FDNY captain revisits 9/11 in 25th anniversary memoir edition

Retired FDNY Captain William Groneman III is releasing a 25th anniversary edition of his September 11 memoir on Aug. 11, 2026. The book adds new reflections on the long aftermath of the attacks and the importance of preserving firsthand accounts.

Why it matters: - The new edition adds another firsthand account of September 11 as the 25th anniversary renews attention on the attacks and their aftermath. - The memoir centers the FDNY response, including the loss of 343 firefighters, and underscores why personal testimony remains important for future generations.

What happened: - Firefly Publishing will release September 11: A Memoir – Special 25th Anniversary Edition on Aug. 11, 2026. - The book is by retired New York City Fire Department Captain William Groneman III. - Groneman was at Jones Beach on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when a radio broadcast reported that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. - As captain of FDNY Engine 308 in Queens, Groneman returned to duty and joined the emergency response in Lower Manhattan.

The details: - The memoir covers the attacks, the search for survivors, the recovery of the dead, the fight against persistent fires, and emergency calls across New York City in the days that followed. - The special anniversary edition includes new reflections on how Sept. 11 continues to affect survivors and first responders. - The book is listed at 224 pages in trade paperback. - The ISBN is 979-8-89299-168-1. - The retail price is $14.99. - The eBook ISBN is 979-8-89299-169-8. - The eBook price is $6.99. - The book will be available through Ingram Content Group and wherever books are sold. - Groneman lives in Kerrville, Texas, after retiring from the FDNY. - Groneman writes and lectures on the Alamo, Davy Crockett, John Steinbeck, the history of the New York City Fire Department, and September 11. - Groneman has also written Eyewitness to the Alamo and David Crockett: Hero of the Common Man. - Groneman's novel The Minstrel Boy won Third Place for Pre-2010 Historical Fiction in the 2024 BookFest Awards.

Between the lines: - The anniversary edition is positioned as both a remembrance project and a preservation effort, signaling continued demand for personal, eyewitness accounts of 9/11. - The focus on the FDNY response keeps the story grounded in service and loss rather than broader historical recap.

What's next: - The book reaches readers on Aug. 11, 2026. - Groneman's media contact is Chris Enss at Roan & Weatherford, 916-216-0995. - More information is available on William Groneman's Facebook page.