John,

It’s been 21 years since 9/11. Nearly 3,000 innocent Americans were killed in the attacks, including more than 400 police officers, firefighters, and first responders. Every year, we tell the sad stories of that day again to remind ourselves and future generations of how much pain we went through as a country and how, in the end, it brought us together.

9/11 changed America and the world as we knew it. We were fearful and angry, but there was an overwhelming sense of patriotism and compassion. Communities far and wide came together to support one another when we needed it most.

Following 9/11, I felt a strong call to service. After graduating from law school, I joined the military and volunteered to deploy to Baghdad. I went into the Red Zone on a daily basis and prosecuted nearly 100 terrorists, including some of the most dangerous terrorists in the Middle East. After my deployment, I returned to Iraq to cross-examine the Butcher of Fallujah in defense of our US Navy SEALs from SEAL Team 10.

This is my personal 9/11 story.

As time passes, we will encounter more young Americans who do not have a 9/11 story. It is incumbent on all of us to keep the stories of those affected alive.

God bless the United States of America and her troops abroad.