SPOKANE, Wash. – For one local Marine Corps veteran who was on inactive reserve during 9/11, the act of terrorism meant he had to prepare his family for the possibility of being called to serve again.
Ken Morey served eight years in the Marine Corps from 1995 to 2003.
On September 11, 2001, Morey, an inactive reservist at the time, was working at a warehouse in California operating a forklift when he learned that America was under attack.
Morey was deployed so many times during his service that he lost track, often working overseas and traveling the world. But he had never encountered terrorism on this scale, especially on American soil.
“We’re trained in the military to do things all over the world in other countries,” Morey said. “But this was happening on U.S. soil. This was not something we were ready for or used to. Kinda scary, to be honest…”
After the second plane crashed and it became clear that 9/11 was a terrorist attack, Morey’s supervisors advised him and the other veterans at work to be prepared in case they were needed.
Morey contacted his family to let them know he might have to deploy, but his thoughts were immediately with the victims’ families. He was heartbroken by the stories of the lives lost in the attacks.
Today, Morey emphasizes the importance of remembering the innocent lives lost and honoring the first responders who died trying to save others.
