The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 galvanized the American people to fight terrorism no matter where and no matter how long.It made the war on terrorism and homeland defense a new focus of the U.S. Armed Forces. Here, U.S. Army Special Forces train in urban combat.

In the World Trade Center’s twin towers, thousands of innocent people burned to death, died jumping to escape the inferno, or were crushed by collapsing buildings. Victims were mothers and wives who had just left their children at school; they were fathers and husbands who had just stepped off the subway; they were international business people; they were struggling restaurant workers and cleaning crews; they were children visiting New York; and they were entire families on airplanes, children sitting between parents. Other victims were hundreds of foreign tourists. All were ruthlessly murdered. More than 80 countries lost citizens that day. One tragic consequence of the Islamic terrorists’ actions was that over 280 of the killed or missing victims were from 10 Islamic countries.

The image of the collapsing burning towers crushing brave rescuers and those they were trying to rescue was seared into the psyches of the American people on that day. But, instead of terrorizing America, that day witnessed a groundswell of determination not seen since World War II. This determination was and remains simple — to seek out and destroy the terrorist organizations behind this hideous crime, no matter where they hide, and no matter what or how long it takes.