GEORGE HOWARD, 45, of Hicksville, N.Y., was a police officer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He was among the first to help after terrorists bombed the complex in 1993. It was his day off when the planes struck the twin towers, but he got a rescue truck and raced to the towers when he heard of the attack. A flying sheet of steel struck and killed him as he ran into the dust and smoke. "I've gotten so many calls about how great my son was, from people whose lives he saved in fires and accidents," said his mother, Arlene Howard. The 16-year Port Authority employee also was a volunteer firefighter.

ERNEST WILLCHER, 62, of North Potomac, Md., a Booz, Allen & Hamilton employee, was attending a meeting at the Pentagon concerning survivor benefits for military personnel when American Flight 77 struck the building. Willcher retired in April after 25 years as a civilian employee of the Pentagon but returned there several days a week after he was hired by Booz Allen five months ago. Willcher had been a specialist with the Army Map Service at Walter Reed Medical Center and Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md., and worked for the Army General Counsel at the Pentagon. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Shirley, and two sons, Ben and Joel.

WILLIAM FEEHAN, 72, the first deputy commissioner of the New York Fire Department, was killed at his command post at the foot of the south tower, Tower Two, of the World Trade Center when it fell. "He just loved everything about being a firefighter and a fire chief," said his son William Feehan. "He loved the department history, and he really had wonderful friends in the department." The elder Feehan served in the Army in World War II and Korea. The son of a firefighter himself, Feehan joined the department in 1959. Another son, John, also is a New York City firefighter.

CAPT. DANIEL BRETHEL, 40, a firefighter with the New York Fire Department, was supposed to be off duty the day planes crashed into both towers of the World Trade Center. He died in the collapse of the south tower. "He died doing what he loved to do," said a cousin, Thomas Brethel. "He's my hero." When Thomas Brethel thinks of his cousin, he said he will remember their years as children splashing in swimming pools or playing Wiffle ball. Daniel Brethel is survived by his wife, Carol, and two daughters, Meghan and Kristen.

KEITH DAVID McHEFFEY, 31, of Monmouth Beach, N.J., worked on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center as an equity trader for Cantor Fitzgerald. He recently was looking forward to relocating to an office that the firm planned to open within weeks in New Jersey, said his mother, Sherry McHeffey. "He was very happy with his new job and looking forward to coming down closer to home." The graduate of Salisbury State University in Maryland enjoyed mountain biking, basketball and softball. He is survived by his parents and two sisters.

ROBERT FANGMAN, 33, of Claymont, Del., was a flight attendant on United Flight 175, which crashed into the World Trade Center's south tower. Debbie Fangman said her brother was a fun-loving man who enjoyed dancing, gourmet meals, red wine and pinball. Fangman had worked for Verizon Wireless before taking a job with United Airlines in January. "He really found his calling when he joined the airline," said his mother, Ruth.