Nearly 20 years after the September 11 attacks, newly uncovered video footage has emerged, revealing a powerful and previously unseen view of the moment the second plane struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

Shot from a boat near Manhattan and recently shared online by Kevin Westley, the video captures the raw, emotional reactions of bystanders—adding a deeply personal layer to a moment many thought had already been fully documented.

Westley explained that he had uploaded the clip years ago but had mistakenly left it set to private. Along with the video, he shared his own reflections on 9/11 and his military service during the Iraq War. He opened up about the trauma of both experiences, from escorting the bodies of fallen soldiers to surviving nightly mortar attacks. “A piece of our soul is lost on the battlefield,” he wrote.

The article also pays tribute to firefighter Mike Kehoe, whose image became iconic as he climbed the North Tower stairs while others were rushing out. Kehoe survived that day, though 343 of his fellow firefighters did not. Despite facing ongoing health issues related to his service, Kehoe remains on the job. When asked why, he simply said, “I just love it.”

Westley’s video and story stand as a poignant reminder of the human toll of 9/11—and the enduring strength and sacrifice of those who lived through it.