This fascinating, first-person account of the battle to save the Pentagon on 9/11 portrays the dramatic efforts of hundreds of firefighters, police, and other first responders as they fought to contain the largest building blaze in American history. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Creed, a U.S. Army officer and volunteer firefighter, and U.S. News and World Report staff writer Newman (Bury Us Upside Down) interviewed thousands of people who were involved after terrorists crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon at 9:38 the morning of 9/11, while personnel were grouped around TV sets watching the Twin Towers attack in New York. Within two minutes, fire crews from Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria and Washington, D.C. converged on the site, joining military and civilian personnel working to rescue those trapped in the building-Surgeon General P.K. Carlton working to help the injured, Navy SEALS stationed to catch people jumping from windows. But it was the firemen who took the lead in the search and rescue effort, fire control and helping to secure classified material in structurally compromised areas. Creed and Newman provide a minute-by-minute account of operations during the first two days, carrying the story through 9/21 when, with the situation under control, the FBI took charge of the crime scene. This gripping account of national tragedy and personal heroism gives readers a you-are-there look at the disaster that claimed 189, and a real appreciation for the work that kept it from claiming more. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Creed, a U.S. Army officer and volunteer firefighter, and Newman (U.S. News & World Report; Bury Us Upside Down) interviewed over 100 people who endured the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon and its aftermath. Their book describes the epic struggle of firefighters, police, first responders, and others from the time of the attack through the completion of rescue and recovery operations ten days later, when the matter was turned over to the FBI. About 90 people are listed at the front of the book as "recurring characters," and their heroic efforts are detailed in firsthand accounts that, in a concise, readable manner, show just how difficult it was to operate effectively in the midst of one of the largest structure fires in U.S. history. The task simply of coordinating government, fire, and rescue agencies in battling the inferno and rescuing victims and then of conducting forensic and related crime-scene investigations was monumental. The authors also discuss how the Pentagon maintained its command infrastructure despite the attack and how victims, rescuers, and their families were affected. It is the personal stories, told moment by moment, that should keep readers interested and inspired. This gripping, often harrowing story of courage, conviction, and survival is recommended for all collections, although those looking for a more comprehensive account should also consider Pentagon 9/11 from the Department of Defense Historical Office. David Alperstein, Queens Borough P.L., Jamaica, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Adult/High School A well-paced, well-written account of a successful battle. It was fought by numerous civilian firefighting companies from the Washington, DC, area, especially those from Arlington County, where the Pentagon sits. The response by firefighters from the Virginia and Maryland suburbs, the District, and also from nearby Reagan National Airport was admirably rapid and the dangers to them were immense; the relatively small loss of life in the Pentagon is a tribute to their courage and skills. Hundreds of workers civilian and military risked their lives and certainly harmed themselves by breathing toxic fumes laced with petroleum and building dust to save coworkers, and readers will learn of the many people deserving recognition. What many who are familiar with the 9/11 attacks do not know is that those gathered to save the Pentagon, normally occupied by 25,000 people, were warned that another commercial airliner was potentially inbound, perhaps to finish the job. This saga is much less well known than the story of the New York City Fire Department responding to the attacks on the World Trade Center. Teens will be enlightened and inspired by this valuable book. Alan Gropman, National Defense University, Washington, DC Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Maps	x
Recurring Characters	xiii
1 The Towers	3
2 AA 77	11
3 0.8 Seconds	22
4 "Bump it to a Third"	31
5 Just Like Vietnam	44
6 "This is Gonna Suck"	51
7 "Send Nobody Inside"	64
8 Fourth Door on the Left	78
9 Evacuate?	85
10 Hellhole	97
11 Cigarette Break	105
12 Spectators	115
13 Helo Ride	122
14 1,000 Degrees	130
15 Retreat	142
16 Untenable	155
17 The NMCC	166
18 The FBI	177
19 Everybody Out of the Pool	185
20 Making the Team	195
21 Rookie Mistake	205
22 "Daddy's There"	216
23 Trench Cuts	226
24 Sensitive Missions	234
25 Open for Business	244
26 Home for Dinner	252
27 Night Ops	262
28 Planting A Flag	274
29 Beer Run	282
30 Ladder 16	291
31 Explain This	298
32 "We Can't Let Them Win Now"	309
33 The Widowmaker	319
34 The Tiller Cab	331
35 Stress Management	342
36 The Eagle Scouts	353
37 Low Tide	362
38 The Navy Command Center	371
39 Twelve Victims	380
40 Flare-Up	389
41 "A Great Find"	400
42 The Jaws of Life	407
43 Traffic	415
44 The T-Rex	423
45 The VIPs	434
46 A Ceremony	444
Epilogue	453
Acknowledgments	459
Notes	463
Index	469

Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.