America`s Finest

While many would-be volunteers have been turned away — a sign, if one was needed, of the generous outpouring of support in the wake of such tragedy — firemen, emergency medical personnel and metal workers are still wanted for the most massive search and rescue effort ever undertaken in this country.

For a fourth day after hijacked passenger jets rammed into the World Trade Center towers, thousands of dedicated men and women searched the smoldering remains.for thousands of victims — 4,763 are missing at last count. So far, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said today, the teams have hauled out 10,425 tons of debris — 1,154 truckloads.

"That`s really to give you some sense of the monumental nature of the task that`s going on," he said. "The people who are doing it are incredibly brave."

The weather has complicated their task. Thunder, lightning and torrential downpours started in the dark of night, but the rescue teams have kept at it. Hopes are most certainly dimming — no survivors were found since Wednesday — but fueled by faith, the rescuers march on, many putting in 12-hour shifts or longer.

Reinforcements at the Ready

Uptown, a few miles from the wreckage, an endless supply of reinforcements stands ready. But for hundreds of would-be volunteers who lined up in the cold rain this morning outside the Jacob Javits Convention Center on 34th Street — mission control for volunteers — the call would not come today.

Somehow, despite the devastation, the rag-tag volunteer militia that spontaneously reported for duty was not needed, authorities said. Not yet. If they weren`t firemen, emergency medical services personnel, or metal workers, they were asked to go home.

The hopeful volunteers came from all over the tri-state area, and in some cases from not-so-neighboring states — paramedics from Kentucky, firemen from northeastern Pennsylvania, police officers from Illinois with their trained dogs in tow.

As they stood in line this morning, some hoisted American flags, others toted pick-axes, shovels and sledgehammers brought from their own garages, small businesses and homes. So many said they had skills they knew were useful — they were spelunkers, mountain climbers, lifeguards, electrical engineers, construction workers and carpenters. Those without specialized trades, many wearing completely inappropriate clothing for such a dangerous mission, said they`d be happy to just pass out water, sandwiches and coffee.

Proof that the rescue effort has an embarrassment of riches in the volunteer department: Other volunteers walked along the line of those hoping to help out offering food and drinks. One ponchoed volunteer pushed a grocery cart of goodies like a vendor on a boardwalk, yelling out, "I`ve got Slim Jims, sandwiches, juices, you name it."

Other volunteers marched by carrying supplies for the rescue teams downtown: Boxes of socks, men`s underwear, shoes and toothpaste.

`They May Need Me`

But even those who were turned away on Wednesday were undeterred — they came back again today to offer their services.

"Right now they are accepting iron workers, but I know electrical engineering," said Clive Meikle of Brooklyn, who waited in the Javits Center line for a second day. "I am ready and able to work, strong and healthy. You never know, an emergency may pop up and they may need me."

About 50 feet away stood the men of Carpenter`s Union 608, which was working on a building a half-block away from the World Trade Center on Tuesday morning. They survived, but their millions of dollars of equipment was eventually buried in the rubble.

Now, they wanted to work, even without the tools of their livelihood. "We just want to help out, we just want to get down there," said Brian O`Neill, a 608 member from Flushing, Queens. "We can`t sit around watching the TV no longer."

Walter Haller of Torrington, Conn., left home around midnight on Wednesday with his pickup truck packed with food and drinks he had bought himself at Kmart — Gatorade, water, peanuts, crackers, candy and popcorn. He unloaded his goods, but that wasn`t all he came for. He also came to work.

The head of a demolition company, Haller brought his own tools — shovels, picks and hammers — and donned rain gear, heavy boots, goggles and a hard hat.

"I figured my skills could come in handy," he said. "I can crawl caves, I am an amateur spelunker, I know I could do this and survive in this environment. I am here to do that. I am not afraid."

After sleeping in his pickup truck, he got in line around 6:30 a.m., only to find there were already hundreds ahead of him. At midday, he was still hoping he`d get the call.

Even Just Standing in Line Helps

For Polar Humenn of Syracuse, N.Y., a mountain climber and caver who brought his coil of ropes and scaling equipment, the World Trade Center collapse touched close to home. His father, an electrical engineer who helped design the twin towers, had spent much of Humenn`s childhood obsessed with the majestic skyscrapers. After feeling such a connection to the birth of the towers, Humenn feels a need to take part in their demise.

"Everyday, I would try to figure out how many floors were on top" as it was being built, he said. "It`s completely devastating that they`re gone. A little bit of my life was lost."

Disappointment was inevitable in the volunteer line, as those hoping to help were turned away. But many seemed to get what they needed just by showing up — a sense of community and comfort in the wake of such tragedy.

Margot Lewitin, 63, a lifelong New Yorker, watched the towers burn from her Greenwich Village apartment. She stood in the volunteer line on Wednesday to no avail and returned again today. Although her services haven`t been needed yet, just being there with others who also want to help seemed comforting.

"We will do anything. We just want to not think we are not just watching this on TV," she said. "The outpouring of people who want to help is so wonderful."

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