Heavy Rigging Specialist Larry Duncan

On September 11, 2001, the FEMA National Operations Center issued activation orders for Missouri Task Force 1 to deploy to New York City in response to the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center towers. Sixty-two brave men and women of Missouri Task Force 1 left their homes, work, friends, and families to deploy to “Ground Zero.” Once there, they spent 10 days digging through the rubble searching for survivors in what was once the World Trade Center.

Firefighter Larry Duncan was a Heavy Rigging Specialist with the Task Force and was one of the many courageous individuals who answered the call and worked “the pile” day after day.

The hazards were substantial, but their desire to locate and rescue survivors inspired them to press on.

Tragically, like so many others who also answered that same call, Larry developed 9/11-related cancer as a result of exposure to toxic materials. After a long battle, he succumbed to that illness.