It was a Tuesday if I recall. My wife and I had gotten up to go out in field service. I was between jobs and pioneering until my new job started in a month. We received a phone call from my mother-in-law who lives closer to the east coast ( we were on the west coast). She said we need to turn on the tv.
I remember the meeting for field service was rather surreal. Our Presiding Overseer led the meeting for field service. He recommended we not make any presentations of literature, but rather we offer a scripture of comfort.
Later that night he had our Book Study. It was held in the conductor's home. He had the news on which was following the attack. We watched the news right up until it was time to start the meeting.
I don't recall ever thinking the attack was some sort of beginning of the great tribulation. I think part of the reason was a decade earlier we saw the first Gulf War start and my dad told our family that may have been a sign of the beginning of the great tribulation. It was not. It was just another war.
The only things that have changed since then are 1) Presiding Overseers are now called Coordinator of the Body of Elders, 2) Book Studies are no longer on their own night or held in private homes, and 3) I learned 9 years later the truth about the Truth.