The September 11th attack
O'ahu firefighters, police reflect
By Lynda Arakawa and Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
They are trained to deal with disaster and trauma. In the back of their minds, they always knew that what they do for a living means putting their lives in jeopardy.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
But that doesn't make it any less difficult for Honolulu firefighters and police officers to watch endless news reports that hundreds of their Mainland colleagues are dead or missing after the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York. The sad news has also underlined, for at least some of them, the real dangers that come with the never-ending job of saving and protecting lives.
A ceremony that drew a capacity crowd was held last night at Borthwick Mortuary in downtown Honolulu for the victims of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Honolulu police officers and firefighters took part in the service, which included candle lighting and flag ceremonies. The Kaumakapili Church Choir also participated.
Will Kapua Jr., a firefighter for about three years, doesn't know any of the New York firefighters who died or are still missing. But he wants to be there to help those still under the rubble.
"I personally feel sad," he said at the Kaka'ako Fire Station. "I wish, if anything, we could be there helping them dig out trapped firefighters. All around the world, it's like a brotherhood. I'm sure that if that happened over here, firefighters around the world would try to help.
"It makes you think of the dangers of this job. Every day, I try to spend a little more time with friends and family. Make each day count. You never know when something like that will come here. ...
"For the guys who were in the building, they were doing their ultimate sacrifice to save other people."
Fire Capt. Jerry Spencer of the Central Fire Station also wishes he could be in New York. He said he has been a firefighter for so long — 27 years — that it has almost become like "a routine job." But last week's tragedy changed that.
"It's something we really don't think about all the time, putting our lives up to save lives. That's our job. We know in the back of our minds it's a dangerous job and we could end up giving our lives. ... This is a big reminder," Spencer said.
He said firefighters, while being in disbelief soon after the attack like everyone else, have not let emotions surrounding the tragedy affect their work.
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| William Kapua Jr.of the Kaka'ako station has placed a black band of tape across his firefighter's badge in remembrance of New York counterparts dead or missing after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Said firefighter Ryan Hagiwara of his New York counterparts: "They make me proud to be a firefighter."
Folks at the Honolulu Police Department are also feeling the shock of seeing their fellow officers so hard hit by the attacks.
Assistant Police Chief Boisse Correa said emergency workers can't help but feel for those who ran toward the disaster rather than away from it.
"You see yourself in their shoes," Correa said. "Police officers are walking around here with tears in their eyes."
Correa said that before the terrorist attacks, he and other Honolulu police officers visited New York, met officers from there and had them visit here. He figures those officers now are spending their time, doing what they can to cope with the recovery. So he'll wait before he even tries to track down those friends and acquaintances.
Reach Lynda Arakawa and Robbie Dingeman at 525-8070 or at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com
