World Trade Center Site A.J. Frank and Ohlin, WA TF-1 A.J. Frank is a Seattle firefighter, a member of Northwest Disaster Search Dogs and a dog handler for WA TF-1. He writes: Sept. 11th I was in Tacoma teaching a class. My big problem was getting my dog (a chocolate lab named Ohlin) and getting to Seattle Fire Department Station 27. WA TF-1 was put on stand-by and not deployed until September 19. On September 19 we flew out of McChord Air Force Base. We left the air force base at 1030, got to Manhattan at 0130 and went to bed at 0300 so we could wake up at 0500. Day 1: Wake up at 0500, feed the dog, get food for self, get downstairs for a 0615 meeting, on the bus at 0630. We would start our 12-hour shift at 0730. On the pile we (the k9 handlers) were support. If and when our team would needed us, we would get our dogs and get ready to search. There was no glass on the pile, just large pieces of metal that had to be cut and then moved by a 100-ton crane. Once the heavy metal was gone, we could move the light stuff by hand. If we found a hole/void we could also put a K9 and/or a human down the hole. If you found parts, we would tell our team manager, place parts in a red bag and go on. This would go on for 12 hours. Once we found 3 firefighters and 2 police officers. We would be on the bus by 2000 and home (the Javits convention center) by 2100 - 2200. Decon self and the K9. Feed the dog, feed self, play with the dog. If you were quick you would be in bed (300 people in the same room) by 2400 - 0030. Day 2: Start over. Do the same thing in the rain. Days 3 - 7: Same thing.

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