‘9/11 Reunited’: Powerful Docuseries Brings Heroes & Survivors Together for First Time in 25 Years

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day? For many it was more than images on a TV screen. They were in or around the World Trade Center and Pentagon when the deadliest terrorist attacks in U.S. history unfolded. Now 25 years later survivors, rescue workers, and witnesses come together for the first time since those tragic events for 9/11 Reunited. 

The three-part National Geographic docuseries, in collaboration with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and 72 Films, sees these individuals recount their harrowing experiences. This led up to an emotional meeting with the strangers who were forever impacted by, and in numerous cases, saved their lives. That was true for Lieutenant Colonel Marilyn Wills, who was working in the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building. She valiantly led five others behind her to safety amid flames, smoke, and debris to a second floor window. 

It was outside the building where Commander Craig Powell, a Navy SEAL on his second day on the job, caught her and helped others as they fell out. Wills was awarded the Purple Heart and the Soldier’s Medal for her acts of heroism. Powell also received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the highest non-combat recognition from the Navy. 

Ahead of the August 21 premiere, we caught up with the two as they opened up about the powerful doc and their everlasting bond. 

What were your initial thoughts about the project? Did you have any trepidation about participating? 

Cmdr. Craig Powell: As far as trepidation, no. I thought it was really interesting, I didn’t know the direction it was heading. I thought it was just, okay, 25 years later going around visiting. I didn’t understand the scope or I would say benefit. But I got to meet Marilyn. There are a whole bunch of gaps being filled that I never knew happened that was closing the loop. I was excited, if nothing else, I was more interested in learning the other stories. I knew my story. I’d been there and done that. At the time I didn’t know about Marilyn or anything else. We were just revisiting and people were asking me stories. I was throwing out other names of a bunch of people that were there the same day while they were still doing it. There were a lot of stories that hadn’t been told of the other people that were doing great stuff. I was excited. 

Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills: No trepidation from me as well. I always know that I’m able to and willing to share history. The good news was it wasn’t going to be about that day and more a reunion with two people who had not seen each other since that day. So, that was very rewarding and exciting for me. 

Can you each talk about what your roles were? 

Marilyn: Starting in 2000, I was the Congressional Affairs Contact Officer for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. Any time they had to go to the Hill to talk to congress members or senators, that was my job to get him ready with the facts and information needed. That was my job during that time. 

Craig: It was basically special operations SEAL. It was our vision that we were putting opposition requirements into the Navy’s budget. That’s what I was going to do. The second day I was trying to turn on my computer and finish an acquisition training course that I had to do before I was able to go to an acquisition training course. 

Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills and Cmdr. Craig Powell, who worked at the Pentagon during the 9/11 attacks, take a photo together after being reunited. (National Geographic/Virginia Sherwood)

You’re both so humble about what you all did. Craig you called Marilyn a hero with the way she was able to bring all those others to the window to save them. For Craig, it was just doing his duty in his eyes. How was it to give each other the flowers you each deserve and realizing the impact you had? 

Marilyn: It’s important to give people their flowers while they are here. To let Craig hear me say those very small words of thank you. It’s just a blessing we were brought together so we could share. Then Craig filled in some blanks I had no idea about. That was important as well with this piece and talking to him now. 

Craig: First of all, you are saying give flowers. I’ve never heard it worded that way before. I’m learning a bunch of things and getting educated about the world I’ll say on this stuff. When this happens the military and the entire complex, for everyone, it’s a team. It didn’t matter. When that happened there could be an E-5 petty officer telling a three star general what to do. It wasn’t a matter of my rank. It was a matter of how we come together and help the best way we can. It was amazing how everyone fell into place…Marilyn and I were playing together simply because we’re on the same team. We knew what it was. She was pitching. I was catching. It fell into place naturally. 

An archive photo of Bill Spade, a firefighter in Rescue 5 who was a first responder on 9/11, with his colleagues. (Photo courtesy Bill Spade)

What do you remember about the day of the reunion? 

Craig: it was special. I went in with low expectations and saw what was going to happen and played it year by year. I got there, and Marilyn was great. She would help and lead me. I really appreciated the day. The bond, the love. Thank you, big sister, whatever you want to say, even though you’re younger than me. 

Marilyn: I would also say the days leading up to this for me I would share with my husband and daughters that I’m going to meet the guy who I kept saying the guy. All I said was Commander Powell. Of course things being on the internet, my daughters were on the internet looking him up. They asked, “Mom, what are you going to give him? It seems you have to give him something.” I said the best thing I could give him was a handwritten note. I want to write something. I needed to write something to say thank you. It was excellent. 

Craig: I keep it on my desk here. 

Marilyn: It was an excellent reunion because I didn’t remember his face. I just remember him being a big guy. So, when he walked in, oh this must be Craig Powell. 

And it seems you’ve maintained contact since then.  

Marilyn: Absolutely. Since that day, Craig and I will text a lot. He is in a different state. So we stay in touch with each other. We text during the holidays to see how things are going. That will continue on. 

Craig: We are not intrusive in each other’s lives. We just know where each other and check in. She has two great daughters and a grandmother.  

We know from the doc that Marilyn is a grandma and mother of two. Craig what are you up to?

Craig: I do some consulting, but the biggest interest is my kids. I just married my daughter off at the end of May. It was the greatest wedding on the face of the earth. The community are the ones that married her. They came together. They made the meals, the food. My son officiated. It was an amazing wedding. What was so special about it was the community that came together in love. The biggest thing that keeps me busy are my kids. The most important thing. 

Marilyn, you get emotional during the docuseries. What gets you each through these years when you remember going through such a traumatic event, especially the milestone years?

Marilyn What has kept me together and being so reflective and not being so downtrodden and so hurt about this tragedy is my family and my fatith. I have faith to know there is a reason I’m here. I know there is a reason I survived this 9/11 to continue to tell this story. All of that day is when my husband and I will sit and reflect. We can’t sit and watch TV all day. We’ll go out and do something to serve just to get out of the house so we’re not bombarded by what takes place on September 11th. It’s great we remember it because the story must be told, but for a survivor we have to back off of it. 

Craig: For me, the biggest thing I reflect on is where my kids are in the world. When the plane did hit the building, my biggest concern was for my family because we had been attacked on the mainland. Here 25 years later they are still kicking and doing really great. So there is that. I don’t watch much. I will watch this, but I don’t watch a lot of documentaries simply because I’ve been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Although I do appreciate this documentary and bringing in all the nuances I didn’t know. But on September 11, I generally go out in the countryside for a walk by myself. That’s pretty much it. 

The humanity of it all stands out to me with this doc. The world we live in today, this is a  reminder that we are there for each other when it counts. I’d say a project like this is needed now more than ever. 

Marilyn: Without a doubt. This project is a different spin on 9/11. It’s about reuniting with the humanity piece you are talking about. 

Related

'Lion': The Amazing Story Behind National Geographic's Epic Docuseries

What do you want to say to viewers before they watch this? 

Craig: This is what’s real. It’s not exaggerated. It’s not understated. It is what it is. A lot of stories today spin to the left and spin to the right, up and down. The real story doesn’t seem to come through. The one thing I hope stands out is the unity of America, which is so beautiful. I would love to see that unity again. 

Marilyn: You’re spot on. What I would tell people to see this project is to know it’s true. To have people who lived it and now where they are. What are they doing now? How are they reconnecting because we’re not still there crying and doing those things. We’ve been through that. Now it’s time to continue to move. So whatever you go through in life. You may not have a burning building moment, but you will have a moment you can maybe step up and help someone else. And then have the resilience to move forward. I would also tell them to get your tissues because there is some pretty heavy, heavy, information being provided to help you understand 9/11. 

9/11 Reunited docuseries premiere, August 21, 8/7c, National Geographic (next day on Disney+ and Hulu)