9-11 Pentagon Survivor Runs for Therapy

Six years ago today, America was attacked by terrorists an attack that killed nearly three thous...  More »

Six years ago today, America was attacked by terrorists an attack that killed nearly three thousand people in a single day. 184 of those deaths were when a jetliner crashed into Pentagon. A Minot Air Force Base sergeant was there when it happened and, as Jim Olson reports, has begun a long trek to remember the dead, and heal himself at the same time. (Jim Olson, KX News) Mike Carswell loves to run. (Mike Carswell, MAFB) On a slow week I only run 30 or 40 miles. (Jim Olson, KX News) He likes to run a lot. (Mike Carswell, MAFB) I got up one morning a few months ago and just ran 30 miles. (Jim Olson, KX News) His love of running (Mike Carswell, MAFB) I don't do anything halfway. (Jim Olson, KX News) began about two years ago (Mike Carswell, MAFB) Running two or three miles, three days a week turned into five or six miles a day, seven days a week. Next thing you know I'm planning on running my first marathon last September. (Jim Olson, KX News) Now, he's getting ready for the Roughrider Marathon in Bismarck this weekend (Mike Carswell, MAFB) 3-and-a-half to 4-and-a-half hours, somewhere in there. I'm out there to have fun. Just enjoying life really. (Jim Olson, KX News) And that's the key in Mike's running - enjoying life (Mike Carswell, MAFB) It's who I've become. It's such a big part of me. (Jim Olson, KX News) Because until he took up running two years ago, he was paralyzed...mentally paralyzed (Mike Carswell, MAFB) Diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, just the gamut. (Jim Olson, KX News) Because of what he experienced six years ago today. (Mike Carswell, MAFB) Like so many Americans, I watched that morning in horor what was happening on TV. I had this little thought that, man if they wanted to hit a military installation, we're in the perfect spot. And it wasn't 15, 20 minutes later there was a huge explosion. (Jim Olson, KX News) You see, Mike was in the Pentagon when it became a terrorist target on September 11th, 2001. (Mike Carswell, MAFB) I walked out into the hallway and you could smell it almost immediately. We're halfway around the building but you could smell jst fuel almost immediately. Within just a few weeks I was already experiencing nightmares. The fear of flying just gripped me. A plane flying overhead, I give myself whiplash looking up at the plane. (Jim Olson, KX News) An unusual phenomenon for an Air Force sergeant (Mike Carswell, MAFB) For me being afraid to fly is like a Nascar driver being afraid to drive on the interstate. (Jim Olson, KX News) Finally, counselors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center recommended Mike take up exercise to help rid himself of his demons. And he's been running ever since. (Mike Carswell, MAFB) It's made life worth living again for me. (Pam Carswell, Mike's Wife) When those memories come back, he can run. (Mike Carswell, MAFB) If it wasn't for my wife I wouldn't be here today, I don't doubt that. She pulled me through. (Jim Olson, KX News) And now, the running - and the birth of their daughter, has taken some of that load off Mike's wife Pam. (Pam Carswell, Mike's Wife) He's happy. He's easy to live with. When something goes wrong, it isn't a catastrophe. (Jim Olson, KX News) Terrorists killed almost three thousand Americans on 9-11, but there were many other victims too (Pam Carswell, Mike's Wife) 9-11 I think really took away his idea of what tomorrow is because tomorrow could be worse than today. (Jim Olson, KX News) But Mike has beaten his depression and PTSD by putting one foot in front of the other (Mike Carswell, MAFB) I'm alive. And when I'm running, I'm never more alive. Jim Olson, KX News. Mike has set a goal of running 184 marathons over the rest of his life - one for each of the persons killed in the attack on the Pentagon. So far, he's run 18 toward that goal.  « Less