A nation’s tragedy, a family’s loss
Sept. 11, 2001, began as a beautiful day in Morgantown, West Virginia. Sean Ruth did what he always did: walked to class because his dad always said, “Education is first.” As the day wore on, he heard whispers of some sort of attack; New York City’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon had been hit.
The latter struck close to home. His father, William Ruth, was there in the morning to be sworn in as commander of the Mount Airy, West Virginia, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
“I started using my cellphone to call my dad,” Sean said. “All you got was busy signals the whole time.”
First responders rushed to save people from the buildings as chaos from the attacks continued.
“It wasn’t until later on that evening I was made aware that he wasn’t accounted for,” Sean said.
It would be a week before his fears were confirmed, and officials identified his father’s remains.
“Our family was lucky to only have waited a week to get closure because other families waited months,” Sean said.
Each year, Ruth and the other victims of 9/11 are honored with a memorial of 2,977 flags across BGSU’s University Hall lawn.
Sean and his daughter will be at the Pentagon to commemorate the event, but his extended family will visit BGSU to view the memorial.
When family members walk by the large flags for alumni killed in the attacks, the connection will be personal.
Though Sean lost his father that day, he held onto his values.
Sean, a retired military Jumpmaster and officer, reflected on his late father’s influence and his strong emphasis on education.
“That was an impact that my dad was so big on… education,” Sean said. “I never got ahold of him, but I still made it to class.”
William Ruth was a Marine veteran of the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars and an Army Chief Warrant Officer when he died in the Pentagon attack.
Born in Lyons, Ohio, he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BGSU in 1971 and 1973. He spent nearly 30 years teaching social studies.
William, known as Bill, was never idle. Outside of work, he enjoyed amateur radio, motorcycle riding and leading the air gun club at school.
Much like his father, Sean also chose a military career and currently teaches military science at West Virginia University.
“I joined the 2/19th Group Special Forces at the Western Virginia Army National Guard as a Parachute Rigger,” he said. “At 17, I had already jumped out of planes.”
Sean credits his father for helping him graduate high school early and begin his career.
As soon as Sean graduated from the U.S Army Airborne School, Bill couldn’t wait for the opportunity to show him off.
“The first thing he did was take me to the Pentagon,” Sean said. “His coworkers said he took me to the Pentagon to show me off because I had rigger wings at 17 years old.”
“My dad knew I wanted to start my life and move on, and that I always wanted to be in the military, just like my brother,” he said.
Sean’s brother, Chad, passed away two years before 9/11 in a car accident at the age of 21. He was in the Maryland National Guard and had just been accepted into flight school to become a helicopter pilot.
Sean talked about the family’s love for helicopters, noting that each of them were involved with them in some way.
“My dad flew helicopters, my brother fixed them and I jumped out of them,” Sean said.
After 9/11, Sean’s military unit was activated in November following the attacks, but he was not sent overseas. His general didn’t want to risk his safety closely following his father’s death.
Sean recalled what it was like growing up with Bill as a father.
“Growing up with a Marine as a dad was interesting,” Sean said. “He’d notice the slightest thing out of place… making sure your bed was made and your room was clean.”
When they weren’t home, the summers were spent horseback riding in West Virginia and spending time at their fishing cabin in Canada.
Bill had been spending a week at the cabin when he was voted as the commander of the VFW organization in Mount Airy, Maryland.
He was a proud member of the VFW due to his service and his love for the military.
Sean said his father called him on Sept. 9, the last time they spoke. Bill told Sean he was coming home from the cabin early to be sworn in as commander.
“He was supposed to have another week off and not even be at the Pentagon,” Sean said. “I remember him saying, ‘Since I’m home, I might as well go into work on Tuesday.’”
Bill’s loyalty was the same thing that put him in danger’s path, but it also defined his commitment to shaping Sean’s future.
“He taught me how to wash my clothes,” Sean said. “When I went to AIT (Advanced Individual Training), I was 17 teaching 24 year olds how to use a washer and dryer.”
Bill’s lessons went far beyond laundry. They weren’t just practical, they were essential.
“He was the one who taught and guided me,” Sean said. “I wouldn’t have been able to survive without him.”
Your donation will support the student journalists of Bowling Green State University. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
