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On the morning of September 11, 2001, Lt. Colonel Russell E. Jamison, Jr. was at his workstation at the Pentagon when the hijacked American Airlines Flight #77 crashed into the west side of the building, part of a dramatic sequence of events that changed America and altered Jamison's life as a proud United States Marine. In his words: Major Gen. Robert C. Dickerson (left) presents Lt. Colonel Jamison, his wife and daughter, with the Bronze Star Medal to honor Jamison's "dynamic leadership while serving as the brigade senior advisor with Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq, in keeping with the highest traditions of Military Service and reflecting distinct credit on himself and the Marine Corps." Camp Lejeune, NC. "My office was close to the crash site, within 100 yards, but on the "A" ring so we were not immediately subject to fire. That said we knew we had been hit and started evacuation procedures. Once outside we established accountability of everyone in our section and then turned to in order to render whatever assistance we could. All hands turned to manning litter teams in evacuating the wounded, helping recover bodies for the interim morgue set in the courtyard and identifying parts for the FBI evidence collection team One can hardly imagine the emotional range we felt, from anger toward the cowardly bastards responsible for this tragedy to concern for our fellow men and women, trapped dead or suffering in the rubble. "After several intense hours we were informed that the U.S. Army's Old Guard had arrived and we were thus relieved of duties and dismissed for a number of days until new office workspace could be arranged for us. As I walked across the South Parking Lot of the Pentagon I kneeled and picked-up a small fragment of slate blown from the roof by the blast that devastated the area. I thought 'This piece of history I will carry with me as a reminder to never forget!' and holding on to that piece of slate would serve to reinforce my commitment in what has turned out to be 'the Long War.' That same piece of slate would later deploy with me to Iraq." LESSONS LEARNED: FROM CAMP LEJEUNE TO IRAQ TO RIDGEFIELD, NEW JERSEY Only eight months following 9/11, Lt. Colonel "Russ" Jamison received his greatest gift prematurely - the birth of his daughter, Paige, in May 2002. As a father he was blessed. As a Marine he was reminded of the role he must play in facing the challenges in a world of terrorism. As a human being he was acutely aware of the pain and suffering that touched the men, women and children affected by the events of 9/11. Jamison confers with the Commanding General of the IIF (now 1st Division)(right) as well as the Commanding Officer of the 6th Brigade (now 3d Bde, 1st Division)(center) - Al Hamdaniyah, Iraq. Jamison is a trained warrior and currently the Joint Training System Specialist within the Special Operations Command of the Marine Corps. He joined MARSOC upon his retirement after more than 25 years as a Marine - both enlisted and later commissioned. Trained as an Armor Officer, Jamison completed his tour at the Pentagon and returned to II Marine Expeditionary Force in the summer of 2004.

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