In Their Own Words: 9-11: A Survivor Remembers | 1
Summary
Sujo John recounts his harrowing survival of the September 11 attacks while working on the 81st floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower. As he descended the stairs, he desperately tried to reach his pregnant wife, Mary, who was in the South Tower, unaware that she had been delayed by morning sickness and narrowly escaped the second plane. After the South Tower collapsed, Sujo was buried in debris until an FBI agent pulled him to safety, an act that cost the agent his life. Now a public speaker and founder of an anti-trafficking organization, Sujo shares how the tragedy inspired him to…
Topics discussed
Introduction and sponsor read
The morning of September 11, 2001
Sujo John's childhood and move to New York
Life at the World Trade Center and family
The commute and arrival at the North Tower
The impact of Flight 11 and initial chaos
Descending the stairs and the second impact
Attempting to contact his wife via landline
Evacuation challenges and helping others
Reaching the concourse and the South Tower collapse
Surviving the collapse and escaping with an FBI agent
Aftermath on the street and finding refuge
Reunion with his wife Mary
Decontamination and ferry evacuation
Mary's story and calling his parents
Viral email and return to work
Founding You Can Free Us and finding purpose
Reflections, memorabilia, and closing thoughts
Credits and outro
Listen ad-free on Castria