Pentagon Survivor Shares Life-Saving Moment | Lincoln News

0:00It's September 11th. This is Lincoln News Today, AI-powered stories from your city. Mark Schoenrock was inside the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001, when the attack happened. He was in the building during the plane crash and lost seven friends that day. He's now a county commissioner and feels it's important to share his experience with younger generations who weren't alive then and only know it from. History books. He served 30 years in the Army and on that morning. He was heading to see a recently renovated part of the Pentagon. He felt a strong urge not to go towards the section where the plane hit, a feeling he believes saved his life. The fireball was immense and for years afterward, he'd wake up smelling jet fuel. The renovation he thinks might've actually lessened the damage. If the plane had hit a different section, it could've gone much deeper into the building. It took him up to two hours to reach his wife, who had seen the news and feared the worst. He contrasts the feeling of that day with being in combat, where you're mentally prepared

1:01for danger. This was a normal office environment turned chaotic in an instant. He often wonders about that prompting he felt, believing it was a divine warning, a sign he had a different path ahead. Now Schoenrock emphasizes that every day is a gift. He's grateful for his family and his public service. He tries to do his best every day to serve the community and make a positive impact.