A Generation Shaped by 9/11: Stories of Americans Inspired to Serve
10 Sep 2021
Stars and Stripes | By Nikki Wentling
WASHINGTON — The morning of Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of young Americans watched as terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City and Pentagon, many of them following the coverage on televisions wheeled into their classrooms.
Some of those Americans were inspired to join the military, eager to be part of the fight against the country's enemies.
During the year after 9/11, more people enlisted into the military than in any single year since then. In total, 181,510 Americans enlisted into active-duty service that year, and 72,908 joined the reserves, according to the USO. Before the attack, many weren’t aware of the threats against the United States.
“We all grew up really fast,” said Sophia-Helene Meese de Tricht, who was inspired to enlist.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/09/10/generation-shaped-9-11-stories-of-americans-inspired-serve.html
