We Remember 9/11

Friday is the 25th anniversary of 9/11, one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, when Muslim terrorists killed 2,977. Among those killed were 343 firefighters and paramedics, plus 60 New York City and Port Authority police officers. Twenty-two-year-old Brad Hoorn of Richland was among those killed in the World Trade Center. On this anniversary, we honor the victims, and remember how this evil act changed our world. The Friday KGOP Coffee features two men on the front lines during and after 9/11. Dan Lundgren of Oshtemo, a retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialist, was on duty at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) on September 11, 2001, as a US Department of Agriculture officer inspecting food entering the US from abroad. Jason Mikkelborg of Portage served in combat with the US Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003-2005. His Military Occupational Specialty was 51M Crash Rescue Firefighter, assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. Lundgren will share his experience from 9/11, when US airspace was abruptly closed, all planes were grounded, and there was confusion among officials, as well as panic among some travelers. Mikkelborg will discuss his role serving from Forward Operating Base Ridgeway in the deadly “Sunni Triangle”. He was a Crew Chief, operating a tanker vehicle shuttling water to support team missions, as well as supporting search and rescue of downed aircraft. After Lundgren’s and Mikkelborg’s presentations, there will be an opportunity for attendees to share their 9/11 experiences. Lundgren is a graduate of Central Michigan University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Psychology and Conservation. Dan started work with USDA in 1988 in the Biological Control Lab in Niles Michigan. In 1990, Dan transferred to the Detroit Metropolitan area to work as a USDA Quarantine Officer inspecting international travelers, and cargo for international exotic insects, invasive plant pests and diseases. With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he joined U.S. Customs and Border Protection working at all Michigan Ports of Entry (Detroit Metropolitan Airport, land borders, and marine terminals). In addition to inspecting travelers, and regulating international cargo for pests and diseases, DHS looks for illicit trade and importation of regulated biologicals to prevent the introduction of infectious human diseases. Lundgren’s career spanned 32 years working throughout Michigan and in Washington, DC, with the CBP Agriculture Bioterrorism Division. Dan retired from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as an Agriculture Specialist and moved to the Kalamazoo area in 2022. Mikkelborg served in the Army 1998 to 2005, with the rank of E4 Specialist. After 9/11 he was stationed at Forward Operating Base Ridgeway, situated between Fallujah and Ramadi in the Al Anbar Province, Iraq. This area is known as the Sunni Triangle, and had some of the world's deadliest roads, with improvised xplosive devices (IEDs) claiming the lives of many GIs and civilians. In his spare time, Mikkelborg welded steel plates to vehicles to help shield them from IEDs. He’s grateful that military and government leaders recognized the need for added protection and sent plate steel. He was deployed “In Country” for 15 months, which turned into a 2-year deployment with pre-mobilization, In Country ops, and post-mobilization. Join us Friday at 9 am for an informative meeting. Coffee and donuts provided.