On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the western side of the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. FBI agent Jack Hess rushed to the scene to help with the investigation. His wife, Sandy Hess, also an FBI agent at the time, was pregnant and had just picked up their 1-year-old son from daycare. According to her, it was a common understanding that if one spouse was assigned to a major event, the other would stay home with the children. Jack, who was a supervisor in the FBI’s terrorism squad, went to the Pentagon, and Sandy said he would not have wanted it any other way. His role was to secure evidence for the FBI’s investigation into the attacks. He was one of approximately 4,000 FBI employees who responded to the crash sites in Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania. Though he was only in direct contact with the hazardous debris at the Pentagon for a few hours, he was later diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer, which the World Trade Center Health Program classified as caused by his exposure at the Pentagon. He passed away from the illness in 2023 at the age of 64. The September 11 attacks resulted in 2,977 deaths, including those at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on United Flight 93. In the years that followed, many first responders and others who worked in the wreckage have died from illnesses linked to their exposure to the debris. At the FBI, more than 400 people have been diagnosed with 9/11-related illnesses, and at least 33 have died from cancers linked to the attacks. Jack and Sandy Hess met early in their FBI careers and worked together for years. After 9/11, Jack focused on counterterrorism. He retired from the FBI in 2009 to work in the private sector. According to his wife, Jack often reflected on the events of that day but never thought his health was at risk. In 2017, a routine backache led to a hospital visit where doctors discovered a kidney tumor. Sandy was shocked, as Jack had never been sick in his life. When the doctor asked about his work history, she mentioned his time at the Pentagon, and the doctor noted the increased risk of kidney cancer among those exposed to the 9/11 debris. Sandy said that no one at the scene had protective gear, as the focus was on responding to the emergency. She often hears people wonder if Jack would have avoided the Pentagon if he had known about the risks, but she firmly believes he would have gone anyway. “He would have done it, and he would have been proud,” she said. In 2019, the FBI released a video featuring first responders like Jack, encouraging others to take advantage of health benefits and get regular medical screenings. In the video, Jack reflected on his experience: “It was 17 years ago. I’m fine. I was there for one day. I’m fine. In reality, those were bad assumptions.” He expressed concern that the long-term health effects of the attacks could still impact his colleagues years later. “Don’t be afraid to go out and get screened and find that something’s wrong with you, whether it’s related to 9/11 or not,” he said. Four years after making this plea, Jack passed away, surrounded by his wife and four children, who now carry on his message. Sandy believes that more thorough CT scans, which create detailed images of the body, could lead to earlier detection of illnesses compared to the standard yearly physicals covered by the FBI. The FBI continues to encourage first responders to register for the World Trade Center Health Program benefits and screenings. When asked how she would like her husband to be remembered, Sandy said he left a legacy of courage, determination, and selflessness. Now, a quarter of a century after the attacks, September 11 is not the only difficult date on the calendar. “Every holiday is hard,” she said, noting the absence of Jack at family events. She tries to remind her children to reflect on the good times they had with him and to appreciate what they have. “He was a hands-on, involved father,” she said, emphasizing the importance of cherishing the time they had together.