DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - Thousands of first responders worked together in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Among them, a retired Minnesota Fire Chief who was at ground zero, looking through the debris of the twin towers.

T. John Cunningham was 21 years old, sitting in class, when he heard that a plane hit the World Trade Center.

“At that point, I remember just running,” said Cunningham.

He was a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Greenwich, Connecticut. After hearing the news, he rushed to his dorm room and grabbed his service radio.

“I actually listened live as the first tower came crashing down, and that just pure sense of helplessness that I had,” said Cunningham. “And I knew at that point I needed to get back to Greenwich.”

He went with his team to New York City

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