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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2001

In the aftermath of Tuesday's attack on the Pentagon, scores of people could be found walking the streets of Washington, DC, and surrounding areas. Neal McCaleb was one of them.

But to the 66-year-old Chicksaw Nation tribal member and head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs , it was business as usual. A frequent foot traveler, McCaleb -- to the chagrin of some aides -- often prefers walking.

McCaleb was on his way to a meeting with a member of Congress when the attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center were occurring. By the time he made it to the U.S. Capitol, though, the entire complex had been evacuated and senior members of Congress were taken to a secure location.

McCaleb had been taken to the meeting in by a government driver who was to return for him later. But due to the chaos, the driver could not return, leaving McCaleb abandoned.

So he walked.

Yet after a hearty trek back to the Department of Interior, which can take 20 minutes or more, he found it empty. Secretary Gale Norton had already been taken to Virginia and other employees had long been evacuated.

So headed to his home in Virginia. But this time, he was able to board a subway train that took him part of the way, and he walked the remainder.

McCaleb returned to work the next day.

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