Special Agent Hatton was a former Marine and was actively serving as a volunteer firefighter for Hook & Ladder Co. 1 in Ridgefield Park, NJ.

He is the only FBI agent to perish on 9-11.

He also investigated the terrorist bombing of the USS Cole. When a terrorist bomb tore a crater in the parking garage of the World Trade Center in 1993, he helped comb the rubble for evidence. He also spent weeks in the Suffolk County morgue in 1996 identifying victims of the downed TWA Flight 800. Three months before the attack, he had testified in the trial; United States of America v. Usama Bin Laden, et al., on Day 67, June 21, 2001.  
 

Special Agent Leonard W. Hatton was assigned to the New York Division of the FBI at the time of his death. On September 11, 2001, Special Agent Hatton was killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City.  Special Agent Hatton was on his way to work in the New York Division office when he saw smoke and fire coming from the North Tower of the WTC.  On his own initiative, he responded directly ot the WTC site and, from the roof of the Marriott Hotel, he reported the second airliner strike on the South Tower.

Due to falling debris, he moved from the roof and joined the New York Fire Department firefighters in evacuating occupants.  Special Agent Hatton was inside the WTC when the building collapsed.

Robert S. Mueller, III, Director, FBI - Funeral Mass of FBI Special Agent Leonard W. Hatton, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey on September 29, 2001.

We in the FBI are proud to be here with you today. We are honored to be here in this wonderful community. We are honored to be able to be with you to take strength from this magnificent church, and to praise Lenny Hatton.

Lenny was a devoted husband and father, an exceptional Special Agent, and a caring and compassionate human being. He served his country in so many ways ... from fighting fires to fighting crime to fighting for freedom as a fellow Marine. (more...) 

Your act of heroism is of no surprise to me. When we were Lieutenants together at 3rd Amtrac Battalion, you always impressed me with your enthusiasm and "Gung Ho" attitude.

When you decided to get out and become an FBI Agent - I knew you would do great. I still have my picture of you / the officers of the Battalion - now I can show my 3 kids what a true hero looks like.   Semper Fi Marine!

Steve Cote - Colonel, U.S. Marines

I met Lenny in the summer of 1980, when he was a brand new second lieutenant at Camp Pendleton.  I was a six-year veteran, a captain, when lenny joined the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion fresh out of Basic School at Quantico.  I was his company executive officer.

Lenny had not yet attended the Assault Amphibian Vehicle officer's course, designed to provide new platoon commanders with basic MOS skills. Nevertheless, our company commander assigned him the responsibility of platoon commander for a unit of ten tracked vehicles and the 35 enlisted troops who manned them. This was Lenny's first real Marine Corps assignment. He must not have been older than 22. Quite frankly, he looked like he was 18. His distinct East Coast accent set him apart from the rest of us.

In these situations, young officers often have a difficult time commanding respect. They're only a few years older than their youngest troops, and they must give orders to seasoned staff NCOs who have been in the Marine Corps for more than a decade.

Lenny proved to be the exception. He won everyone's admiration from the beginning because of the way handled the issue of his inexperience. He knew that, in many eyes, he was just another "shave tail" lieutenant. Yet, he refused to make the mistakes typically committed by other new officers. He neither tried to act more knowledgeable than he was, nor did he compromise his authority by becoming too familiar with his subordinates. He soaked up knowledge like a sponge, and every day he got better on the job.

Everyone who came into contact with him said: "That young lieutenant is going to become an outstanding Marine officer." From the accounts I have read of his later career, he certainly met those expectations.

I did not know that Lenny had perished on 9/11 until I heard Director Mueller speak on Larry King Live, some two years after the tragedy and 23 years after we met. My heart sank, but at the same time, it swelled with pride. I was part of Lenny's life for only a few months before orders sent me to another duty station. Yet, I feel richer for having known Lenny. Even though I was, in rank, his superior officer, I could recognize superior talent. If Lenny had chosen to stay on active duty, I'm sure he would have made general one day. He was that good.

Dave Nelson - USMC

I served with Lenny Hatton in the Marine Corps, Bravo Co., 3rd Tracs in 1981.  He was a driven guy, yet always had the time to pass on a kind word of encouragement to others.  While most of us other young lieutenants were little more than overgrown "frat-boys" when we were off duty.  Lenny was always the responsible one, a dedicated father and family man.  I remember back then that he always wanted to enter law enforcement.  I lost track of Lenny when we both transferred out of the unit.  It was not until coming upon his name recently in a book I was reading that I found out about his passing at the WTC.  After reading a series of obituary notices I was not at all surprised to have learned that Lenny took it upon himself to report to the WTC and the burning towers on 9/11 rather than report to work and await orders.  He was that kind of a guy.  Although Joanne, Tara, Lenny Jr. and the other children must miss him terribly, they must be comforted by the fact that he was a hero.  They say only the good die young.  Lenny was definitely one of the good guys and the world is a worse place for having lost him.

J. G. Cosgrove - USMC

9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor

President George W. Bush presented the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor to the families of Special Agent Leonard W. Hatton and the 441 other public safety officers who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The Medal of Valor is the nation's highest award for law enforcement officers who perform acts above and beyond the call of duty exhibiting exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, and presence of mind, as well as unusual swiftness of action regardless of personal safety in an attempt to save or protect human life. The 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor was created specifically to recognize those public safety officers who lost their lives that day.


9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt project

The United in Memory: 9/11 Victims Memorial Quilt project is a global volunteer effort to honor the victims of September 11.

Each panel measures 10 feet by 10 feet and contains 25 hand-sewn squares, each square representing one of the victims of 9/11.

FBI Seeks Street Name


Community Board 1 last month approved the proposed co-naming of a stretch of Duane Street near the Federal Building for an FBI agent killed during the Sept. 11 attacks. Special Agent Leonard Hatton was killed when the towers collapsed as he was helping firefighters evacuate occupants. If the City Council passes the proposal, Duane Street between Broadway and Lafayette Street would be co-named "Leonard Hatton Way." 



Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. The following intersection name, in the Borough of Queens, is hereby designated as hereafter indicated.