25 Years Later, Secret Service Medal of Valor Recipient Asks: Have Americans Forgotten the Lessons of 9/11?
- Jul 27
- 18 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Gregg Wooding, 972-567-7660
Former U.S. Secret Service Agent Survived the World Trade Center Attack and Shares His Story in "Bury Me In A Dirty Suit" Ahead of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11
DALLAS, Texas (July 27, 2026) — Twenty-five years after terrorists turned four commercial airliners into weapons of mass destruction, former U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Darin Kinder fears America has forgotten the lessons of September 11.
"We've slowly put our blinders back on," Kinder says. "We're living more like we did on September 10 than September 12."
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Kinder was inside the World Trade Center preparing for a meeting when American Airlines Flight 11 slammed into the North Tower.
"The world began falling around me as debris from the plane, chunks of the building, and burning jet fuel rained down,” Kinder recalled.
Drawing on his law enforcement training, Kinder immediately recognized the attack for what it was.
"I knew almost instantly this wasn't an accident," he says. "It was terrorism."
As smoke filled the building and panic spread through the corridors, Kinder guided frightened survivors through chaotic inferno.
"I shouted at the top of my lungs to about fifteen injured and disoriented people in the darkness: 'Follow the sound of my voice! Come this way! There is a way out! There is light!’” he said.
That day, Kinder narrowly escaped death three separate times before emerging from Ground Zero bruised, bloodied, and covered in soot—his business suit shredded and his shoes in tatters.
The image became the inspiration for his memoir, Bury Me In A Dirty Suit: Discovering Man's Valiant Purpose in the Aftermath of 9/11, a story of courage, faith, sacrifice, and finding purpose after surviving America's deadliest terrorist attack.
For his heroism, Kinder received the U.S. Secret Service Medal of Valor, the agency's highest honor for extraordinary bravery. Yet Kinder says one of the greatest challenges came after leaving Ground Zero.
"The attacks changed how I viewed life forever," he said. "They forced me to ask why God spared me—and what He expected me to do with the years He gave me."
Following a distinguished 25-year career protecting U.S. presidents and American interests in more than 40 countries, Kinder retired from the Secret Service and founded Fierce Faith, a ministry challenging men to reject comfort, embrace courageous faith, and live lives of purpose.
His message is simple: "Don't waste the life you've been given. Spend it getting your suit dirty for the glory of God."
As America commemorates the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Kinder hopes the nation will remember not only the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost, but also the courage displayed by the 422 first responders and ordinary citizens who chose sacrifice over self-preservation.
"We honor them best by living with the same courage, conviction, and willingness to serve others,” he said.
A sought-after speaker and podcast guest, Kinder and his wife live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where they are raising their four sons.
Book trailer: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTUNwc9zZ3A&t=206s]
Book information: Bury Me In A Dirty Suit: Discovering Man's Valiant Purpose in the Aftermath of 9/11
MORE INFO./BOOKING: *To schedule an audio or video interview with Darin Kinder or to request a review copy of Bury Me In A Dirty Suit, contact:
Gregg Wooding, 972-567-7660 /gregg@iampronline.com
*For more information and to book Darin to speak at an upcoming church or corporate event, visit Fierce-Faith.com and DarinKinder.com.
By the Numbers: Darin Kinder's 9/11 Story
The Day That Changed Everything
Backgrounder
September 11, 2001 The deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history.
8:46 a.m. The moment American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower. While changing clothes in the locker room of World Trade Center 7, Darin Kinder felt the building violently shake.
Age 27 A young U.S. Secret Service agent beginning what would become the defining day of his life.
9th Floor The location of Darin's office inside World Trade Center 7.
Three The number of times Darin narrowly escaped death before reaching safety.
Nearly 3,000 Americans killed in the terrorist attacks.
421 New York first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice while rescuing others, to whom Darin dedicates his book Bury Me In a Dirty Suit
A Career of Service
25 Years Darin's career as a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent.
Five United States Presidents protected during his career.
43 Countries American interests protected around the world.
The Legacy
1993 The first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center—an attack many Americans had largely forgotten before 9/11.
25 Years Later As America marks the silver anniversary of September 11, Darin asks whether we've forgotten the lessons learned that day.
Four The sons Darin and his wife Heather are raising to understand courage, sacrifice, and faith.
One day. Three escapes. Twenty-five years of service. One question:
Have we forgotten what 9/11 taught us?
Darin Kinder
Author of “Bury Me in a Dirty Suit”
Biography
Darin Kinder brings a gripping, real-world perspective to leadership, resilience, and service. Darin is a former Special Agent of the United States Secret Service, where he spent 25 years protecting five US Presidents, other world leaders, and navigating high-stakes environments in 43 different countries.
On September 11, 2001, he was on the ground in New York City when the World Trade Center was attacked—an experience that earned him the Secret Service Medal of Valor and forever shaped his perspective on life and leadership. Darin delivers an unforgettable message forged in crisis, tested in the highest levels of government protection, and made relevant for teams and organizations today.
Darin is also the author of the hard-hitting book, Bury Me in a Dirty Suit, a compelling memoir that explores what it means to lead with courage, serve others sacrificially, and step into the mess when it matters most. Ultimately, Bury Me in a Dirty Suit, inspires and equips the reader to pursue and execute God’s purpose for their life.
Whether he's unpacking the difference between a “civilian” and a “citizen,” the mental shift required for resilience, leading with courage, or pursuing greater purpose, Darin challenges audiences to reframe adversity, work with greater mission, and lead with impact.
Darin is a devoted husband, father to four sons, and the founder of Fierce Comms, a communications firm dedicated to helping people lead with courage and purpose. He is passionate about inspiring and equipping the next generation to face challenges head-on and live with bold resolve.
A sought-after speaker and podcast guest on more than 50 shows, Darin shares his insights on leadership, resilience, and what it means to live with clear purpose in an unpredictable world.
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*To book Darin for audio or video interviews and to receive a review copy of Bury Me In A Dirty Suit, please contact Gregg Wooding of I AMPR, 972-567-7660/ gregg@iampronline.com.
*For more information and to book Darin to speak at an upcoming church or corporate event, visit Fierce-Faith.com and DarinKinder.com.
Book Summary
“Bury Me in a Dirty Suit” Summary
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Secret Service agent Darin Kinder was near the base of the South Tower when it began to collapse. What followed was a harrowing fight for survival—one that revealed the true meaning of courage, sacrifice, and calling.
Bury Me in a Dirty Suit is a gripping eyewitness account of 9/11 and a heartfelt exploration of what it means to live with a valiant purpose. With honesty and humility, Kinder recounts the chaos and trauma of that day, the resilience of the human spirit, and the sustaining power of faith in the darkest hour. Through personal reflection and biblical insight, he invites readers to consider their own missions, their own "why," and challenges men especially to answer God’s call, step up, and fight back against the darkness.
More than a memoir, Bury Me in a Dirty Suit is a rallying cry for men to live boldly—for others and for God.
Key Book Themes
Key Themes from “Bury Me in a Dirty Suit”
God's Strength in Crisis - How faith grounded Darin through unspeakable tragedy
The Resilience Mindset - Trusting God with the next step, even when the path is unclear
Faith Over Fear – Trust in Christ casts out fear
No Clean Suits - A powerful challenge to step into the mess and be Christ's hands and feet in a dirty world
Clarity Under Fire - What to do when the pressure is on, the stakes are high, and there’s no script.
Author Q&A
Questions and Answers Backgrounder
“Our culture has an obsession with being safe. We equate comfort with safety. Real safety is an illusion, unobtainable. In actuality, we don’t know what will happen to us. There is no safer place to be than in the center of God’s will.”
Q. Describe what it was like being at World Trade Center Two on Sept. 11, 2001?
A. “I heard the sound of high-pitched metal on metal. I looked up and saw Tower Two buckle. I was ‘danger close’ on the “x” – about 100 yards away. My first thought was: ‘This is all over – you’re dead.’ Then, something told me – ‘run!’”
Q. How did the day begin?
A. “My day started like any other day. I was sitting in the locker room, joking with the guys. I’d just finished working out and began putting on a clean suit for a meeting. I heard a slight rumble. Within seconds, we were told to evacuate. I never finished tying my tie.”
Q. Tell us about the cries for help — and how those desperate cries have shaped your ministry today?
A. “I stood in the gloom. With my aching lungs, I cried, ‘Follow the sound of my voice.’ People were wounded and staggering. I wanted to help them get out of the darkness. As they made their way to me, I'd say, ‘Go into the sunlight.’ Later, God said to me, ‘I want you to use that scene as a call to action, bringing people to the light.’ In the Bible, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” We have a story to tell because He ushered us into the Kingdom of light.”
Q. Share your account of being with President George W. Bush at Ground Zero on Sept. 14, 2001, and how his speech inspired you and other first responders.
A. “Whereas September 11 was tragic, September 14 was a high-water mark for my career. We all wanted to get into the fight. Returning to the scene, you might ask: ‘How do you secure a space for the President of the United States when you're still looking for bodies?’ The answer is: ‘You can't.’ But we did the best we could.
“What could have been a chaotic scene ended up (being) beautiful because people were happy to see him [President Bush], including very motivated firefighters, steam fitters and other first responders. We were there for one purpose: finding the living. Someone handed the President a bullhorn. Standing on a pile of rubble, the President said those famous words, ‘I can hear you, the rest of the world hears you, and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!’
“I remember having goosebumps on my neck; the crowd was intense. They started chanting “USA!” People wanted payback. The United States had just been sucker punched, and 3,000 people were gone. I saw a President hear and really feel his people. It was a tremendous honor to be part of that.”
Q. Tell us about your biggest regret on 9-11.
A. “My single greatest regret was calling my wife from a pay phone. I told her I was in World Trade Center Two. We said our “I love you’s” and then we hung up. Then, I went outside to rendezvous with my coworkers. Thirteen minutes later, my wife watched the towers collapse. She had called her brother and my brother. In a sense, they watched me die on live TV. To do it all over again, I would never have put her through that anguish. It would be hours before I could make another phone call to her.”
Q. What was your homecoming like when you were finally reunited with your wife on 9-11?
A. “I barely got the door open when we fell down weeping. It was a powerful moment. And here's a spiritual metaphor: I was destroyed, beaten, dirty, and yet she didn't push me away with the Heisman to the chest. She embraced me as I was. The first time we come to Jesus, he takes us as we are... then he starts cleaning us up. She gave me what God offers all of us – the embrace of grace.”
Q. Why were you spared when so many died that day?
A. “I can’t tell you why I was spared, and why others were not. I was shaken after 9-11, dealing with the sights and sounds from that day. Sights of bruised, burned flesh, avalanches of rocks falling. I never asked ‘why me?’ because he’s God and I am not. I never felt I had the right to ask that question.
“In the aftermath of 9-11, I was frustrated. I was listless and dissatisfied with my job. My marriage suffered. On a mission trip in 2006, I heard the Lord say, ‘Just let me use you.’ He made it clear to me that part of his plan was for me to tell my story to glorify him and bring light into the darkness. ‘This terrible experience can be used for good in your life,’ he said. God’s timing was perfect as immense healing started to take place. That’s when I started to grow my heart for men’s ministry, and he gave us four sons.”
Q. How has our culture redefined the word “safe”?
A. “Our culture has an obsession with being safe. We equate comfort with safety. Real safety is an illusion, unobtainable. In actuality, we don’t know what will happen to us. There is no safer place to be than in the center of God’s will. The memory (of 9-11) encourages me to live life to the fullest – getting my suit dirty. You never know when it might be our time to go.”
Q. Why wait 25 years to tell your story?
A. “I’ve been writing this book in my head for 10-15 years. It’s my chance to share a terrible national story, but also to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. That has become my life mission.”
Q. Why is it important for men to find “their guys?”
A. “I had a lack of ease and confidence when I was away from coworkers whom I call “my guys” in the book. I had a much better chance to bring good to the terrible day when we worked together as a team. They had skills and abilities that I didn't. In the Secret Service, we call that a “force multiplier.” Today, I encourage men to “find your guys.” Find men you can be honest with, you can be broken with, you can share your failures with, and you can revel in your successes with. They bring expertise you may not have. Everyone in the group, focusing on one mission, whether that's an orphanage or combatting child sex trafficking. Do it shoulder to shoulder. Men really start clicking when working shoulder to shoulder. When I was with “my guys” on 9-11, I knew I had a chance to make a greater impact.”
Q. Describe what happened when God put you on your knees.
A. “We were at the intersection of Church and Vesey, and everything was on fire. The fire truck that I almost slid under for cover when World Trade Center Two collapsed was mangled. Its wheels were flattened, parallel to the ground. Looking at the same truck an hour later, I literally dropped to my knees with gratitude. I could feel God’s presence. He had not forgotten me. “I'm with you,” he said. I serve a ‘with you’ God. That's a memory that I cling to.”
Q. Why is it important for men to have a “valiant purpose?”
A. “The Bible is a book of promises. In Ephesians 2:10, it talks about how we are all God’s masterpieces. I know in my gut that I was made for this time, this place. God creates (us) for a purpose. I’m the created; he’s the Creator who gave me a mission to speak to the hearts of men, to equip them to ‘answer the bell’ and bring light into the darkness. In his biography about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Eric Metaxas offered a fitting summary of the Christian worldview: ‘Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.’”
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Book Excerpts
Excerpts from “Bury Me in a Dirty Suit”
“The world was falling all around me as debris from the plane, chunks of the building, and burning jet fuel rained down.”
“I dedicate this book to the 422 first responders who died in the line of duty responding to the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. These brave men and women willingly entered the fray. They chose to “answer the bell!” Each one was valiant until their last breath.” (Introduction)
“I was a fit twenty-seven-year-old Secret Service agent, so I ran pretty fast. But not fast enough. Pitch black, I was immediately lost. My eyes, nose, and mouth were instantly filled with thick pulverized concrete and other particles. I coughed and spat as I ran, attempting to rid my mouth of the taste of industrial chalk. It tasted like chewing on a piece of drywall. The smell was like wet tar freshly applied to a highway.” (Chapter 1)
“The world was falling all around me as debris from the plane, chunks of the building, and burning jet fuel rained down. We were in the kill zone. It has been well documented that several victims trapped in the towers made the conscious decision to leap from the building, rather than burn to death. The choice is unimaginable for those watching. Fortunately, God spared me from seeing any “jumpers.” Apparently, several fell in my immediate area, as witnessed by several of my coworkers.” (Chapter 1)
“Almost all people on the street were first responders. They were scurrying around with heads down, moving with purpose while “working the problem.” The ground began to evaporate behind me as the “thunder” rolled to a crescendo up my back. I decided to turn right, and Frank kept going straight. We became separated in our mad dash for life.” (Chapter 9)
“The suffocating blanket of dust and debris particles had returned. We walked in eerie silence. The sun was blotted from the sky, replaced by a gray soup, air so thick you could taste it. The smell of smoke and death competed with each other for supremacy. The scene was apocalyptic. We searched for wounded but only found bodies.” (Chapter 9)
“I believe this was my guiding principle for my actions on 9/11. Why would a guy risk his life for those he does not know? For some reason, still largely unclear to me, God placed me at Ground Zero on 9/11. But He was with me, and He guided me. Of this, I have zero doubt.” (Chapter 12)
“An oxygen mask was attached to my face as an unknown medical team member began to assess me head to toe. I ripped off my tattered dress shirt and undershirt and held a water hose up to my eyes. I flushed them for several minutes and felt relief. My clothes were trashed, so I carelessly doused my upper body with the hose in a desperate but futile attempt to wash away the stench of Ground Zero. Little did I know that stench would hover over lower Manhattan for weeks.” (Chapter 15)
“I was still bruised, bloodied, and covered head to toe in filth. My pants were shredded, each leg about three inches shorter than before. My shoes were destroyed. In short, I was a complete mess.” (Chapter 15)
“Throughout it all, I had kept my emotions in check. In Heather’s arms, the dam broke. We both wept uncontrollably. We literally fell to the floor and held each other as we sobbed. Was it pain, joy, or both? This was no Hollywood scene. We didn’t passionately kiss and promise to never be apart again. No, this was primal agony and joy cascading through tears.” (Chapter 15)
“I glanced over my shoulder to see the President a mere ten feet away. It is 100 percent not normal for such a junior agent to be that close to the President. But this was no ordinary day.” (Chapter 16)
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"Dirty Suit" Dictionary
Important Phrases, Terms
“Bury me in a dirty suit”: When I punch out of this life, I want to have fulfilled my calling and have entered into people’s pain.
“Let's go be heroes!”: We need everyday heroes who know the cost and go into the fray anyway.
“Young and Dumb”: I was a baby-agent on 9-11. I made questionable decisions that day. We're all “young and dumb” to some extent. The Bible says it best: “We’re all sheep who need a Savior.”
“Answer the Bell”: The phrase comes from a middleweight boxing match in 1980 between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard. As the bell sounded to begin the eighth round, Duran quit with the infamous words “No mas,” which became his legacy. In contrast, Fierce Faith challenges men to rise to the occasion, “answer the bell,” and fight the good fight.
“Do the next thing”: A problem-solving metric that encourages men to knock down the next thing in front of them. While we don’t know what the future holds, we can do “the next right thing” that God places in our path.
“Let's go make good trouble”: A pastor once said he wants Satan to take notice each morning when he wakes up by saying, “Oh, there he is again!” Similarly, I want to “make good trouble” for the enemy and the forces of darkness. I relish the opportunity to punch the enemy in the throat.
“Fight the good fight”: In the Bible, the apostle Paul uses this phrase three times in his letter to Timothy. The Greek word means to agonize with intense effort. We should go to bed tired every night, having “fought the good fight.”
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Endorsements
What Others Are Saying About “Bury Me in a Dirty Suit”
Endorsements
“Using the backdrop of America’s most tragic day, Darin inspires and equips men to courageously and actively pursue the will of God. His harrowing but humble account of his experience on 9/11 will leave you speechless. More importantly, Darin’s teaching encourages men to step up, answer the call, and live with renewed purpose. With biblical teaching and even some humor, Darin provides the tools for the man of God to fight the good fight.”
William G (Jerry) Boykin
LTG US Army (RET)
Vice President Family Research Council and former Delta Force Commander
“It’s a privilege to read Kinder’s words as he shares lessons from a life rich in struggle, scars, and success. Lessons applied on that day in September. There’s not much room to learn on a day like that … only time to prove. He is a proven man. It’s an honor to know him, and other heroes from that day and since. And humbling to watch him lead at the breakfast table the way he did on a battlefield on our own shores.”
Clint Bruce
Former Navy Seal
Founder of TRG, Holdfast,
& HighGroundHQ Foundation
“Every once in a while, you hear a story that stops you in your tracks—one that challenges you, wrecks you, and changes the way you see the world. That’s what Darin Kinder’s story of 9/11 has done for me. since the first time I heard it over a decade ago. It’s not just heroic and compelling—it’s a wake-up call. In a world that leans hard into comfort and complacency, Darin reminds us that how we live our everyday moments matters deeply for the Kingdom. This book will stir something in you and leave you wanting a life with more purpose, more courage, and a journey that ends with a “dirty suit.’”
Cynthia Yanof, author of Life is Messy,
God is Good
“Bury Me in a Dirty Suit is a gritty, firsthand account of 9/11 told from the streets of Ground Zero. Darin Kinder doesn’t just tell a story, he honors the fallen, celebrates the courage of first responders, and issues a bold call to action. With humility and conviction, he invites men to step into the purpose God has given them, not in theory, but in the thick of real life. This is a book that will challenge you, stir you, and equip you. By the end, Darin will have you convinced the best kind of suit is a dirty one.”
Adam Tarnow, co-author of The Edge
and Partner at PeopleWorks International
“Darin's story - his book, his life, his mission, and his legacy - isn't one of tragedy or suffering, but of triumph through faith. He is unique not just in his ability to express the lessons he learned during America's darkest day, but in his willingness to authentically share those lessons to help other men grow closer to each other and to God. I'm grateful for Darin's service, humility, friendship, and mentorship, and I'm confident others who read this book will gain much from it."
Dan Bradley
Former USAF TACP
President, The HighGroundHQ Foundation
·
“Fierce, riveting, suspenseful, gut wrenching, God-directed. I was captivated and changed – changed moment by moment as I was immersed into Darin’s world and his story from 9/11. Then I felt compelled to reread it all over again. I felt all the same words and feelings, even deeper than the first reading. Now I want to give this book away, again and again. I’ve learned again with Darin – “Jesus is enough.” He is always enough – more than enough.”
Hal Habecker
Pastor, Founder and President
of Finishing Well Ministries
“Darin Kinder is a very rare individual - a man who understands exactly who he is and why God has placed him on this earth. Bury Me in a Dirty Suit is a captivating read that takes us along on Darin’s compelling journey of self-discovery. But be warned … Darin’s challenge to each of us is provocative and compelling. Don’t read this unless you’re ready to get real with yourself and get your suit dirty!”
Rankin Gassaway, EVP & Chief Administrative Officer,
7-Eleven, Inc. (retired)
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