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Produced by Brave New Films in association with Sierra Club Productions.
Episode 1: 9/11 Forgotten Heroes
Air date: January 12, 2006
9/11 Responders Featured in Forgotten Heroes
Marvin Bethea - Paramedic
Paramedic Marvin Bethea was buried in debris when the first World Trade Center tower fell, but he got out. As the second building started to collapse, he helped an older woman across the street into a hotel, and was covered in debris again. He returned to provide more aid on September 14th. Five weeks later he suffered a stroke attributed to 9/11 stress, and later he was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma and chronic rhinitis. Mr. Bethea obtained an award from the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund for part of the harm that he suffered, but his Workers Compensation claim is still pending. Even though he was awarded for his heroic 9/11 service, lawyers contesting his Workers Compensation claim questioned whether he was at the site.
John Feal - Demolition Supervisor
Demolition supervisor John Feal worked at Ground Zero from September 12th until September 17th, supervising and carrying out demolition and recovery work, until his foot was crushed on site. He was hospitalized for two months. His foot developed gangrene and half his foot was amputated. He has since had some 30 surgeries. In addition to his severe foot injury, Mr. Feal suffers from respiratory illness. While he received a small Workers Compensation award after his claim was challenged, the funds are not enough to cover his medical expenses. The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund denied his claim on the technical grounds that anyone injured after 96 hours was not eligible.
Major Mike McCormack – Medic; specialist in collapsed infrastructure rescue and hazmat
Major Mike McCormick, at the time holding the rank of Captain with the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Patrol, arrived at Ground Zero about three hours after both towers had collapsed. He worked throughout the first six days of the rescue effort, until it changed from search and recovery to recovery only. While engaged in this work, he found the World Trade Center towers' flag, which was later displayed at the Olympics. Major McCormick now suffers from respiratory illness and gastro-esophageal reflux disease. He was awarded a Congressional Certificate, a thank you letter from the President, and a commendation from Governor Pataki. He was denied coverage by the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund because it asserted that he had not proved that he was there.
Jonathan Sferazo - Structural Ironworker
Structural Ironworker Jonathan Sferazo began working at Ground Zero on the morning of September 12th before sunrise. He helped remove crushed vehicles, worked on search and rescue, and burned iron to get to lower areas of the pile in the effort to search for survivors of the disaster. For more than 30 days he worked at Ground Zero. Mr. Sferazo has lost 31 percent of his breathing and lung capacity from exposure to the 9/11 pollution, as verified by the Mount Sinai Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He has been unable to work since August 2004 because of his health impairment. His Workers Compensation claim was not settled until July 31, 2005.
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