Every American have grappled or are still grappling with the trauma of living through the September 11, 2001 attacks, where Al Qaeda terrorists claimed nearly 3,000 lives, in their own ways. Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi on an episode of the “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast recalled his time as a New York City firefighter and his efforts in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks. The “Fargo” star said he had to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder after rescuing survivors at Ground Zero following the terror attack.

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From 1980 until 1984, Buscemi served as a fireman with Engine Company 55. After two hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center twin towers 20 years ago, the 63-year-old helped with his former company. He stated he went to Ground Zero to help with the search and rescue operations and worked 12-hour shifts alongside other firefighters.

While Buscemi had not “experienced any health issues” from Ground Zero, he “absolutely” has PTSD. 

“I was only there for like five days, but when I stopped going and tried to just live my life again, it was really, really hard,” Buscemi told Maron.

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He added that he was “depressed,” “anxious,” and “couldn’t make a simple decision.”

“All those things. It’s still with me. There are times when I talk about 9/11, and I’m right back there. I start to get choked up and I realize, ‘Ah, this is still a big part of me.”

Furthermore, Buscemi added that just like him, the 20th anniversary could be a “trigger” for “a lot of people that were down there.” 

Meanwhile, during the podcast, he also narrated the experience of joining the firefighters. 

“I kept calling the firehouse,” Buscemi told podcast host Marc Maron. “And, of course, there was no answer because I knew that they would be there. And then I eventually learned that five of them were missing. One of them was a good friend of mine I used to work with.”

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The “Boardwalk Empire” actor continued: “I was driven to the site that day, walked around for hours and then found my company, found Engine 55 working there. I asked if I could join them. I could tell they were a little suspicious at first, but I worked with them that day.” 

Earlier, during the HBO documentary “A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY,” Buscemi talking about his volunteer work: “It was a privilege to be able to do it. It was great to connect with the firehouse I used to work with and with some of the guys I worked alongside. And it was enormously helpful for me because while I was working, I didn’t really think about it as much, feel it as much.”