Then Came the Fire: Personal Accounts From the Pentagon

In this review of Then Came the Fire: Personal Accounts From the Pentagon the reviewer summarizes a careful, firsthand anthology compiled by the U.S. Army Center of Military History. Intended for readers who want intimate, eyewitness perspectives of the Pentagon on 11 September 2001, this book brings together oral-history excerpts that foreground human experience over broad analysis. The single biggest reason to buy is its unique primary-source focus: the collection presents unfiltered, personal accounts from survivors, first responders, medical staff, and building occupants, preserved with full-color illustrations to support the text.

Key Features

• Primary-source accounts: The book gathers oral-history excerpts recorded by the U.S. Army Center of Military History, offering direct testimony from those who witnessed the Pentagon events.
• Wide range of perspectives: Contributors include survivors, injured personnel, policemen, firefighters, and medical staff, providing a multifaceted view of rescue and recovery actions.
• Documentary intent: Compiled only two days after the attack began interviews, so the material reflects contemporaneous recollection and immediacy.
• Full-color illustrations: Visual material throughout adds context and helps the reader visualize scenes described in the oral accounts.
• Anniversary publication: Released on the tenth anniversary, the book benefits from editorial perspective that frames the interviews within a decade of reflection and preservation.

Who It's For

This collection is best for students of modern military and American history, researchers building oral-history projects, and readers who prefer testimony-driven narrative to secondary analysis. Librarians or local history collections seeking documented survivor accounts will find it particularly valuable.

Those looking for a tactical or operational analysis of the attack, or a broad geopolitical study, should look elsewhere; this volume emphasizes personal recollection and human detail rather than a comprehensive strategic account.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Firsthand oral histories provide vivid, human-centered perspectives not common in standard histories.
• Contributors span many roles, creating a layered picture of the rescue and recovery effort.
• Full-color illustrations enhance comprehension of the text and the setting.

Cons

• The book focuses on personal accounts and therefore does not serve as a full operational or strategic analysis of the incident.

Specifications

Title	Then Came the Fire: Personal Accounts From the Pentagon
Publisher	U.S. Army Center of Military History
Editors	Stephen J Lofgren; Richard W Stweart
Content	Anthology of oral-history excerpts collected after 11 September 2001
Illustrations	Full color illustrations throughout
Publication context	Published on the tenth anniversary of the incident

Our Verdict

Then Came the Fire is a valuable, well-preserved collection for anyone seeking authentic, personal testimony from the Pentagon attack. Its focus on firsthand accounts and full-color illustrations makes it a strong archival resource and an accessible read for history students and local historians, though readers seeking operational analysis should consult complementary works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book contain firsthand testimony?
Yes. It is an anthology of oral-history excerpts collected by the U.S. Army Center of Military History from survivors and responders.

Are there illustrations inside?
Yes. The book includes full-color illustrations throughout to complement the written accounts.

Is this a tactical analysis of the Pentagon attack?
No. The volume emphasizes personal accounts and human experience rather than a detailed operational or strategic study.