Exclusive: 9/11 Survivor on Guantanamo Trip: ‘I Wanted to Look Them in the Eyes”

Jim Jenca is a survivor of the 9/11  attacks on the World Trade Center.

Living in Middletown, Jenca, a former Marine who signed up to serve his country when Iran took Americans hostages. was active in the service for four years.

When he finished his active duty service, Jenca went into the private security business.  He worked for a investment  banking firm based at the World Trade Center.

On September 11, 2001 he was hurt in the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers, as those buildings came tumbling down onto the streets of Manhattan.

Injuries to his lung, knee, back and not to mention the trauma of post-traumatic stress disorder are the visible and not so visible scars from that fateful day.

On the morning of  October 21, Jenca and his wife Lisa were among several American families picked to fly down to Guantanamo Bay as part of a program run by the Pentagon for 9/11 victims and survivors so they can observe proceedings against the five men charged with being responsible for 9/11.

The Defense Department notifies thousands of victims and surviving family members whenever the military commission is convened so survivors interested in attending the proceedings enter a lottery. Five are chosen and flown  to Guantanamo Bay.

Jenca, in sharing his experience, has “a message for all Americans,” he says.

“Don’t believe they are  being tortured,” he says angrily, talking about the Guantanamo detainees- otherwise known as high valued detainees.

Jenca is frustrated by the treatment “those murderers” are receiving and with the time it is taking to have” justice served,” upon them.

“I feel they are entitled to the due process of the law,” he said, “however, I think  we are catering to these five detainees.”

Jenca’s annoyance builds as we spoke about what he observed while at Guantanamo Bay attending the military tribunals.

“They have the best defense money can buy to insure the protection of their rights and yet where is our justice. Its been 12 years!” he said.

Jenca said the most important part of the trip for him was to “look these guys in the eyes and confront them.”

Sadly, he didn’t get the opportunity to do that, he says.

Jenca’s message to the American people is simple.

‘The media has sympathized with these guys but what about all those that died and the survivors?” he asks

Recent speculation about President Obama wanting to bring these “terrorists” state side to be tried infuriates, Jenca.

“It makes no sense to do that. They are war criminals,” he said

Asked what would bring a satisfactory end for him, Jenca, says calmly and directly looking you straight in the eye without blinking …

“To see them executed.”