On September 11, 2001, Tom Armas was not a bystander.
He was a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent — and a Marine Corps reservist.
When the first plane hit the World Trade Center, Armas was near 7 World Trade Center, off duty, in gym clothes. Like many agents in lower Manhattan, he didn’t wait for orders.
He ran toward the towers.
Inside the disaster zone, Armas helped evacuate civilians, administered first aid, and assisted injured people amid smoke, fire, and falling debris. He was still inside the area when the South Tower collapsed, burying first responders in dust and rubble.
He survived.
A photograph taken that morning — showing Armas exhausted, bloodied, and carrying an injured person — became one of the enduring images of 9/11. At the time, few knew who he was. Fewer knew he was acting as both a federal agent and a Marine.
After 9/11, Tom Armas continued serving his country. He remained with the Secret Service, stayed in the Marine Corps Reserve, and eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier General.
No speeches. No press tour. Just duty — before and after history broke open.
