened to the black box recordings, Tom’s voice
could be heard barking commands as they attempted to take back the plane.
Tom was a tall, strong, former football player. His leadership skills led
him to become chief operating officer of his company. I believe that if he had
not been on the plane that day, the terrorists would have killed a lot of other
people.
Tom’s success in life went deeper than anything
you could put on a score card. He was a devoted husband, father and son,
who put God at the center of everything he did. In recent years before he
died, Tom had given up his lunch hour to attend daily Mass. His desire was to
discern God’s will and always follow it. Surely, God led him during his last
moments in this world.
My wife Beverly and I are still grieving our
son’s loss. We always will. But we have drawn on Tom’s courage and
our faith in God to help us through. We will never put our son behind
us. Sometimes I look up to the sky and find strength in the knowledge
that our son is in heaven and we will see him again some day. He did his
best and it seems certain that Tom prevented a worse loss of life. He was truly
a man of courage.
passenger was dead, Deena told him about the other hijacked planes hitting
buildings in New York and Washington. “Oh my God, it’s a suicide
mission,” she heard him tell others. Tom noticed the plane
turn and head south. “We’re over a rural area,” he told Deena. “It’s
fields, I’ve gotta go.”
Minutes later, he called again. “They’re
talking about crashing this plane into the ground. We have to do something. I’m
putting a plan together.” The last time he phoned Tom announced:
“We’re going to take back the plane,” he said. “We can’t wait
for the authorities. I don’t know what they could do anyway. It’s up to us. I
think we can do it.”
“What do you want me to do?” Deena had
asked.
“Pray, Deena,” said Tom. “Just
pray.” Then his last words were: “We’re going to do something.”
Moments later, the plane crashed in a field inPennsylvania. When we listened to the black box recordings, Tom’s voice
could be heard barking commands as they attempted to take back the plane.
Tom was a tall, strong, former football player. His leadership skills led
him to become chief operating officer of his company. I believe that if he had
not been on the plane that day, the terrorists would have killed a lot of other
people.
Tom’s success in life went deeper than anything
you could put on a score card. He was a devoted husband, father and son,
who put God at the center of everything he did. In recent years before he
died, Tom had given up his lunch hour to attend daily Mass. His desire was to
discern God’s will and always follow it. Surely, God led him during his last
moments in this world.
My wife Beverly and I are still grieving our
son’s loss. We always will. But we have drawn on Tom’s courage and
our faith in God to help us through. We will never put our son behind
us. Sometimes I look up to the sky and find strength in the knowledge
that our son is in heaven and we will see him again some day. He did his
best and it seems certain that Tom prevented a worse loss of life. He was truly
a man of courage.
Thomas Edward Burnett and his wife Beverly reside in
Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Minnesota and retired from
Richfield Public Schools after thirty years of teaching.
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Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Minnesota and retired from
Richfield Public Schools after thirty years of teaching.
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For more inspiration, check out Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families. Your children will laugh while learning big spiritual lessons with Dear God, I Don’t Get It! and Dear God, You Can’t Be Serious.
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