MTMC supports IMA working at ground zero - Military Traffic Management Command

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, Nov-Dec, 2001 by Larry D. McCaskill

As co-workers watched the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center unfold on national television, Diana Green wept.

The next day, with tears in their eyes and pain in their hearts, Green and her co-workers in the Readiness, Mobilization and Reserve Affairs Office of the MTMC Operations Center, began calling up individual mobilization augmentees to check on their status.

Reaching the home of one of the reservists, a co-worker made a heart-wrenching discovery. One of the command's IMAs, Col. Robert Blaich, was a New York City firefighter and had not been heard from since the tragedy.

"I hadn't thought I knew anyone hurt in either the Pentagon or the World Trade Center," said Green. "Then I heard about our soldier and my heart felt as if it stopped. He performs his active training in the building here, but I've never met him. He worked here, and to me, that meant he was part of our working family."

Blaich is assigned to MTMC's Operations Center at Fort Eustis.

"We kept trying to contact him on the telephone and searching the missing personnel data banks on the Internet, and weren't having any success" said Green.

"Finally, one of my co-workers received an email from him saying he was OK."

Blaich's note simply said he had been working as part of the relief effort at ground zero at the World Trade Center. He spent three days putting out fires and never had a chance to go home or contact anyone.

Since then he has shared a few e-mail conversations with his MTMC family.

"The amazing thing is once his job was done in New York City, he wanted to come on board here and report for duty," said Green.

Touched by Blaich's devotion to the New York City Fire Department and to the military, Green and her co-workers decided they wanted to do something to directly help Blaich and other firefighters: A care package drive. Unlike other drives, they are not concentrating on obtaining socks, gloves or other clothing. Green is looking to reach out and touch their souls.

"Reading his notes about the devastation and death surrounding him every day reminded me of when my daddy was back in Vietnam and how we would send him a care package," said Green, as her voice broke.

"I know others are giving socks, clothing and things like that. I think they also need something that will lift their spirits and let them know there is a lot of good in this country."

Blaich responded positively to the donations--especially the home-baked cookies.

In fact, he told Green, "Chocolate chips always lift a man's spirits."

"I thought we could concentrate on sending them letters, home-baked items, poems, anything that will bring a smile to their faces and make what they are doing go away," said Green. "if only for a moment or two."

"It's times like this when you have to step back, be thankful for what you have and extend yourself to others." Green said.

Support from MTMC Operations Center employees was plentiful and thoughtful. Donations, ranging from homemade cookies to scented candles, were neatly boxed and shipped to Blaich and his rescue team.

"The people here have been so supportive and kind," said Green, as she began boxing up the donations. "People brought in a little of everything. I've got books, cookies, music and CDs.

"One of our employee's children made cards and bought face wipes and lip balm. Someone even donated doggie biscuits for the rescue dogs."

Clutching tightly to a small bag, Green smiled and said it was her favorite. In the bag were a few rolls of LifeSavers candy.

"An employee said her son put them in there because that's what he said the firemen were--life savers."