Wasilla High graduate among those lost in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001

Ronald Hemenway’s military career started later in life. He joined the United States Navy at age 30. But Hemenway found his calling and success as an electronics technician and earned a position in the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Hemenway, a 1982 graduate of Wasilla High School, was one of 125 people who were killed inside of the Pentagon when hijackers flew American Airlines flight 77 into the building on that historically tragic day.

Bob Hemenway, Ronald’s father, was home that day. Hemenway’s mother, Shirley, stopped at a friend’s house on her way to work. That’s when she first learned about the terrorist attack on both the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon.

“I saw the Pentagon got hit. I didn’t know what happened,” Shirley told the Frontiersman in 2021.

Shirley didn’t make it work that day. Instead, the Hemenways frantically made phone calls, trying to find any news about their son.

Hemenway was also one of five victims who were never found.

“Everyone else was getting remains. We never got any remains,” Bob said in 2021. “The general said it was 3,000 degrees where Ron was. They never even found his dog tags.”

Bob, who served in the United States Air Force, said his son didn’t show much interest in the military earlier in his life. And then Hemenway had news for his parents.

“He came home one day and said to his mother, I’m going into the Navy,” Bob said. “He told his mother he was going to find a job with a future.”

And that was a surprise.

“Out of the blue,” Shirley said. “But most things about Ronald were out of the blue.”

Bob said Ronald traveled his own path in life.

“He marched to the beat of his own drummer,” Bob said.

Hemenway was born in Cordova in 1964. The Hemingway family moved to Tok a year later, spent seven years in Fairbanks and lived in Wasilla for another 15 years before relocating to the Lower 48. Bob and Shirley now live in Kansas.

Hemenway attended UAF and studied chemistry and photography before moving south with his family.

“He always liked to learn,” Shirley said.

Shirley said Ronald would spend time reading encyclopedias.

“If he said it, don’t argue with him. He probably just read it,” Shirley said.

After joining the Navy, Hemmenway attended electronics school and graduated after 11 months as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Hemenway chose an assignment with the U.S.S. LaSalle and was stationed at Gaeta, Italy.

While stationed in Italy, he met and married Marinella in 1997 when he was 33. The couple had two children, Stefan and Desiree.

“He really loved his kids. He was a hands-on dad,” Bob said.

Bob and Shirley were back in Wasilla 10 years ago for the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. They were in the Valley for a ceremony that dedicated the Battlefield Cross Memorial in Hemenway’s memory. The memorial stands near the entrance at Wasilla High, Hemenway’s alma mater.

“We’re really happy about that,” Hemenway said of the memorial.

Bob Hemenway said they had hoped to return this year for the 20th anniversary, but are unable due to health reasons.

Kamilla Diamond grew up with Ronald Hemenway and his siblings, and were neighbors. Diamond was with the Hemenway family during the dedication on the 10-year anniversary in 2011.

“Ever since they put the Battlefield Cross at Wasilla High School I go there and put flowers there on 9-11, and Memorial Day. I try to do it on his birthday,” Diamond said. “Every time I end up leaving ugly crying.”

The Hemenways have a tribute to their son, with pictures on a wall in there house. Bob said their oldest son bought a 25-foot flag poll for their yard.

“We’re incredibly proud of him,” Bob said.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.