Pentagon hit by apparent hijacked aircraft

Washington, D.C., Sept. 11, 2001 — At approximately 9:45 a.m. (EDT), the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., just across the Potomac River from the nation's capital, was struck by an airliner that had been apparently hijacked. Various news media are providing continuing news coverage.

Persons with concerns for Navy family members that may have been involved in this morning's incidents may call toll free 1-877-663-6772 for updated information as it becomes available. Those injured in the Pentagon have been taken to various area hospitals.

The Navy has activated the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) this morning, and the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, has dispatched the aircraft carriers USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and USS George Washington (CVN 73) to New York City where the World Trade Center was also attacked and very heavily damaged.

In a statement broadcast this afternoon, President George Bush said "Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts. "I've been in regular contact with the Vice President, Secretary of Defense, the national security team and my Cabinet. We have taken all appropriate security precautions to protect the American people. Our military at home and around the world is on high alert status and we've taken the necessary security precautions to continue the functions of your government."

-USN-

http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/news_stories/pentstruck.html

-- Rich Marsh (marshr@airmail.net), September 11, 2001

Answers

Aircraft Carriers Ordered to Washington, New York By Vernon Loeb and Brooke A. Masters Reuters Tuesday, September 11, 2001; 3:12 p.m. EDT

NORFOLK, Va., Sept 11—The U.S. Atlantic Fleet dispatched aircraft carriers to Washington and New York to provide air defenses for the nation's political and financial capitals after Tuesday's horrific attacks in both cities, officials said.

The fleet also sent guided missile cruisers and guided missile destroyers, capable of thwarting air attacks, and amphibious ships, equipped with onboard medical facilities, to New York. "The amphibs have very extensive medical capabilities," said a spokesman the fleet. "The other ships are more defensive in nature, defensive-slash- security."

The U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet, based at Norfolk, Virginia was placed on the highest military alert, "Threat Con Delta" in the wake of what President George W. Bush called an "apparent terrorist attack" on New York and Washington.

Two hijacked commercial airliners crashed into the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center and a third plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, leaving untold numbers of people dead.

"We have not seen an attack like this, certainly not since Pearl Harbor," said Adm. Robert Natter, commander of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

© 2001 The Washington Post Company http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/articles/militaryalert.htm

-- Rich Marsh (marshr@airmail.net), September 11, 2001.