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Prior to 2001, Vincent Forras was a well-respected businessman, middle-aged father, and a volunteer firefighter. In response to the attacks on September 11th, 2001, like so many, he answered the call to duty that would change his life forever. After being viscously attacked, the Twin Towers collapsed into a ten-story pile of smoldering rubble and horror. Vinny and his fellow firefighters from the South Salem Fire Department in upstate New York rushed to the World Trade Center complex in New York City, later to be called Ground Zero. They manned FDNY Firehouses in the Bronx and then Harlem before finally being deployed to the devastating scene, where amidst the chaos, FDNY 1st Responders had already set up command centers. Triage units sprang up wherever they could - to treat the expected injured. Upon arriving on scene Vinny and his crew were shocked by the image of an already crushed Ladder 3 parked adjacent to what was the North Tower. Vinny’s brother firefighter and friend Jeff Giordano, and his Captain Patty Brown, were among those heroes killed in the collapse of the North Tower. What had been anticipated to be a rescue mission quickly became a grueling recover operation.
With a flimsy paper mask for protection, Vinny searched through the toxic cocktail of vaporized steel, plastics, asbestos, glass, and much worse, for any sign of life, or death. After 30 hours, he collapsed. Two hours later, he awoke in a triage unit, where doctors treated him for acute respiratory distress. He (like so many others at Ground Zero) was given steroids and inhalers and given the OK to go back to "t;the pile." He remembers, "They juiced us up with all kinds of Albuterol and various medications to keep us breathing."
For nearly three weeks, he spent every day helping to clear the destruction and recover the lost. On the rare occasions where he could find a filtration system, he would have to toss it after a few minutes when it invariably clogged up on the heavy smoke. Then, he would switch back to the simple paper masks, or use nothing at all.
On the third day of searching the rubble for voids - empty spaces that might hold human remains, he sliding down a beam and after a strong shake additional rubble fell in behind him.He was unable to shimmy back up so he lay under the rocks and torn metal for what seemed like hours. Facing what seemed to him as certain death, Vinny prayed to God. It was at that moment that he had a vision - a vision of his three children as newborn babies in his arms. He remembers the moment as one of the most precious in his life and took in the image and smell of new born babies. It was at this point that his fear turned to love, and he thanked God for this gift. He prayed to God to allow him to stay, making a promise to dedicate the rest of his life to helping his fellow firefighters and 1st responders. Miraculously, he crawled free. Inspired by his experience, he continued his efforts.
On his daughter's birthday, a comrade from the New York Police Department drove him to Grand Central Station so that Vinny could spend a few hours with her. The officer arranged a time when he would return to the station for Vinny. Vinny arrived back on schedule and then they drove back to the pile together. He felt as if his return to the pile was a return home. Vinny worked side-by-side the estimated 40,000 rescue workers. The 1st responders and other rescue workers, including the welders, truck drivers, food service people, and those who were there to do literally anything they could, Vinny refers to as "the greatest team ever assembled," This team were beacons of American hope for everyone watching.
Since the tragedy, Vincent Forras has been widely honored for his selfless acts. He was awarded the President's Personal Coin from President George Bush himself, and also met with former President Bill Clinton. He has appeared on the Today Show, FoxNews, and CBS, along with countless print interviews. He has been interviewed by Matt Lauer, Neil Cavuto, and Tom Brokaw, who called him a real hero on national television on the 5th anniversary of September 11th. President Bush, Governor Pataki, former FDNY Commissioner Tom VonEssen and Mayor Rudy Giuliani have shared the stage with Vinny at several events along with numerous Congressmen and Senators.
During a trip to Ecuador after his Ground Zero service, Vinny and his wife Monica, founded Gear Up Foundation, an organization that donates firefighting equipment, training, and hope, to firemen in the U.S. and around the globe while presenting the best of what America is as Ambassadors of Goodwill. He founded Gear Up to make good on his pact with God while he buried in the rubble, and to preserve the memory of all those who have died, those who continue to give their lives and those that still to suffer today. In an anti-American world, Vinny and the Gear Up Foundation are embraced and welcomed around the world. As ambassadors of hope, goodwill, harmony, and brotherhood, Vincent and the Foundation are succeeding in garnering support for America abroad, where politicians and diplomats sometimes fall short. We positively influence children in each stop of the Gear Up Express and these children will one day be adults and their experience may have a very positive influence on their attitudes towards America and Americans
For more information about the health issues facing Vinny and so many WTC rescuers, click here
