09/11/2026
As our nation marks the 25th anniversary of September 11, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District pauses to honor the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the brave responders who answered the call in our country’s darkest hour.
"You could smell the fuel, the dust... To see the faces on the families that were there—that was horrible."
— James Sowell, USACE Nashville District (Ret.)
Within hours of the attacks in 2001, five dedicated Nashville District team members mobilized to Ground Zero. Operating from Pier 90 in Manhattan, Sowell drove and maintained an Emergency Command and Control Vehicle (ECCV), establishing a critical communications lifeline for firefighters, police, and emergency personnel when standard networks were completely severed.
Working around the clock, the Nashville team restored vital satellite links and radio interoperability while emergency management personnel helped lead the 24-hour Emergency Operations Center for the North Atlantic Division.
We remain steadfast in our promise to never forget the sacrifices made that day or the quiet dedication of those who helped rebuild and recover.
🏛️ Learn More: Explore the broader engineering mission at the National Museum of the United States Army newest exhibit, "Steel and Stone: Engineering the Response to 9/11," now free and open to the public.
