By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Concealed RepublicanConcealed Republican
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Guns
  • Politics
  • Videos
Reading: Rep. Downing learned of 9/11 attacks while moose hunting in Alaska
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Font ResizerAa
Concealed RepublicanConcealed Republican
  • News
  • Guns
  • Politics
  • Videos
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Guns
  • Politics
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Concealed Republican > Blog > News > Rep. Downing learned of 9/11 attacks while moose hunting in Alaska
News

Rep. Downing learned of 9/11 attacks while moose hunting in Alaska

Jim Taft
Last updated: September 11, 2025 2:02 pm
By Jim Taft 4 Min Read
Share
Rep. Downing learned of 9/11 attacks while moose hunting in Alaska
SHARE

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

On the 24th anniversary of 9/11, Rep. Troy Downing, R-Montana, is sharing his unusual experience that day, which inspired him to join the United States Air Force.

Downing was on a moose hunting trip with a friend in the Alaskan wilderness, with the only outside communication being an aviation radio, when he and his friend noticed that no planes were flying over remote Alaska anymore.

“I’m thinking nuclear holocaust. I have no idea what could make planes stop flying,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

WEST POINT CADET TURNED ARMY VETERAN HONORS BROTHER LOST IN 9/11 ATTACKS THROUGH METS GAME TRIBUTE

“We decide if they don’t come pick us up on our scheduled day, which was the 16th, I said we got to hike to Anchorage and, you know, Anchorage was about 350 miles away, so it would have taken quite a while,” he added.

On Sept. 16, as they were packing up the hunting camp, a Grumman Goose plane lands on the lake, goes to the shore to pick them up, and pilot informs them by rolling down his window that “They blew up the World Trade Center.”

“Like, who? And I’m just trying to process this. And keep in mind, we didn’t see any of this on TV,” he said, explaining how he was quickly coming to terms with the sadness and anger about what happened thousands of miles away in New York City.

DOG-WALKING MAN STUMBLES ON SUSPECTED DEBRIS FROM REAGAN NATIONAL PLANE CRASH 7 MONTHS LATER

Troy Downing

He said the tragedy ended up as fuel for inspiration to enlist at 34, just one year from the cutoff, like the hundreds of thousands who did after the attacks. 

“It took a while to get out of Alaska because the airspace was closed over Canada so I couldn’t fly home. And as soon as they opened the air space, I flew home and the next day, I walked into a recruiter’s office,” Downing said, adding that he had no prior military experience and never considered joining before, as he was a tech entrepreneur. 

“’Hey, I used to teach at New York University. I’ve got a pilot’s license, you know, what can you do with me?’” the Republican told the recruiter. Downing ended up doing two tours in Afghanistan for the USAF and Air National Guard, including in a combat search and rescue squad. 

NAVY ACCUSED OF NEGLECTING BRAIN INJURIES AMONG PILOTS IN NEW HOUSE PROBE

General image of Twin Towers

“And the recruiter looks me in the eye and says, ‘Well, how old are you?’ I said, ‘34.’ He goes, ‘Good, 35 is the cutoff, go take the ASVAB,’” he said.

The Republican, who joined Congress earlier this year after serving as Montana State Auditor, said that the unity in the days following 9/11 should be the takeaway decades later, and emphasized that “we continue to take care of our veterans.”

“We were all just Americans, and you saw those flags everywhere, and you saw this common goal of fighting back, of coming together, of having that real, you know, that pride in being American. And I hate that it took such a tragedy to get us to that spot. But I’m hoping that we can find a way to get to that spot again, where we really look at our common balance of being American,” Downing said.

Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

Utah climber dies after fall from Mount Gould in Glacier National Park

Trump admin NASA: Duffy aims for lunar nuclear base by 2030

DeSantis defends Florida against book ban claims over Anne Frank diary

Washington Times Editorial Proposes Interesting Answer to SCOTUS Denial

Las Vegas Man Shot With His Own Open-Carry Gun. What Does It Mean?

Share This Article
Facebook X Email Print
Previous Article Before Charlie Kirk Was Shot, He Torched the Media, CNN’s Van Jones’ Zarutska Murder Coverage [WATCH] Before Charlie Kirk Was Shot, He Torched the Media, CNN’s Van Jones’ Zarutska Murder Coverage [WATCH]
Next Article The past is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there The past is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

- Advertisement -
Ad image

Latest News

FACT-CHECK: Yes, Democrats are responsible for the shutdown
FACT-CHECK: Yes, Democrats are responsible for the shutdown
News
Inmates praise Diddy’s business mentorship programs before sentencing
Inmates praise Diddy’s business mentorship programs before sentencing
News
Kamala Harris Sought the Clinton’s Guidance Before Naming Tim Walz Running Mate
Kamala Harris Sought the Clinton’s Guidance Before Naming Tim Walz Running Mate
Politics
The Schumer Shutdown Is About the New York Senate Primary Next Year
The Schumer Shutdown Is About the New York Senate Primary Next Year
Politics
Trump’s MASTER PLAN to ensure shutdown spells DOOMSDAY for Democrats
Trump’s MASTER PLAN to ensure shutdown spells DOOMSDAY for Democrats
News
Massive fire erupts at Chevron refinery in El Segundo, California
Massive fire erupts at Chevron refinery in El Segundo, California
News
© 2025 Concealed Republican. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Press Release
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?