I can't find the words for this day...

Some weeks ago, I signed onto a project called the 2996 Tribute. It’s a wonderful idea; volunteer blogmasters would be given basic information about one of the 2,996 victims of the 9/11 attack, and we would write a tribute to that person. It’s a righteous and decent thing to do, and a fine expression of remembrance for those innocents murdered in the name of Islamic fanaticism. I hastened over to the project’s website, and made my pledge. I was assigned the name of a Naval officer killed at the Pentagon on 11 September 2001.

I’m a fair hand at self-expression when I think I have something to say. I can knock out a 1500-word column in about an hour and a half, with editing and revisions. I would do a little research, and then compose something hopefully eloquent and meaningful to remind people of the reality of the life and death of Lt. Commander P. J. Murphy.

Then, as I began my rudimentary research, I realized that this is one of the hardest things I have ever tried to write.

I did not know Lieutenant Commander Patrick Jude Murphy. The Navy lists his biographical information as follows:

Patrick Jude Murphy

Home of Record: Flossmoor, Illinois

Commissioned: Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, University of Mississippi, May 21, 1986

Rank: Lieutenant Commander

Date of Rank: July 1, 1996

Designator: Submarine Officer

Age: 38

Duty Stations: [These are submarines, for those unfamiliar with the designations.]

USS Sand Lance (SSN 660) 10/87 - 11/90

USS Daniel Webster (SSN 626) 11/90 - 09/91 Separated from active duty 09/91

Awards and Decorations: Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

As I started to do more in-depth research to personalize this tribute, I suddenly froze, and couldn’t continue. A wave of emotions washed over me, creating a classic case of writer’s block. The rage at the atrocity, alternating with the tears, was as fresh and raw as they were five years ago. I never learned if Commander Murphy had a wife and children, but I assume he did. It’s not that I don’t care; it’s that I care too much. The totality of the horror of 9/11 was too much to explore. Like Commander Murphy, I also didn’t know these people:

NAVY ACTIVE DUTY:

• Yeoman 2nd Class Melissa Rose Barnes, 27, Redlands, CA
• Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Kris Romeo Bishundat, 23, Waldorf, Maryland
• Electronics Technician 3rd Class Christopher Lee Burford , 23 Hubert, North Carolina
• Electronics Technician 3rd Class Daniel Martin Caballero, 21, Houston, Texas
• Lt. Eric Allen Cranford, 32, Drexel, North Carolina
• Capt. Gerald Francis Deconto, 44, Sandwich, Massachusetts
• Information Systems Technician 1st Class Johnnie Doctor Jr., 32, Jacksonville, Florida
• Cmdr. Robert Edward Dolan, 43, Florham Park, New Jersey
• Cmdr. William Howard Donovan Jr.,, 37, Nunda, New York
• Cmdr. Patrick Dunn, 39, Fords, New Jersey
• Aerographers Mate 1st Class Edward Thomas Earhart , 26, Salt Lick, Kentucky
• Lt. Cmdr. Robert Randolph Elseth , 37, Vestal, New York
• Storekeeper 3rd Class Jamie Lynn Fallon , 23, Woodbridge, Virginia
• Aerographers Mate 2nd Class Matthew Michael Flocco , 21, Newark, Delaware
• Capt. Lawrence Daniel Getzfred, 57, Elgin, Nebraska
• Electronics Technician 1st Class Ronald John Hemenway, 37, Shawnee, Kansas
• Lt. Michael Scott Lamana, 31, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Operations Specialist 2nd Class Nehamon Lyons IV, 30, Mobile, Alabama
• Electronics Technician 2nd Class Brian Anthony Moss, 34, Sperry, Oklahoma
• Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Jude Murphy, 38, Flossmoor, Illinois
• Illustrator/draftsman 2nd Class Michael Allen Noeth, Jackson Heights, New York
• Lt. Jonas Martin Panik, 26, Mingoville, Pennsylvania
• Lt. j.g. Darin Howard Pontell, 26, Columbia, Maryland
• Aviation Warfare Systems Operator First Class Joseph John Pycior Jr., 39, Carlstadt, New Jersey
• Information Systems Technician First Class Marsha Dianah Ratchford, 34, Prichard, Alabama
• Cmdr. Robert Allan Schlegel, 38, Gray, Maine
• Cmdr. Dan Frederic Shanower , 40, Naperville, Illinois
• Chief Information Systems Technician Gregg Harold Smallwood, 44, Overland Park, Kansas
• Lt. Cmdr. Otis Vincent Tolbert , 38, Lemoore, California
• Lt. Cmdr. Ronald James Vauk, 37, Nampa, Idaho
• Lt. Cmdr. David Lucian Williams, 32, Newport, Oregon
• Information Systems Technician Second Class Kevin Wayne Yokum, 27, Lake Charles, Louisiana
• Chief Information Systems Technician Donald McArthur Young, 41, Roanoke, Virginia

NAVY CONTRACTORS:

• Julian Cooper, 39, Springdale, Maryland
• Jerry Moran , 39, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
• Khang Nguyen, Fairfax, Virginia
• Marvin Woods, 58, Great Mills, Maryland

U.S. Army List of Casualties:

• Ms. Samantha Allen, Hillside, MD, Department of the Army Civilian
• Spec. Craig Amundson, U.S. Army, 28, Kansas
• Master Sgt. Max Beilke , U.S. Army (Ret.), Department of the Army civilian, 69, Laurel, Md.
• Ms. Carrie Blagburn , Department of the Army civilian, 48, Temple Hills, Md.
• Lt. Col. Canfield D. Boone , U.S. Army, 54, Indiana
• Ms. Donna Bowen , Department of the Army contractor, Verizon Communications
• Sgt. First Class Olmedo Jose Orlando Calderon , U.S. Army, 44, Puerto Rico
• Ms. Angelene Carter , Department of the Army civilian, 51, Forrestville, Md.
• Ms. Sharon Carver , Department of the Army civilian, 38, Maryland
• Mr. John J. Chada , Department of the Army civilian, 55, Manassas, Va.
• Ms. Ada M. Davis , Department of the Army civilian, 57, Camp Springs, Md.
• Lt. Col. Jerry D. Dickerson , U.S. Army, 41, Mississippi
• Ms. Amelia V. Fields , Department of the Army civilian, 36, Dumfries, Va.
• Dr. Gerald Fisher , Department of the Army contractor, Booz-Allen and Hamilton
• Mr. Cortz Ghee , Department of the Army civilian, 54, Reiserstown, Md.
• Ms. Brenda C. Gibson , Department of the Army civilian, 59, Falls Church, Va.
• Mr. Ronald F. Golinski , Department of the Army civilian, 60, Columbia, Md.
• Ms. Diane Hale-McKinzy , Department of the Army civilian, 38, Alexandria, Va.
• Ms. Carolyn B. Halmon , Department of the Army civilian, 49, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Sheila Hein , Department of the Army civilian, 51, University Park, Md.
• Maj. Wallace Cole Hogan Jr ., U.S. Army, 40, Florida
• Mr. Jimmie Holley, Department of the Army civilian, 54, Lanham, Md.
• Ms. Peggie Hurt , Department of the Army civilian, 36, Crewe, Va.
• Lt. Col. Stephen Neil Hyland, Jr., U.S. Army, 45, California
• Sgt. Maj. Lacey B. Ivory, U.S. Army, 43, Missouri
• Lt. Col. Dennis M. Johnson , U.S. Army, 48, Wisconsin
• Ms. Brenda Kegler , Department of the Army civilian, 49, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. David W. Laychak , Department of the Army civilian, 40, Manassas, Va.
• Maj. Stephen V. Long , U.S. Army, 39, Georgia
• Mr. Terrance Lynch , Department of the Army contractor, Booz-Allen and Hamilton
• Ms. Teresa M. Martin , Department of the Army civilian, 45, Stafford, Va.
• Ms. Ada L. Mason , Department of the Army civilian, 50, Springfield, Va.
• Lt. Col. Dean E. Mattson , U.S. Army, 57, California
• Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Maude , U.S. Army, 53, Indianapolis, Ind.
• Mr. Robert J. Maxwell , Department of the Army civilian, 53, Manassas, Va.
• Ms. Molly McKenzie , Department of the Army civilian, 38, Dale City, Va.
• Maj. Ronald D. Milam , U.S. Army, 33, Oklahoma
• Ms. Odessa V. Morris , Department of the Army civilian, 54, Upper Marlboro, Md.
• Mr. Ted H. Moy , Department of the Army civilian, 48, Silver Springs, Md.
• Ms. Diana B. Padro , Department of the Army civilian, 55, Woodbridge, Va.
• Spec. Chin Sun Pak , U.S. Army, 24, Oklahoma
• Capt. Clifford L. Patterson , U.S. Army, 33, Alexandria, Va.
• Mr. Scott Powell , Department of the Army contractor, BTG Inc.
• Ms. Deborah A. Ramsaur , Department of the Army civilian, 45, Annadale, Va.
• Ms. Rhonda S. Rasmussen , Department of the Army civilian, 44, Woodbridge, Va.
• Ms. Martha M. Reszke , Department of the Army civilian, 36, Stafford, Va.
• Ms. Cecelia E. Richard , Department of the Army civilian, 41, Fort Washington, Md.
• Mr. Edward V. Rowenhorst , Department of the Army civilian, 32, Fredricksburg, Va.
• Ms. Judy Rowlett , Department of the Army civilian, 44, Woodbridge, Va.
• Mr. Robert Russell , Department of the Army civilian, 52, Oxen Hill, Md.
• Chief Warrant Officer William R. Ruth , U.S. Army, 57, Maryland
• Ms. Marjorie C. Salamone , Department of the Army civilian, 53, Springfield, Va.
• Lt. Col. David M. Scales , U.S. Army, 45, Cleveland, Ohio
• Ms. Janice Scott , Department of the Army civilian, 46, Springfield, Va.
• Mr. Michael L. Selves , Department of the Army civilian, 54, Fairfax, Va.
• Ms. Marian H. Serva , Department of the Army civilian, 47, Stafford, Va.
• Mr. Don Simmons , Department of the Army civilian, 58, Dumfries, Va.
• Ms. Cheryle D. Sincock , Department of the Army civilian, 53, Dale City, Va.
• Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith , U.S. Army (Ret.), Department of the Army civilian, 55, Alexandria, Va.
• Ms. Patricia J. Statz , Department of the Army civilian, 41, Tacoma Park, Md.
• Ms. Edna L. Stephens , Department of the Army civilian, 53, Washington D.C.
• Sgt. Maj. Larry L. Strickland , U.S. Army, 52, Washington
• Maj. Kip P. Taylor , U.S. Army, 38, Michigan
• Ms. Sandra C. Taylor , Department of the Army civilian, 50, Alexandria, Va.
• Sgt. Tamara C. Thurman , U.S. Army, 25, Alabama
• Mr. Willie Q. Troy , Department of the Army civilian, 51, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
• Lt. Col. Karen J. Wagner , U.S. Army, 40, Texas
• Ms. Meta L. Waller , Department of the Army civilian, 60, Alexandria, Va.
• Staff Sgt. Maudlyn A. White , U.S. Army, 38, Christianstead, St. Croix, Virgin Islands
• Ms. Sandra L. White , Department of the Army civilian, 44, Dumfries, Va.
• Mr. Ernest Willcher , Department of the Army contractor, Booz-Allen and Hamilton
• Maj. Dwayne Williams , U.S. Army, 40, Alabama
• Mr. Edmond Young , Department of the Army contractor, BTG Inc.
• Ms. Lisa L. Young , Department of the Army civilian, 36, Germantown, Md.
  
  They all have one thing in common: they got up, went to their various jobs at the Pentagon on 11 September 2001, and they all died there, along with the passengers and crew of American Airlines Flight #77. Half a decade later, what happened at the Pentagon seems almost like a “forgotten front” in the terror war. The World Trade Center seems to get all the attention. Whether it’s because the loss of life in New York was so much greater, or because the military traditionally “takes care of its own”, or because the liberal media instinctively dislikes the military, I don’t know. The heroes of Flight 93, who gave their lives to prevent even more mass murder, and the heroes and victims in New York, appear to get the sharpest focus in the numerous tributes that have been offered this month.
  
  If I am wrong here, and someone has made a movie or a comprehensive documentary about the Pentagon on 9/11, would my readers please let me know?
  
  Some of the difficult emotions stirred on this day are quite dark, and should not be exposed too often. In addition to my anger at the fanatics who committed mass murder on this day, I become unbalanced with rage when I read some spurious trash that the attacks of 9/11 were self-inflicted, and in particular that a missile was “seen” to strike the Pentagon. The people who babble this nonsense wouldn’t recognize a missile if it struck them in their posterior aspect.
  
  Please go back up the page to the list of names, and in addition to Lt. Commander P.J. Murphy, take a moment to remember each and every one of them in your prayers and in your hearts. Not just on this special day, but every day. What Jewish people have said about The Holocaust for years now applies to all of America: NEVER FORGET!