“They’d do it again tomorrow.”

This chapter details how New York Waterway Port Captain Michael McPhillips, who was in charge of waterborne transportation for the New York National Guard in the days following the evacuation, was among the many first responders who spent weeks breathing the toxic air. McPhillips wound up developing pulmonary issues and end-stage liver disease that he said resulted from dust exposure, and he was forced to retire from the industry. Still, he considers his ability to serve at Ground Zero an honor. It is impossible to know exactly how many of the mariners who participated in the evacuation wound up suffering from illnesses related to their service. Even counting the overall number of mariners involved in the boat lift itself poses challenges. The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) counted at least 120 mariners currently registered with the program, 53 percent of whom are suffering from at least one illness or condition that doctors and researchers say is related to World Trade Center exposures. Meanwhile, in addition to the 414 first responders who lost their lives that day, some 2,000 were injured, some so badly they could no longer serve.