Yuma Proving Ground responds to Sept. 11, 2001, tragedy

What happened on Sept. 11 was a shock to all Americans, but particularly to those who work on military installations. The 2,000 workers at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground started that day in the early morning hours, as is typical each workday. When the planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, radios clicked on all over the proving ground. People were worried for, like all Americans, nobody knew how many attacks would take place or what the future held. There was, however, a palpable sense of grim determination that everyone at the proving ground demonstrated that day and through the ensuing weeks.

New security procedures immediately went into effect. Armed guards moved to all gates leading into the installation and barriers went up. Everyone's sense of security awareness went up and daily briefings were instituted among key offices to ensure that all security precautions were being carried out. People throughout the proving ground, particularly those performing security functions, worked long hours. It was serious business and everyone knew it.

For YPG travelers who were on temporary assignments in other areas of the nation and wanted to get home as swiftly as possible, the situation was particularly difficult, as the national air transportation network shut down for several days. Buses, trains and rental cars became the most effective modes of transport and it wasn't until nearly a week afterward that everyone was home and safely accounted for.

One unusual coincidence was that a precision parachuting conference was taking place at Yuma Proving Ground during the week of the terrorist attack at which 136 aviation experts from around the United States and several other nations were present. Many of the attendees hailed from the East Coast, with some from the Pentagon. One Army officer's Pentagon office was destroyed in the attack and another had a brother who worked in the World Trade Center. Understandably, they wanted to get home as rapidly as possible, but of immediate importance was to phone their loved ones. Yuma Proving Ground assisted in every way possible, from arranging access to telephones and computers for e-mail messages, and making special travel arrangements. Travel, however, was difficult, since the nation's air traffic system was shut down for several days. It took a while, but everyone eventually made it home safely and as quickly as circumstances allowed.

There was no indication of a terrorist threat to Yuma Proving Ground on Sept. 11, so the decision was made to continue the military equipment test mission of the proving ground, rather than close, as some local agencies did. As a primarily civilian-operated installation, and with no direct threat, the U.S. Army Developmental Test Command and installation managers felt it was important to keep mission activities progressing on schedule. As Yuma Proving Ground commander Col. James Althouse said to the workforce at that time, “There is no reason to allow the terrorists who killed thousands of our fellow Americans to bring Yuma Proving Ground to a standstill.”

A candlelight service took place at the proving ground as that tragic week drew to a close, offering the workforce an opportunity to reflect on the tragic events that had transpired. Many employees strongly supported an effort to donate emergency supplies to families affected by the tragedy by gathering medical supplies, batteries, pet food, batteries and lots more. The supplies were shipped to New York.

The people of Yuma Proving Ground will never forget Sept. 11, 2001. But out of the darkness of that horrible day has risen a renewed resolve to help make this world a safer place. United in purpose, the proving ground's workforce continues to grieve for the victims of 9/11 and feel for families and friends who lost loved ones.

The Yuma Proving Ground workforce well remembers that approximately 2,000 children lost a parent that day. We remember that one company in the World Trade Center lost more than 700 employees, leaving at least 50 pregnant widows. We remember that 343 firefighters and paramedics, as well as 60 police officers, perished at the center towers. We remember the 184 military and civilian employees, some of whom were personal acquaintances, who gave their lives at the Pentagon.

Everyone at Yuma Proving Ground will long remember the heroes who emerged from the tragedies of those attacks and will continue to develop the weapon systems necessary to combat a global network of terrorism for as long as it takes to end its threat to America and all civilized nations.

Chuck Wullenjohn is the chief of the public affairs office at Yuma Proving Ground