Australian soldier's Ground Zero recovery work now displayed at War Memorial
Major David Bergman worked in Ground Zero's rubble in late 2001. Pieces he recovered are now in the War Memorial's Afghanistan Gallery.
Twenty-five years after 9/11, Major David Bergman returned to the Australian War Memorial. He brought fragments he had recovered from Ground Zero.
Bergman is a Royal Australian Engineer from Melbourne. He was in North America for specialist training when the attacks happened on September 11, 2001.
Within weeks, he was in New York helping police respond to anthrax threats. Bergman then asked to visit Ground Zero.
He ended up helping with the recovery effort. Working night shifts with Port Authority Police, he searched rubble about 80 to 90 feet below street level.
He looked for human remains and items of value. Glass, marble and a seared banknote he recovered are now in the memorial's Afghanistan Gallery.
They tell the story of Australia's 20-year war. Bergman recalls the crew room lined with photos of missing officers and the prayers before each shift.
- 25
- Years after attacks
- 80 to 90 feet below street level
- Depth of recovery work
- 5 Royal Australian Engineers
- Officers in training group
Why it mattersThe display links Australia's 9/11 response to the Afghanistan conflict that followed. It tells one veteran's direct experience of both events.
AustraliaAustralians visiting the War Memorial can now see firsthand how one Australian soldier connected the 2001 attacks to the wars they sparked.
Corroborated bythenightly.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 19 h ago
