Warning: The following content may be distressing for some viewers.On Sept. 11, 2001, four airplanes were hijacked on the east coast, crashing into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field. Of the nearly 3,000 deaths that day, eight had connections to Iowa.James D. Cleere - World Trade CenterIn 1977, Jean Rieger prayed that God would bring her "a good man." The phone rang that same evening and it was Jame Cleere. One year later, they were married. James "Jim" Cleere, 55, was working for a division of Mark and McLennan at the World Trade Center in 2001. On the day of the attack, he was at the Marriott World Trade Center when the planes crashed into the twin towers. Jim Cleere left two voicemails for his wife back in Newton, Iowa. He promised her he was okay and that he would be coming home. Twenty years later, Jim Cleere has not yet returned home. His body has not yet been identified. Jean Cleere said if she misses one thing about her husband, it's his voice. Those voicemails and the silly songs he used to records are treasures to her now."To hear that voice is calming, peaceful," Jean Cleere said. "That brings me a lot of peace."Karen Ann Kincaid - Flight 77 Karen Kincaid was born on Nov. 3, 1960, in Waverly, Iowa. She received her bachelor's degree from Central College before furthering her education at Drake University. Her career evolved from being a law clerk to a senior attorney advisor to a partner in communications practice at Wiley Rein and Fielding law firm. On Sept. 11, 2001, Kincaid was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77 that took off from Washington Dulles Internation Airport. At 9:37 a.m. it crashed into the west wall of the Pentagon. Reports state that recovery efforts located a diamond ring her husband Peter Batacan was able to identify as Kincaid's wedding ring. A partner at her law firm described her as "one of the nicest, kindest human beings you can run across." Wiley Rein and Fielding held a blood drive in honor of Kincaid collecting 285 pints of blood, according to The Courier. A scholarship in Waverly was established in her honor. Mari-Rae Sopper - Flight 77On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Mari-Rae Sopper boarded Flight 77 headed to California. Sopper had just accepted a job at the University of California at Santa Barbara to coach women's gymnastics. Her gymnastics history led back to Ames, where she attended college at Iowa State University. She competed in all-around between 1984 and 1988. Iowa State Athletics said she was a leader during her time in the program. She was named "most valuable gymnast" during her senior year. Meanwhile, she earned a degree in exercise science. She would go on to earn a law degree, and become an attorney for the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. in Washington, D.C. However, her passion for gymnastics never left. Reports state that her last email subject read "New Job New City New State New Life." Friends said that when she left that morning for California, "she looked so excited." After her death, the Iowa State University women's gymnastics program would set up the Mari-Rae Sopper Outstanding Performance Award for at-home meets to students who inspire through their performances. The Judge Advocate General's Corps conference room in the Pentagon is named after Sopper. Her family has also created the Mari-Rae Sopper Gymnastics Memorial Fund to assist the UCSB's gymnastics program. These are only a few ways she has been remembered over the years. Michael Tinley - World Trade CenterMichael Tinley was a father, a brother, a colleague and a photographer. Tinley loved to photograph everything that he enjoyed, from big family events to peppers at the market to one of his favorite subject matters: The World Trade Center. He also loved technology. At the time of his death, he had two cellphones on him. "He loved all of it," said Lisa Kennedy, Tinley's daughter. "I wonder what he would think of social media and Twitter these days." Tinley, a former Council Bluffs resident, was on the 100th floor of the World Trade Center for business with Marsh and McLennan. At about 7:47 a.m., he called his sister, who lived in New York. He told her that he could see her apartment in Tribeca from where he was standing. Minutes later the American Airlines Flight 11 would hit the Marsh and McLennan offices. "My father loved life, and hence I am trying to emulate that in my own life," said Kennedy in a letter to the 9/11 Support Group Family in 2004. "It is very difficult at times because you can be enjoying a moment and then the next it is sad because he is not there to be able to enjoy it with me. My father was resilient and I believe I inherited some of that quality." Craig Scott Amundson - PentagonSPC Craig Scott Amundson was born in Cedar Rapids and raised in Anamosa. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Iowa to receive a bachelor's in film studies. Amundson went on to own a graphic design company. As an Army Specialist, he earned the expert rifleman rating. After his death at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Award. During the eulogy of his memorial, it was said, "Craig had a spirit and a soul and a mind that was tuned into something special. The evil that came on Sept. 11 to end his life couldn't destroy what he believed. What he knew. He was a visionary and an idealist."Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith - PentagonWhile Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith was living in Alexandria, Virginia, at the time of his death, he was born in Council Bluffs. Smith had an extensive military career including being in the ROTC at Creighton University, serving in Italy and Vietnam, and eventually serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Administration and Logistics. Smith retired in 1991. He received a soldier's metal, bronze star with oak leaf cluster, legion of merit, meritorious service metal with three oak leaf clusters, Army commendation medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army General Staff Indication Badge and the Parachute Badge. Timothy Aaron Haviland - World Trade CenterTimothy Haviland, a former Ames resident, was working at Marsh and McLennan Cos. Inc. as a software developer and computer programmer during the attack. When he earned the promotion that got him an office on the 96th floor of 1 World Trade Center, his wife said he jumped around and said, "This is New York! I'm king of the world!"Haviland met his wife on the internet five years prior. The distance between Long Island and St. Paul, Minnesota, was too much. According to the Marsh and McLennan's memorial website, "(Haviland's wife) said their love affair began in the baggage claim area at La Guardia Airport and led to a wedding." Robert Speer Jr., Haviland's brother-in-law who was a firefighter, also died during the Sept. 11 attacks. Sandra Dawn Teague - Flight 77 Sandra Teague got onto Flight 77, excited to begin her dream trip to Australia. It was the first flight for the three-week vacation. Teague was an east coast native, but came to the Midwest to earn her master's in physical therapy from Des Moines University and spent some time in West Des Moines. This prepared her to become a physical therapist at Georgetown University Hospital. The Sandra Teague Memorial Scholarship was established by her graduating class of 1998. Des Moines University states it's "awarded during graduation week to a physical therapy graduate who emulates the giving nature and positive outlook evident through Sandra's life."Leadership at her hospital called her "an excellent clinician and rising star." For more stories about Sept. 11, 2001, click here.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Warning: The following content may be distressing for some viewers.
On Sept. 11, 2001, four airplanes were hijacked on the east coast, crashing into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field. Of the nearly 3,000 deaths that day, eight had connections to Iowa.
James D. Cleere - World Trade Center
In 1977, that God would bring her "a good man." The phone rang that same evening and it was Jame Cleere. One year later, they were married.
James "Jim" Cleere, 55, was working for a division of Mark and McLennan at the World Trade Center in 2001. On the day of the attack, he was at the Marriott World Trade Center when the planes crashed into the twin towers.
Jim Cleere left two voicemails for his wife back in Newton, Iowa. He promised her he was okay and that he would be coming home. Twenty years later, Jim Cleere has not yet returned home. His body has not yet been identified.
Jean Cleere said if she misses one thing about her husband, it's his voice. Those voicemails and the silly songs he used to records are treasures to her now.
"To hear that voice is calming, peaceful," Jean Cleere said. "That brings me a lot of peace."
Karen Ann Kincaid - Flight 77
Karen Kincaid was born on Nov. 3, 1960, in Waverly, Iowa. She received her bachelor's degree from Central College before furthering her education at Drake University. Her career evolved from being a law clerk to a senior attorney advisor to a partner in communications practice at Wiley Rein and Fielding law firm.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Kincaid was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77 that took off from Washington Dulles Internation Airport. At 9:37 a.m. it crashed into the west wall of the Pentagon.
that recovery efforts located a diamond ring her husband Peter Batacan was able to identify as Kincaid's wedding ring.
her as "one of the nicest, kindest human beings you can run across."
Wiley Rein and Fielding held a blood drive in honor of Kincaid collecting 285 pints of blood, according to The Courier. A scholarship in Waverly was established in her honor.
Mari-Rae Sopper - Flight 77
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Mari-Rae Sopper boarded Flight 77 headed to California. Sopper had just accepted a job at the University of California at Santa Barbara to coach women's gymnastics.
Her gymnastics history led back to Ames, where she attended college at Iowa State University. She competed in all-around between 1984 and 1988. Iowa State Athletics said she was a leader during her time in the program. She was named "most valuable gymnast" during her senior year.
Meanwhile, she earned a degree in exercise science. She would go on to earn a law degree, and become an attorney for the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. in Washington, D.C. However, her passion for gymnastics never left.
that her last email subject read "New Job New City New State New Life." Friends said that when she left that morning for California, "she looked so excited."
After her death, the Iowa State University women's gymnastics program would set up the Mari-Rae Sopper Outstanding Performance Award for at-home meets to students who inspire through their performances. The Judge Advocate General's Corps conference room in the Pentagon is named after Sopper. Her family has also created the Mari-Rae Sopper Gymnastics Memorial Fund to assist the UCSB's gymnastics program. These are only a few ways she has been remembered over the years.
Michael Tinley - World Trade Center
Michael Tinley was a father, a brother, a colleague and a photographer. Tinley loved to photograph everything that he enjoyed, from big family events to peppers at the market to one of his favorite subject matters: The World Trade Center.
He also loved technology. At the time of his death, he had two cellphones on him.
"He loved all of it," said Lisa Kennedy, Tinley's daughter. "I wonder what he would think of social media and Twitter these days."
Tinley, a former Council Bluffs resident, was on the 100th floor of the World Trade Center for business with Marsh and McLennan. At about 7:47 a.m., he called his sister, who lived in New York. He told her that he could see her apartment in Tribeca from where he was standing. Minutes later the American Airlines Flight 11 would hit the Marsh and McLennan offices.
"My father loved life, and hence I am trying to emulate that in my own life," said Kennedy in a letter to the 9/11 Support Group Family in 2004. "It is very difficult at times because you can be enjoying a moment and then the next it is sad because he is not there to be able to enjoy it with me. My father was resilient and I believe I inherited some of that quality."
Craig Scott Amundson - Pentagon
SPC Craig Scott Amundson was born in Cedar Rapids and raised in Anamosa. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Iowa to receive a bachelor's in film studies. Amundson went on to own a graphic design company.
As an Army Specialist, he earned the expert rifleman rating. After his death at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Award.
During the, it was said, "Craig had a spirit and a soul and a mind that was tuned into something special. The evil that came on Sept. 11 to end his life couldn't destroy what he believed. What he knew. He was a visionary and an idealist."
Lt. Col. Gary F. Smith - Pentagon
While was living in Alexandria, Virginia, at the time of his death, he was born in Council Bluffs. Smith had an extensive military career including being in the ROTC at Creighton University, serving in Italy and Vietnam, and eventually serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Administration and Logistics.
Smith retired in 1991. He received a soldier's metal, bronze star with oak leaf cluster, legion of merit, meritorious service metal with three oak leaf clusters, Army commendation medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army General Staff Indication Badge and the Parachute Badge.
Timothy Aaron Haviland - World Trade Center
Timothy Haviland, a former Ames resident, was working at Marsh and McLennan Cos. Inc. as a software developer and computer programmer during the attack.
When he earned the promotion that got him an office on the 96th floor of 1 World Trade Center, he jumped around and said, "This is New York! I'm king of the world!"
Haviland met his wife on the internet five years prior. The distance between Long Island and St. Paul, Minnesota, was too much. According to the , "(Haviland's wife) said their love affair began in the baggage claim area at La Guardia Airport and led to a wedding."
Robert Speer Jr., Haviland's brother-in-law who was a firefighter, also died during the Sept. 11 attacks.
Sandra Dawn Teague - Flight 77
Sandra Teague got onto Flight 77, excited to begin her dream trip to Australia. It was the first flight for the three-week vacation.
Teague was an east coast native, but came to the Midwest to earn her master's in physical therapy from Des Moines University and spent some time in West Des Moines. This prepared her to become a physical therapist at Georgetown University Hospital.
The Sandra Teague Memorial Scholarship was established by her graduating class of 1998. it's "awarded during graduation week to a physical therapy graduate who emulates the giving nature and positive outlook evident through Sandra's life."
called her "an excellent clinician and rising star."
For more stories about Sept. 11, 2001, click here.
