9/11 Attacks: I Was Nearly Killed in the Pentagon

Twenty-five years ago today, I was almost killed in the Pentagon. As a recently promoted one-star rear admiral, I was very proud of the new gold insignia on my sleeves. My job was on the Navy staff, and my office was on the E-Ring — the outer band of corridors in the massive building — on the side of the Pentagon that, at 9:37 a.m., was struck by American Airlines Flight 77.