RAF MILDENHALL, England -- On Sept. 11, 2001 I was deployed to a base in Saudi Arabia outside Riyadh. It just happened to be where (retired) Gen. (Norman) Schwarzkopf ran the first Gulf War. 

It was late in the afternoon in Saudi, and five of my closest friends and I were in the hot tub in the complex there, which had a pool and gym right next to it. 

Working one day on, one day off, as the fire department does, we usually had the complex to ourselves. 

That day, a woman was swimming laps in the pool when someone came running out of the gym and over to her screaming something about terrorist attacks. 

We had no idea what she was talking about, as we were a good distance away, but we could tell she was upset about something. 

At the same time, some British troops - who were also stationed there - said something about the Pentagon being attacked. 

Nothing seemed to make sense, so we decided we should go back to the fire station. As we walked in, we caught sight of the television just as the first tower collapsed. 

It felt so surreal - like we were watching some kind of action movie - especially since we were so far removed from the states in our deployed location. 

Everybody was obviously concerned and upset, and just trying to sort through their own emotions. It wasn't as if we could have done anything even if we'd been in the states, but being that far removed, we felt that much more helpless. It was just the incalculable sadness. 

The security around the base became very tight, and we had to carry our (chemical warfare) gear around with us. There was a report that a contractor had tried to bring a car that had anthrax in it onto the base, and another report of a car bomb in Riyadh. It was just such a whirlwind of overwhelming sadness and confusion. 

I knew I was there with some of my closest colleagues from the Travis (Air Force Base, Calif.) fire department, so I wasn't scared for myself or the guys I was with. 

We just felt such disbelief at what we were seeing. Everyone was glued to the television and trying to enhance the security around the base because (it) is only 1 square mile by 1 square mile. It was originally a settlement built for the Bedouin people. Ironically enough, it was built by (Osama) Bin Laden's construction group. 

I just remember that day - it was so hot outside. The strangest part was just walking back to the fire station, not really concerned. It's like there is a line in history, and we were right up against that edge. We were told about it, then we walked back to the fire station, getting closer and closer to that precipice, to were we walked in and saw it on the television. 

And, from the moment we saw it, everything was different. 

Looking back on it, it makes you realize the imminent change in your perspective of your country, and your security, and how this can happen. 

For me, Sept. 11 is a day for reflection, to remember those people who gave their lives and made sacrifices to try to save others.