Sergeant Michael Curtin was killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks while attempting to rescue the victims trapped in the World Trade Center.

Sergeant Curtin was a US Marine Corps veteran of Operation Desert Storm. He had served with the New York City Police Department for 13 years and was assigned to ESU Truck 2. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, and brother.

He was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department's Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

On the morning of September 11th, 2001, seventy-two officers from a total of eight local, state, and federal agencies were killed when terrorist hijackers working for the al Qaeda terrorist network, headed by Osama bin Laden, crashed four hijacked planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

After the impact of the first plane into the World Trade Center's North Tower, putting the safety of others before their own, law enforcement officers along with fire and EMS personnel, rushed to the burning Twin Towers of the World Trade Center to aid the victims and lead them to safety. Due to their quick actions, it is estimated that over 25,000 people were saved.

As the evacuation continued, the South Tower unexpectedly collapsed as a result of the intense fire caused by the impact. The North Tower collapsed a short time later. Seventy-one law enforcement officers, 343 members of the New York City Fire Department and over 2,800 civilians were killed at the World Trade Center site.

A third hijacked plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania when the passengers attempted to re-take control of the plane. One law enforcement officer, who was a passenger on the plane, was killed in that crash.

The fourth hijacked plane was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing almost 200 military and civilian personnel. No law enforcement officers were killed at the Pentagon on 9/11.

The terrorist attacks resulted in the declaration of war against the Taliban regime, the illegal rulers of Afghanistan, and the al Qaeda terrorist network which also was based in Afghanistan.

On September 9th, 2005, all of the public safety officers killed on September 11th, 2001, were posthumously awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor by President George W. Bush.

Source: https://tinyurl.com/pb9ry2dv

See a memorial service for Michael Curtin here: https://tinyurl.com/s3kbvrhp

Calverton National Cemetery

I served with Michael Curtin in the Drill Field in 1980. He was one of the most professional Marine I ever met. 25 tears later I still shed tears for my dear friend. I dearly miss him. 

2d LAI Bn. Mike's company had a shootout one night with Iraqi armor. Mike didn't skip a beat. One hell of a man. One damn great Marine. Ooh-Rah Devil Dog!

Thank you for servicing your a hero. Never forgotten. RIP

We will never forget.  Thank you for your service.

MICHAEL SEAN CURTIN

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