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

The following story honoring Wasilla High School graduate Electronics Technician 1st Class Ronald Hemenway originally appeared in a 2021 Frontiersman special section commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Hemenway’s parents, Bob and Shirley Hemenway, have both died since the story was published. We reprint it today to honor Hemenway’s life, service, and sacrifice.

What you need to know:

• Ronald Hemenway, a 1982 Wasilla High School graduate and Navy Electronics Technician 1st Class, was among the 125 people killed at the Pentagon in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
• Hemenway joined the Navy at age 30, excelled in electronics training and eventually earned a position at the Pentagon. He was married and had two children.
• Hemenway’s remains were never recovered. Wasilla High School is home to a Battlefield Cross Memorial dedicated in his memory.

Ronald Hemenway’s military career started later in life. He joined the U.S. 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 the Pentagon when hijackers flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the building.

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 attacks 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 said.

Shirley didn’t make it to 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. “The general said it was 3,000 degrees where Ron was. They never even found his dog tags.”

Bob, who served in the U.S. 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 Hemenway 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.

Related: Battlefield Cross Memorial dedicated at Wasilla High

“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, Hemenway attended electronics school and graduated after 11 months as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Hemenway chose an assignment with the USS LaSalle and was stationed in 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 were unable to because of health reasons.

Kamilla Diamond grew up with Ronald Hemenway and his siblings and was their neighbor. Diamond was with the Hemenway family during the dedication on the 10th anniversary in 2011.

“Ever since they put the Battlefield Cross at Wasilla High School I go there and put flowers there on Sept. 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 their house. Bob said their oldest son bought a 25-foot flagpole for their yard.

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