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John Makely / The Baltimore Sun file
Early in the morning on September 12, 2001 rescue workers remove debris by hand from the ruins of the World Trade Center towers as the sunlight hit the remnants of the north tower.
The first time I took a picture of FDNY firefighter John Gates was September 12, 2001, at Ground Zero. Of all of the men and women there that day, digging through the wreckage, John stood out. His face said it all: Disbelief at what had just happened, the gravity of the events that were unfolding. The sadness we felt.
I had arrived at Ground Zero around 3 AM on September 12. At the time, I was living in Baltimore and working as a staff photographer for The Sun. When the first plane hit the North Tower, I checked in with my office and began making my way to lower Manhattan. When I arrived about 18 hours later, the scene was unfathomable.
John Makely/ The Baltimore Sun file
FDNY firefighter John Gates looks on as a stretcher carrying a rescued police officer is loaded into an ambulance while others applauded the rescue at Ground Zero on September 12, 2001.
In a 2002 interview Gates talked about what he was thinking at that moment.
"I was thinking about all my friends that could still buried in the rubble. It took a few days before you started to realize that you're probably not going to find anybody alive and that was kind of overwhelming that there were so many guys just from my firehouse alone, not to mention my cousin, Neil Leavy from 217 Engine who died in the collapse too. He was one of the first guys recovered, because he was in the south lobby, they found him within the first week. I didn't even know he was missing in this picture. I was still kind of hoping that they would find pockets of guys still alive."
As I started working, I noticed two lines of firefighters forming amid the jagged debris. The firefighters passed down their lines a stretcher holding a Port Authority Police Officer who had been found alive deep in the wreckage of the towers. It had taken hours to free the officer, and as the stretcher got closer to the ambulance at the end of the line, applause began to build. It would turn out to be one of the few bright spots in the months to follow.
John Gates from Ladder 3 in the East Village was one of the firefighters in the line carrying the stretcher that day. To me, his expression captured the sadness, confusion, anger and so many other raw, inexplicable emotions that a lot of people were feeling. Even though his face had such an impact on me, he was at that time still just a face in the crowd. It wasn’t until a year later that I would even learn who John Gates was.
John Makely/ The Baltimore Sun file
New York Firefighter John Gates , photographed in front of the firehouse with other members of the company on July 28, 2002. He was originally photographed on Sept. 12, 2001 as he watched as a Port Authority policeman loaded into an ambulance after getting pulled alive from the rubble early in the morning on Sept. 12. As fellow rescue workers applauded, Gates looked on, hoping that they would find more people alive. His firehouse alone was missing twelve men.
Ten years after that first image of John Gates standing in the line of firefighters at Ground Zero, his expression and everything it said still remains with me. I visited with John again this year, documenting through still images and video how the 9/11 attacks affect him today, and what the past decade has been like for him.
John Makely / msnbc.com
Retired FDNY firefighter John Gates stands outside of the Ladder 10 firehouse, across the street from an entrance to the World Trade Centers construction site, on the day that President Obama came to the site to lay a wreath for the fallen. Gates was forced to retire after the toxic cloud of debris from the collapsing towers damaged his lungs.
John Makely / msnbc.com
Retired FDNY firefighter John Gates plays with his youngest son Oliver at home in Staten Island.
John Gates was married just four months before the attacks. Today, he and his wife, Maricel, have two energetic boys. Still, there are reminders every day of what he lost on 9/11. The toxic dust that John Gates inhaled during the attacks and in the weeks after that he spent searching through debris has left a permanent mark on him and over 1400 other FDNY personnel. Besides the initial shock that all survivors had to overcome following the attacks, Gates now has to find a new path without the friends who died or the career he loved. Like many, moving forward after the attacks of 9/11 has been an ongoing challenge. This is my report:
Retired New York firefighter John Gates' life was changed irrevocably by the toxic cloud at Ground Zero. Ten years later, he works to figure out a new path forward—while never forgetting the past.
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Just remember in December 2010, In the US senate , which political party filibustered taking care of the medical needs of these heros. Ill give you a clue, that party of new trash. The same party that screamed cruelty when tax subsidizes were proposed to be cut for oil companies in the same year. I guess Firefighters and Responders and Police don't give as much money to the republicans as the Koch Brothers did when they bought the soul of the now corrupt republican kingdom.
Nice. Put a political spin on it from the start
Here's a thought. How about saying thanks for people like John Gates and his brothers and sisters that ran into hell to help others.
How bout saying thanks by taking care of em. Just cause your embarrassed by the antics of a political party doesn't mean its sick treatment towards these heros is something that should not be talked about . Its in the article stupid.
Posing for a picture with them like every republican did after the disaster and then kicking them when they got sick needs to be talked about. They are more than a poster. They are heros. treat em like it.
It was Republicans who had any and all cancer provisions struck from the final Zadroga bill! This was their requirement for passage of the bill! As of today Cancer rates for First responders is 20% higher then the general population and only 7 years after 9/11. Expletive the Republicans and the horse they rode in!
Mike is dead right. Republicans waved the flag of 9/11 for years, using their status as the supposed "law and order Party" to capitalize on Americans' rage and despair. They prattled on about honoring our heroes. Then they blocked every piece of legislation proposed to help these heroes. And our heroes today? The men and women who serve us now in fire stations and police precincts across this country? Now they are public enemy number one -- useless government workers who use their unions to leach of American taxpayers. Turn on any cable news station and you'll hear some Republican guest talking about how government jobs aren't "real jobs," and that these heroes are overpaid.
You want to talk about taking care of our heroes? Me too. But don't dare try to have that conversation without talking about the Republican elephant in the room -- the "law and order Party" doesn't care two steaming figs about fire fighters and cops, living or dead.
I dare big time, revelwoodie! I have nothing but contempt for all of you trying to turn this young American's wonderful contribution to his COUNTRY into an obscene political concept .... He embodies AMERICAN HONOR. You petty little people certainly cannot even spell the word, let alone define it.
Reducing this to a political debate is not only dysfunctional, it's reprehensible. And since it appears that it is the opposition against Republicans who are yowling... sheesh you identify yourselves as weak, whining, wimps! (And I would say the same thing if you were Republicans demonizing their opposite political party. Interesting that they have not, so far.)
Go soak your collective heads.
Really, SecondSight1? Republicans haven't demonized Democrats? Wow. I guess you haven't watched the news in, say, the last decade at least? And I would also point out that while the rest of us are criticizing Republican elected officials, for specific failures of policy that are a matter of public record, your response is to flame US -- not Democratic lawmakers, but the posters on this board. "Weak, whining wimps" we are. We're "reprehensible," "obscene," etc., and "can't even spell HONOR!!!" And for what crime are we so abused? By pointing out our government's failure to address the health needs of 9/11 first responders, in an article about the health needs of 9/11 first responders. That's really precious.
Revelwoodie..... then go to the article where you say that is happening. It is not this one. Can't you read? This article where are are responding has nothing to do with politics in any way shape or form.
This article honors a man who saved lives on the site of 9/11.
Anyone who tries to turn the thread of this particular article into a political harangue is severely mentally challenged. This is the time to honor the decent and brave who should be our inspiration. In your case you are destructive and illustrate the worst aspect of our citizens. There are primitive countries who would welcome the likes of you uneducated, graceless boors. Go there. Spare us.
With all due respect I will first respond by saying thank you to the first responders...coming from a former Army Sergeant that was deployed to Kuwait during 9/11.
As for Mike and revelwoodie, here is an example as to why they were attempting to turn down additional benifits. They already had a full benifit package...but I guess that's not enough? In 2006 James Zadroga died. What did he die from? According to an autopsy report signed off on by New York City’s two chief medical examiners, he died after injecting himself with ground-up prescription drugs in solution — nothing to do with 9/11 at all.
Once the Trial Lawyers Association see a big pile of taxpayer gold glittering on the horizon, there is no stopping them. Obviously they goofed by not stuffing those Chief Examiners’ pockets with cash before they wrote their report, but they came back with this James Zadroga Act.
Now look: We should all be grateful to those first responders who showed up at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the Flight 93 crash site. Face this fact, though: We live in a nation where any widespread sympathetic emotion will be milked for cold cash by unscrupulous attorneys. These first responders all belong to well-funded public-sector unions with extravagant benefit packages. There are people here in New York City retired on disability from the Fire Department, nothing to do with 9/11, pulling down $200,000 retirement packages in their fifties, with full medical coverage on top. Nobody’s going short of anything here. The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund added cream on the pie, as James Zadroga’s own case illustrates.
I understand there are MANY political frustrations and angers about whats going on today. but instead of flaming eachother and pointing fingers at one another, how about taking a minute and remembering those who gave their lives this day 10 years ago, and those who are CONTINUING to give their lives. MAYBE even taking the 5 seconds of time out our precious day and saying THANK YOU, to a firefighter, police officer, service member or veteran. AND to those who will use this tradgedy for selfish gains ....F*CK YOU I hope you rot in HELL!!
Instead of castigating political parties today why don't we all remember the innocents who lost their lives on 9/11, their families and friends, the heros who all gave their lives to save as many people as they could and then lost their own lives, and the heroic men and women who waded into the ruins to do all they could to find those lost in the debris. May God Keep You All, both the fallen and the living, Safe in His Arms!
We need to set aside these petty political differences and give thanks to the men and women who sacraficed there time and lives for us on that faithful day and everyday following. You don't even have to say anything just next time you see a firefighter, EMT, police officer, and or a soldier just stop smile and shake someones hand....GOD BLESS US ALL!
Many thanks to ALL heroes!
I remember.
Thank you John Gates. My thanks and prayers go out to you and your family. That goes as well for the extended family of your fellow firefighters who risked thier lives along side you that fateful day. A steady diet of tragedy, loss and death makes for a tough life at home for many firefighters, not to mention police officers and those in our military who have defended our freedoms. That is a world that many of us don't see. There will always be those in the shadows (and some who dare to claim they walk in the light) who would scheme to profit from tragedy in it's many forms, both natural and man made. History proves that there will always be wars fought in the name of religous and political beliefs, and most certainly those behind the scenes in the political and corporate world who seek to profit from these. My hope is that one day (and soon) we can cut the corporate access to our political leadership, significantly lower the staggering amount of funding sent overseas and put that money back into rebuilding the roads and infrastructure of OUR country. And to all of those in big business who move thier plants and bank accounts overseas to avoid paying a fair wage or environmental laws, you can pack up your familys and take your sorry a***s to live amongst those you exploit. This country needs jobs. Bring back our steel mills and the manufacturing jobs, continue to search for and develop new sources of energy and start producing something again. Force fair competition upon the health care and insurance industry and for God's sake, put some teeth back into policing those shell game players on the stock exchange to keep 2008 from happening again. Some of us who lost most if not all of our retirement would like to keep the same thing from happening to our children. There, I'm done venting. Again, to John Gates and all of the rest of those who suffered loss and tragedy during 9-11 and the ensuing wars in Iraq and Afganistan, God Bless You and Keep You Safe.
if you don't like the politics MOVE ON to the next post. Those buildings were full of ASBESTOS. Of course the people who were on the scene looking for survivors are suffering from exposure. They deserve treatment from the government agencies that payed them to be there with their pathetic cheap filter masks that people wear to cut grass
I will never forget the interview with a woman that day who was dusty, tears streaming down her streaked face, feeling ashamed and embarassed that she had run out of the building to save herself, but there were so many young men, running into the building, into the fire. I am here on the west coast and yet, this one moment connects me to the east coast - I hope they finish those buildings, that memorial space very soon. We need to heal and move on, not forget mind, just move on.
How bout saying thanks by taking care of em. Just cause your embarrassed by the antics of a political party doesn't mean its sick treatment towards these heros is something that should not be talked about . Its in the article stupid.
Being there on that day, I can say that I have nothing but the greatest appreciation for these men and women that put their lives on the line, whether a it's a huge building or a small house. they truly are heroes.
Don't turn this into a political harangue. It has nothing to do with politics. It has to do with America... all of us... and the heros like John Gates to whom we owe our thanks, our honor of him ... and love, because he is the best of this nation.
Yes, this involves politics. Americans have such short memories and unless they are personally or physically impacted by the 9/11 tragedy, they tune out the political posturing. The Republicans block any legislation that involves helping others particularly 9/11 First responders. The truth hurts...
Yea screw the 1st responders and their health problems... but stand on rubble, wave a flag and fool the ignorant.
United We Stand, Divided We Fall.
Remembering the heroes and victims of 9/11.
Just to say thank you for everyone on here who has given respect and thanks to my cousin John Gates and the many others that helped, gave, and lost that day. I understand the political underlying currents around it, but the respect and thanks should be the priority of this interview.
I proud to be an American because America got hearts. We help each other, inspire each other, and even uhhhh remember our heroes. America do heroism, we are good Americans and we appreciated our heroes for what they did for us.
yes some Americans have short short memories,except these humans didnt think twice about going into those building to to help,just like all insurance and Congress and Senate should and vote for care for all those who lost there lifes in building on ground ,in the wars since then.and the injuries should be paid for not a bailout on going because that is what there services are to all of us.We didnt lose our spirit ,or our soul ,just our memeries figth war except my son or daugther,help people all over the world except in the United States.Canada Americans and America helps many people and nations ,but who helps her,she forgives but Japan and alot of nations dont even pay their parking tickests or fair share of funding for the United Nations,if dont lkie us leave or help and treat your owm people fairly Musins,Jews,Afica,Brazil,Cuba,and so on fact only country in the world where you can speak freely with getting killed for your thougths good or bad
This is one of the few responses on here that makes any sense! Most other countries do not even come close the the U.S.A. when it comes to helping their fellow man! But they sure like to take our help and our money and usually never repay either! And yet the same people that bomb and rob America are the first to come here, bring their families and have a life that they would not if they stayed in their country of origin!!
there some typos but you get the idea
On Monday 09/05/2011 a guy walked into my hotel with a mask and a gun ordering me to the floor whiles he emptied the cash register. I felt how bad it was to have one's freedom tempered with. I wrote and performed this song title "You Never Left---Seth Tuffour" for all the 9/11 victims and all of our fallen service members. Please use the below link to access the song. God bless America.
Thank you John Gates! Thank you for helping all those people on that awful day. You will never be forgotten. Even though I don't know anyone personally involved in 9/11, I think of this day quite often and have shed many tears and felt immense gratitude for what our firefighters and police did on that day. I have never known how to say thank you and I do not know if you will get this, but, thank you so much for all that you did.
I totally agree about leaving politics out of this discussion today. We can talk about that any day, but today let's jointly honor the fallen and the brave that saved so many on that infamous day. This is a great nation that has her flaws, but one of them is not our care or love for one another, we know how to pull together when times are tough. Please don't try to divide that, on this day, pray for these heros as you do our veterans. and today, talk about those things that we do that are good and loving and brave. Tomorrow let's work on our flaws again.
This article should not be turned into a political debate. Who cares what party screwed over who. The whole point of this article is to honour one of the many men who ran into the world trade center that day and made it out then turned around and searched for his brothers and sisters. I am a firefighter. I just joined my volunteer fire department around this time last year. I dont care about any political crap on the hill. I only care about when we get a call going to the call and saving the life that we have been called to save or to put out the flames on a burning building. That is all that truely matters.
I remember 9/11 well, like most of us. I do have one question regarding the plane that went down in PA.
That day I was at work listening to the radio, when the reports started to come in, I stopped working and paid attention to the radio. After the 2nd plane hit the tower the radio reported that some f-16s were deployed to look for a another plane. not 20 mins later they said that there was a crash in PA.
If you look at the carnage of the PA crash, it is a crater, not a long trench. that implies that the plane went nose down. To this day I think we shot down that plane, and I agree with the decision, and also why it would be covered up. I understand why the govt would shoot it down, to save more lives. I also understand why they wouldnt say they did it, for obvious reasons.
I am NOT a 911 consipirator, I just remember what I heard. I understand in the chaos reports can be false, but scrambling fighter jets after 2 planes hit the TC seems highly likely.
It is well known that a cell phone call got out on that flight. The govt would know it was under terrorist control. What would you do? You HAVE to shoot it down. You must. For the dmg that could be caused is greater than the lives on the plane.
These are just my opinions based on what I heard that day. I remember that day well.
Yea...good thing they didn't have an opportunity to load ammunition onto the planes. They had planned to ram the jetliners with their F-16's. The Muslims extremists probably killed the pilot and then the passengers probably killed the Muslim pilot leaving none to fly the plane. That would be the equivalent of putting a toddler in a car with stilts to touch the petals and sending him off to the interstate at rush hour.
So quick you are to point out the discrepancies of others like Seth who tried to make something positive of 9/11 yet you spout crap like this. Nice job.
11 eylül saldırısında hayatını kaybeden ınsanları saygıla anıyorum tum new yorkda yasayanlara selamolsun
11.sep.2011
Every year when I come back to ground zero to remember my Mom and Dad, I was always under the impression that it was a handfull of radiacal religious fanatics who took their lifes. But, with all the political finger pointing garbage going on, I guess I have to start worrying if my pilot is democratic or republican. Why hasn't anybody pointed their finger at the independent party? They did just as much as the democrates or republicans did, to prevent the attack. I would hitch-hike home, just to avoid some of these political fanatics I'm reading here, but I'd probably catch a ride with a radical TEA party fanatic. Do you really understand how incredibly idiotic it sounds to drag politics into this?? See you next year, Mom, Dad.
Can we save the political flame wars for Monday?
For those that lost their lives on 9/11.
A salute to these firefighters who risked their lives to save others. Few go above and beyond like our soldiers and members of the community who serve and donate their time to the good and well being of others.
A thumbs down to these hippy non-commonsensical overly obsessive socialist democrats who are in favor of disassembling our nation one "failed stimulus" after another. They simply don't get it and it is pointless to argue. Throw more money at a problem when it keeps growing worse. You people take showers with your clothes on. Seriously.
Lets let next election decide the future. Common sense is not so common. And apparently 80% of this country is more or less lacking of it.
And how dare this turn into politics. This is truly maddening.
Dare I point out that you continued the political discussion with your opinion. The extremists who attacked us that day didn't care what party they belonged to, didn't care what nationality they were, the color of their skin, sex, or age. Those who put their own lives on the line to try to help save those affected that day should be commended and yet you spew more political crap.
The article is about one who was on the front lines that day. Were you there helping? Even those helping that day and the days following didn't care about political boundries. Those affected are Americans, your brothers and sisters. The discussion should remain about those who put all their selfish interests aside to help others in need. Too bad you and others can't do the same.
Blablablablabla blabla.
i hope i said that right
If we elected an Amish president, congress, and senate, we could get this country moving FORWARD again.
May every feminist who wished for 2 children, and 400 million less people in American today...Ladidadada...this Peter hopes you die of breast cancer. I know the Universe is infinite. I wish the last 30 years someone would explained to 50 million young men, IF half a mortgage was paid by these whiners (or even promised). it would of been okay to date any of them. Sneaky way to embezzle good women and parents out of their savings...with men not marrying and staying at home til their 40s...sad...with 300 million American less born paying into SSI, to this last Peter, this mean NOTHING TO ME...just bankers and politicians that could of provided me with 3000 dollars in love at my age of 19 to save 22 years of pain described in the first 5 sentence for simple health care. just skin and builidings and big tough men and women...pretty stupid in an infinite universe i should place this over a soul and love...Have a good time next few decades when 3 billion are coming your way with your open immigration policies and deadlocked government. Go to hell where you belong since braless feminists in the 70s. Its all realted tools!
*related
God bless John Gates and his family of firefighters and those who were lost on that horrible day.
My heart just breaks everytime I think of that day!
Thanks to all our men & women in uniform , whether it be Fireman, Policemen,E.M.T's or those Proudly serving our Branches of service, AirForce, Army,Navy,Marines,Coast Guard.
John Gates, we love you and we will forever be grateful for you and all those that were lost.
"YOUR A TRUE HERO" .." AMERICA'S HERO " !
I don't know speaking English very well.but I am fire fighter 38 year a go from venezuela , retired from Petroleos de venezuela (PDVSA).I am living in Orlando florida 10 year a go.next time yours can contact me throu my Email address. I want a Know if today the high rise standard NFPA 101 is mandatory and/or any other code System that mandatory avoid that other 343 firefighter died on duty. thanks a lot.wait response
yo, no hablo bien ingles,Pero yo soy bombero desde hace 38 años de venezuela, retirado de petroleos de venezuela (PDVSA), tengo 10 años viviendo en Orlando florida y quiero saber, si actualmente el codigo NFPA 101 es de obligatorio cumplimiento o otro sistema de codigo obligatorios que evite que otros 343 bomberos mueran trabajando. muchas gracias, espero respuesta
thank a lot, any question feel free contact me . Antonio.
Technically these guys needed those white Hazmat suits with o2 tanks to work in that area. The masks that they're wearing are for when you're cutting wood in a woodshop. I wouldn't even wear a paper mask while scraping old paint. At the very least they should have had on those $50 respirator masks with the 2 charcoal filters attached.