The stories and legacies of 8 Iowans who died in 9/11 attacks

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, 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 b