228: September 11 hero Betty Ong

Do you know, with certainty, how you would react in a time of extreme stress or crisis?

 

As a 22 year old woman in San Francisco, Betty had not yet decided on a career path. So, while she was figuring out what she wanted to do, she worked at the factory owned by her parents. The factory produced beef jerky. It wasn’t really her dream job, but it kept her busy at the time, and she also felt good about helping her parents in their business.

 

One day, Betty’s workplace suddenly became very dangerous. Some people came in to rob the family business – and they were waving guns around. Betty was out front, and one of the first employees to come in contact with the robbers. She never panicked, even as one of the men held a gun to her head. Instead, she calmly called her dad, who was in the back, and said, “Dad, we’re being robbed”. The robbers got some money and left, and no one was physically injured.

 

Betty’s nerves of steel would come into play again years later. She was one of the flight attendants on American Airlines flight 11, on September 11, 2001. Today you’ll hear her voice, and you’ll learn why the 9/11 Commission declared Betty a hero.

 

 

Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

https://WhatWasThatLike.com/228

 

Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was done by James Lai.

 

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