Westley’s video and story serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of tragedy and the enduring courage of those who lived through it.

Nearly two decades after the September 11 attacks, previously unseen video footage has surfaced, offering a chilling new view of the moment the second plane hit the South Tower. Filmed from a boat near Manhattan and uploaded by Kevin Westley, the video captures raw reactions from onlookers, adding a human layer to the tragedy long thought fully documented.

Westley explained he had uploaded the clip years ago but mistakenly kept it private. Alongside the footage, he shared personal reflections on 9/11 and his later service in the Iraq War. He described the trauma of both events, including escorting fallen soldiers and surviving nightly mortar strikes. “A piece of our soul is lost on the battlefield,” he wrote.

The article also honors firefighter Mike Kehoe, famously photographed climbing the North Tower stairs as others fled. Kehoe survived, though 343 of his fellow firefighters did not. Despite long-term health risks, he still serves. Asked why, he replied, “I just love it.”