Maj. Gen. Jim Jackson, U.S. Army, commanding general of the Military District of Washington, briefs reporters at the Pentagon on Sept. 12, 2001. Military District of Washington soldiers under his command have responded to requests for assistance from the incident commander during the hours following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. The attack caused extensive damage to the west face of the building and followed similar attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.