National Collegiate Athletic Association

Remembering 9/11

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In their own words: William Walker

The vice director of athletics at Air Force is also a 1983 graduate of the Academy.

The applications to the Academy went way up in the first few years after 9/11. That day certainly had an impact on the kids who were here. It changed the way we look at our jobs.

The traditional role of the Air Force evolved into a special-operations type of mission and counter-insurgency. It immediately changed the mindset of the Cadets. Kids who come here now were around 8 to 12-years-old when it happened. The kids absolutely know what they are getting into when they decide to come here. They know it is a different type of Air Force than when I was a Cadet and graduated. These guys know they will be deploying a lot and that will be tough on their families. This is a much more expeditionary Air Force than it was. It’s been that way for 10 years, and everyone who comes here knows that.

I graduated in 1983. I was on the wrestling team. Before I came to the Academy (as an administrator) – and I had just gotten here when 9/11 happened – I was a commander of the First Helicopter Squadron out at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. I flew twin-engine Huey helicopters. When the Pentagon was hit, it was near the helipad. I landed on that helipad literally hundreds of times.

When 9/11 happened, I wanted to do more than I was able to in Colorado Springs. My unit did a tremendous job, and I was very proud to see how they did on that day. My unit was there for immediate-response support for national security and continuity of operations plans. You felt helpless being here at that time. I knew so many people doing so many things that day.

I remember on 9/11 that I went for a run that morning. I was going back into the gym. I heard something on the radio about a plane that just crashed into the World Trade Center. I thought I remember hearing that it was a Cessna plane. I remember thinking that it was pretty weird for something like that to happen. It was still big news. I just couldn’t figure out how a Cessna could be that far off course. Then when the reports started coming out that it was an airliner, and then the second one hit. I went into the athletics director’s office.

We had the television on, and we just stood there watching. I saw some  helicopters from my unit flying around in the background on some of the news reports. It was a helpless feeling not being able to contribute.

The Academy was locked down. This is a huge tourist attraction. That changed instantly. We couldn’t let people on the base, and that had a huge impact on the Academy and the athletics department. That’s the minor stuff.

As far as the Cadets went, 9/11 was the topic in every single class, whether it was chemistry or softball. We were all breaking in new ground. Everyone knew they had a serious commitment. Those Cadets all wanted to step up to the plate.

We had a huge increase in applications the next few years. My generation wasn’t around when Pearl Harbor happened. From hearing my parents talk, I know people were mad that we got violated and everyone wanted to step up.

The applications have tapered off in the last few years, but it is still higher than it was before 9/11.