The families have it the worst for sure. I was deployed when 911 hit and the wife and kids were in our house in NY and could see the smoke. She pulled the kids from school and hunkered down. Got off night shift and I walked into the tent and on the tv was the first plane hitting, thought it was a movie. I was in Kuwait and it went crazy over there, total communication blackout, mop for a day issued weapons. When I was able to open the e mail it was crazy she thought I was dead. Got home a few weeks later and went back 5 days later. Hell on her for sure. Not to great on us either.