1st Theater Sustainment Command’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company conducted a 3.43-mile foot march at Fort Knox, KY on Sep. 9, 2022. The unit tailored the ruck march’s distance to honor the sacrifices of the 343 first responders killed in the line of duty during the terrorist attacks of Sep. 11, 2001.
That number, 343, includes both senior and junior responders such as Father Mychal Judge, a 68-year-old fire department chaplain, and 22-year-old Ladderman, Michael F. Cammarata.

While this year’s observance marks the 21st anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attacks in American history, today’s U.S. Army is filled with Soldiers who are too young to remember the day or were not yet born on that day.

Spc. Kyle Vohl reflected on the ruck march’s significance. “It mirrors the losses suffered by our country’s paramedics and firefighters on that day,” said Vohl. The twenty-something Human Resource Specialist went on to remark that, “It is important we show solidarity and support with our first responders just as they have for us during the Global War on Terror.”

The 1st TSC’s Soldiers’ morale was high. Leaders and Soldiers of all ranks let out calls of encouragement while maintaining a fifteen-minute mile pace.

Special Troops Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Julio Reyes, brought the unit together after the march to talk with his Soldiers about the twenty-one years that have passed since the attacks. Lt. Col. Reyes recalled how the events of that day changed the lives of so many. “9/11 means a lot of different things to a lot of different folks here,” said Lt. Col. Reyes. “For a lot of us, it was one of the driving factors for why we joined our great institution,” commented Reyes. “It was a life changing event for all.”

While the unit’s event took place on Friday, Sep. 9, the 1st TSC’s Soldiers will undoubtedly also set aside some of their own personal time over the weekend to remember and reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of those 343 first responders.