Jim Regan, Gold Star father and founder of ‘Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund’, joins ‘Fox & Friends.’
This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jim somebody, zero mission to
support the elite, just like his
son,
Jim Regan, is the founder of the
army. Ranger lead the way fund
and I joins us now:
hey Jim thanks for being with
us,
Ainsley wonderful to be here
and thank you for giving Mee the
opportunity
Ainsley. Absolutely
so many parts to this story
start from the beginning:
nine Slash eleven. Where were you?
What did you see?
Nine slash Eleven unbelievable day
working at fidelity and the
World Financial Center after the
first plane went in at 846.
They evacuated the building.
So my team and myself we went
down. We were out by the West
Side highway at Liberty Street
right across from maybe your
viewers. Remember the old trade
ships bar that was there by the
Marriott.
We were right across the street
from there
at 903 above our heads. We
hear this roaring sound of a
plane working its way through
the streets of New York, so to
speakenned, slamming into the
77th floor of the tower
fireball overhead people dont
realize this, but the World Trade
Center was covered in stainless
steel about a 16th of an inch
and the shrapnel from that was
unbelievable.
It fell down it hit people
slamming into cars slamming
into the streets, utter chaos.
That way we worked our way up to
the Marina area. The world
financial center fast pace we
didnt know if there was going
to be another plane, come in
worked our way up to the high
school. Where I waited about, I
would say about ten to fifteen minutes
to be able to get myself on a
pay phone and call home poke to
my wife.
Everyone was very concerned,
obviously,
especially my daughter and son,
who were away at college.
Jimmy was down at Duke and Mary
Beth was down at Georgetown,
told her that we were fine.
Things were chaotic
mentioned a couple folks that
were with me to try to contact
their folks to tell them that
they were safe,
and I said, im going to work my
bay up to Penn station to see
what goes on
give myself portable radio
one of the stores
to be able to monitor what was
happening
and we ended up at sky Light
Diner having coffee waiting for
what was going to happen next
Ainsley. Did you go home by the
grace of God to your family,
so many others didnt,
your son decides to become an
army ranger.
What happened to him in Iraq,
your namesake
Jimmy Jimmy?
I will tell you, we didnt
realize it at that time, but the
World Trade Center incident
killing three thousand five hundred Americans changed
the course of the Regan family.
Obviously,
nineteen years ago you know Jimmy
watched planes going in from
Duke
what his dad was up to,
whether he was there or not.
And six years later Jimmy gave
his life to his country army,
Ranger,
nine slash eleven affected the direction of
our life for the rest of our
lives.
Ainsley some people lost their
lives from your area out on long
island for folks at home. Its
about thirty minutes outside of the
city and a lot of men and women
commute into the city to go to
work and bring a paycheck home
to their families.
Did you so much to raise a
wonderful family?
Your friend went to unbelievable
school hard to get into
lacrosse player,
played lacrosse on Duke
offered huge job on Wall Street.
To follow your steps,
he decided to fight for our
country and elite special ops
team.
He was engaged to a woman.
We have basic your son buried at
Arlington, and his fiancee is
right there at his grave site.
I know she is working with your
organization.
Tell us about lead the way fund,
active duty, casualty
organization established in
Jimmys honor to build his
legacy.
We started it in two thousand and eight, and we
have over a decade of service to
the 75th Ranger regiment.
We have touched the lives of
roughly forty thousand rangers and their
families. We assist them with
recovery support.
We build homes, our severely
wounded, rangers
right now, building a home in
Wesley Chapel with another
patriotic fund
Jared allen-
and you know our mission is not
complete.
We are not going to leave any
ranger behind,
essentially were focused
thats, my mission and its now.
The mission- and it has been the
mission of Army Ranger, lead the
way fund.
So I love for everyone to jump
on, lead the way fund site and
find out more about us,
but we will not leave any army
ranger behind in the field of
Battle
Ainsley, I cant imagine what
you have gone through:
no greater loss than to lose
your child, especially your only
son,
wish your family well
and listen W. We have the most
generous viewers.
Your son has sacrificed and
everything
for this amazing country we
live
in generous viewers. Im sure
would want to donate to your
fund.
There is the organizations
website lead the way fund, DOT, Org
heroes serving all around the
world.
Thank you so much
Jim. I appreciate it
give your Betts to your wife and
girls and to his fiancee.
Transcript generated on 2020-09-11.