Pentagon 9/11 Survivor Speaks
189 people were killed when the American Airlines Flight 77 smashed into the Pentagon.
Hundreds were injured.
.
Now, one year later, some are speaking out, about what they
saw that fateful day.
News Specialist Shelley Osterloh joins from the Pentagon with one woman's story.
When you're standing outside the Pentagon, as we are right now, you hear lots of planes flying overhead enroute to or from Reagan National Airport.
But those working inside don't hear much. Some of the same measures that secured the hum of phones and computers from electronic snoopers... muffled the warming rumble of the flight 77 that day.
Lieutenant Colonel Marilyn Wills sings her heart at out at church. Offering thanks that she survived when the plane hit her office in the Pentagon.
Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills/Survivor: THE GENTLEMAN SITTING IN MY CHAIR AT MY DESK DID NOT MAKE IT.
Her first realization of the danger... was the sound.
Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills/Survivor: JUST DEAFENING SOUND. THE LIGHTS DIDN'T GO OUT IMMEDIATELY, BUT RIGHT AFTER THAT, A FIREBALL ENTERED THE ROOM, GRAZED THE SIDE OF MY FACE, SINGED MY HAIR.
She says, when the lights went out... her will to live kicked in... and she started crawling... desperately seeking a way out.
Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills/Survivor: EVERY TIME I BREATHED I COULD FEEL MY LUNGS BURN. I COULDN'T USE MY EYES BECAUSE THE SMOKE WAS SO THICK.
And as she crawled... she came across another victim.
Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills/Survivor: IT WAS GOOD THAT SHE CAME WITH ME BECAUSE SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE DONE IT BY MYSELF, BUT I KNEW I WOULDN'T SURVIVE ALONE. I HAD THIS LADY WITH ME.
And not only the one lady, but ultimately Wills is credited with helping six others survive... all jumping out of second story window into the arms of people below. She suffered two collapsed lungs, burns and other injuries.
But now Marilyn Wills sings and praises God... remembering those who died... but thankful she others, survived.
Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills/Survivor: SOMETHING MIRACULOUS HAPPENED THAT DAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE DID SURVIVE.
And some survived, thanks in part, to Lt. Colonel Marilyn Wills who hopes sharing her story... helps others heal.
