10 years after 9/11: Marines, sailors honor victims, fallen brothers in Sangin

10 years after 9/11: Marines, sailors honor victims, fallen brothers in Sangin

Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly

SANGIN DISTRICT, Afghanistan - Aaron Denning always knew he wanted to become a Marine. He was just shy of a month into his freshman year at Royal High School and it was September of 2001. In a matter of days his life and the world changed forever.

The Simi Valley, Calif. native, like most people on the West Coast, woke up to the unfolding events on national television and continued to follow the events for the remainder of the day.

“I remember waking up shortly after six o’clock in the morning. My mom was already watching the news,” said Sgt. Denning, the team chief of Advisor Team 2 assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. “Then, just like every other day, I walked to school. Once I got to school, we didn’t do anything in every one of my classes, each classroom had the news and we all just watched in awe.”

Everyone can recall the mixed emotions of fear, anger and astonishment that pulsed through their veins as they witnessed the most deadly act of terrorism on U.S. soil. Their stories vary, but for the majority of them their daily lives were put on hold as the world became a very small place full of danger.

“That day brought life to a shocking halt, but I remember what my history teacher told us ‘this is going to change everyone’s life,’” reminisced the Iraq and Afghanistan combat veteran. “When the war kicked off, I remember thinking that I wouldn’t get a chance to do my part for our nation. I enlisted before I graduated high school and shipped off for boot camp within a week of graduating.”

On the 10th anniversary of the attacks, Denning and the other Marines and sailors of 1/5 are doing their part serving in Sangin. Their dedication and diligence on a daily basis honors the memory of those lost in the attacks and their fallen brothers who paid the ultimate price for freedom over the past decade serving overseas.
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