From Ground Zero to an Exorcism in New Orleans: How a Live KCBS Radio 9/11 Memorial Prayer Under the Haunted Oak Trees Transmitted Light to a Shaken Nation
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Military Bible Association
Sept. 10, 2026
Chaplain (Major) James F. Linzey leads the 2nd Battalion, 185th Armor Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard in a live, nationwide KCBS radio 9/11 Memorial Prayer in front of Sophie B. Wright Middle School during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Standing to the left is the battalion commander, LTC Frank Emanuel (September 11, 2005).
NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — As the nation marks the Silver anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Commander Manuel A. “Don” Biadog, Jr., CHC, USN (Ret.), and Chaplain (Major) James F. Linzey, US Army (Ret.), reflected on duty, national resilience, and faith in times of crisis. Drawing from a shared history of military service and disaster response—including their subsequent deployments in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina—the two chaplains discussed the lasting impact of 9/11 on the American spirit.
Below is the transcript of their conversation, centered on the enduring truth of Psalm 124: “If the LORD had not been on our side…”
Chaplain Don Biadog: Chaplain Linzey, it is an honor to speak with you as we approach this historic 25th anniversary. To begin our reflection, take us back to that Tuesday morning. Where exactly were you when you first learned about the attacks on 9/11?
Chaplain James F. Linzey: I was standing in the middle of my officer’s quarters at Joint Forces Reserve Base Los Alamitos in California. At that very moment, I was preparing to fly out of Los Angeles to Dallas, Texas, for my two-week Annual Tour with the 249th Signal Battalion Headquarters, 49th Armored Division, Texas Army National Guard.
Chaplain Biadog: The sudden transition from routine duty to a national emergency was unforgettable. What do you remember most clearly about those first unfolding hours?
Chaplain Linzey: I remember turning on the television as I prepared to depart my quarters and seeing one of the World Trade Center towers on fire. As I watched, trying to comprehend what caused it, I saw a commercial airliner crash into the second tower in real time. Later, I watched in horror as Building 7 collapsed. My commander, Colonel Janice Bruno, ordered the First Sergeant to call me with urgent instructions: “All flights are grounded. You’re not coming to Dallas. Report for duty to the Commanding General immediately at the nearest military installation.”
I immediately put on my uniform and drove a block away to the headquarters of the 40th Infantry Division at Los Alamitos. I reported to the Commanding General, Major General Peter J. Gravett, who ordered me to coordinate my ministry with his Chief of Staff. I performed my entire two-week annual tour at JFRB Los Alamitos.
Chaplain Biadog: Looking back from our vantage point today, how do you believe the nation has changed in the 25 years since the attacks?
Chaplain Linzey: In many ways, the nation began fracturing from that point on. We saw a steady shifting away from traditional personal freedoms and an increase in state surveillance under Patriot Act I and then more so under Patriot Act II. Economically, the immediate halt of all air traffic across America sent shockwaves through our systems, and the societal ripple effects of that day are still felt across our institutions 25 years later.
Chaplain Biadog: Amidst the devastation, there were incredible displays of humanity. What acts of courage or kindness from that time still inspire you today?
Chaplain Linzey: I am deeply inspired by the heroism of the firefighters, law enforcement personnel, and volunteers from across the nation who ran toward the danger.
I am specifically inspired by your own immediate actions, Chaplain Biadog. At the time, you were serving as the Command Chaplain at the USCG Training Center in Petaluma, California. Upon receiving Temporary Additional Duty (TAD) Orders to New York City, you quickly deployed to Ground Zero in September 2001. There, you served and ministered directly to the first responders and the grieving families of the victims. You rescued the wounded, retrieved the dead, administered Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), prayed for victims, and provided comfort in the darkest hours. Witnessing that level of selfless service leaves a lasting mark and makes me want to do more for my fellow man.
Chaplain Biadog: Thank you for your kind remarks. As time moves on, a new generation is growing up with no living memory of that day. How can we best teach younger generations about the significance of 9/11?
Chaplain Linzey: We must teach them through the lens of history, remembrance, and the enduring truth of Psalm 124—reminding them that our survival as a people relies on a strength greater than our own. We can pass down the raw, firsthand stories of service, tragedy, and resilience so they understand that freedom and security are fragile. Ultimately, we teach them by showing them how a nation can find its footing through faith and unity even when the ground completely shakes beneath it.
Chaplain Biadog: What does this 25th anniversary mean to you personally as a military veteran who served through it?
Chaplain Linzey: For me, it is a time of profound reflection on duty and divine protection. Following my service during that crisis, Major General Gravett wrote a letter recognizing my exemplary work in support of my promotion to Major. Being able to provide stable leadership and outstanding service in a time of national catastrophe—and being recognized for it—strengthens my resolve and makes me deeply proud to be an American.
Chaplain Biadog: The calling to serve didn’t end in 2001. A prominent photo from four years later shows a massive radio broadcast event during another historic tragedy. How did the legacy of 9/11 continue into your future missions?
Chaplain Linzey: The lessons of 9/11 carried directly into future crises. Four years later, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I was deployed to New Orleans for 30 days from August to September 2005. I was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 185th Armor Regiment (2-185 AR), a California Army National Guard unit headquartered in San Diego at the Kearny Mesa Armory off Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. Our mission: rescue the living, retrieve the dead.
While serving alongside those brave soldiers in the disaster zone, our battalion established its tactical operations center and headquarters at Sophie B. Wright Middle School. Standing right there on the street under the oak trees in front of the school—now the Sophie B. Wright Institute of Academic Excellence—our battalion stood in formation on September 11, 2005, for a nationwide memorial service broadcast live on the radio by KCBS. I had the solemn privilege of delivering the Memorial Prayer to the nation during that live broadcast, bridging the tragedy of 9/11 with our ongoing, everyday duty to protect, support, and comfort a hurting people.
That school is also where I was interviewed on CBS nationwide for conducting an exorcism to clear out the dark spiritual presence haunting the facility. The original broadcast can be viewed here:
About the Chaplains
Commander Manuel A. “Don” Biadog, Jr., CHC, USN (Ret.) received the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and served as the Command Chaplain of MCAS Miramar (the former home of TOPGUN). He was selected as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States National Chaplain of the Year in 2023, served as a mentor to Southern Baptist chaplains across America, and currently serves as the interim pastor of Sonlight Church in San Diego, California.
Chaplain (Major) James F. Linzey, US Army (Ret.) served as the first full-time chaplain for the Leader’s Training Course in 2006 (now Cadet Summer Training under the United States Army Cadet Command). He composed the official U.S. Army Hymn, “Eternal Father, Hear Our Prayer,” and the official U.S. Space Force Hymn, “Creator of the Universe.” He is the author of the forthcoming text book Military Chaplaincy, editor of the Modern English Version Bible, and editor of the forthcoming text book Manchuria to Midway by his father, Captain Stanford E. Linzey, Jr., CHC, USN (Ret.).
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CBS News Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7_46kc4r2s
SOURCE Military Bible Association