In the Shadow of the Pentagon Attack

Alan and Doris MacDonald, partial-support missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators, are based in Washington, D. C. Alan sent this report the day after the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington.

Alan MacDonald

Posted September 13, 2001

Thanks so much for all the calls and emails checking on us to make sure we're all okay. It's a tremendous encouragement when we're on the receiving end of so much love and concern!

Yesterday was quite a day, to say the least. There still is an air of unreality surrounding the "bombings." I was not impacted other than closing down the office early and sending people home. Fortunately, I came into the office very early yesterday and therefore didn't take my normal route, which is by bus to the Pentagon and from there on the Metro (subway). I pass through the Pentagon almost every morning and often have thought, "This would be a good target for a terrorist attack. Lots of people, symbolic building, etc."

After the plane crashed into the building, the transportation system here quickly ground to a halt. However, the Metro system kept operating for the most part, with some delays and major over-crowding. If I had gone my normal route yesterday, getting home would have been a nightmare. As it was, most of Washington emptied out early in the day.

As our office is close to the White House, I thought it best just to clear out for awhile! My normal 45-minute commute turned into two hours, but it was nothing compared to what they faced in New York City. It was quite sobering to come to work early today and find the streets fairly deserted except for an Army humvee and military personnel on each corner between the Metro and my office. Kind of felt like I was back in the martial law days in the Philippines!

The tragic events are still pretty much a faceless horror. However, names and faces are starting to emerge and make that horror more real. Many in our church family work at the Pentagon in military or civilian roles (there are LOTS of civilians at the Pentagon). Last night we had a special prayer time at church, and the sanctuary was jam-packed. Many shared their experiences of the day. While all our friends are accounted for, many lost co-workers in the explosion.

A number of friends shared experiences of narrow escapes. One man related that stopping for a cup of coffee at the Pentagon coffee shop (called "Ground Zero"!!) meant that he wasn't in his office that was destroyed on impact. He felt the concussion of the crash and saw the fireball rise overhead. Another good friend is an Air Force colonel who had just boarded a shuttle bus for another office complex. As he waited for the bus, he talked to a former boss, an Air Force general. The general turned and walked into the Pentagon building as the bus pulled away. The bus stop is on the side where the plane hit, and my friend watched the plane come right overhead. His general friend is missing and presumed dead.

Many in the church lost co-workers. I expected the Pentagon connections, but was struck by how many in the church were touched by the World Trade Towers tragedy. With so many lives lost, I'm sure we are all going to be touched by it in some way. The son of a family in our church is a United Airlines pilot. The day before, he flew the same flight from Boston that was hijacked. People are impacted in different ways. One of my friends from our Sunday school class is an intelligence officer. He said, "I've worked in intelligence for 22 years. No one ever knows about the successes, because we can't tell anyone. However, we get the blame for the failures...the only thing the public hears about."

Now it's back to work and whatever the "routine" is. There will most likely be severe consequences from this attack, and it will invariably precipitate more turmoil. The options are being reviewed as I write, no doubt. For many of my colleagues working in difficult and sensitive parts of the world, it is going to become even more difficult. Please pray for safety. It's hard to believe at times, but God is at work and with us, even in the midst of the evil surrounding us.

On a brighter note, all the kids are well. James is off to a good start in the new school year. We're very thankful for this.

Thanks again for your love, prayers and encouragement.

Under the shadow of His wings,

Alan