Rick Rescorla

The sweet Rick (Website (http://www.uslifesafety.com/rick.php) (Do not know ))

A hero is someone with endurance, intelligence, and courage. Rick Rescorla fills all these spots. Why, you may be asking yourself. He was a man who saved an average of 3,000 lives the day plane Flight 11 and Flight 175 hit both the World Trade Center Towers. Rick refused to listen to silly advice that was given to just stay put. Instead, he orderly began to evacuate his company, Morgan Stanley, out of the building. Rick is a true American hero who stayed behind to save thousands the horrific day of September 11, 2001.

Born in England, 1939, he was very interested in war at an early age. Rescorla would study the French Resistance and the OSS operations closely and carefully. This would later come in handy when he enlisted in the Army in 1963. Rick was assigned as a Platoon leader for B Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and 1st Cavalry Division after his basic training. When he was sent to Vietnam he became a hero of the 1965 Ia Drang Valley battles. He was known by his fellow soldiers as "Hard Core", due to his bravery in battle. But, he was very compassionate towards the men and had great humor through it all "Gen Moore said he was the finest platoon leader in the Army," said Galloway, one of Rescorla's men.

It all began in 1993 when Islamic terrorists bombed the World Trade Center. Even there Rescorla was quick on his feet to evacuate everyone in the building. After much research and warning the authorities he was sure there would be another attack, they ignored him. However, that didn't stop him from preparing for the worst. He had all his employees practice quarterly emergency evacuations.

Rick evacuating his employees (Website (http://blog.projectwhitehorse.com/the-intersection/v-sheepdogs-and-white-horses/4-rick-rescorla-sheepdog-of-morgan-stanley/) ())

Then, his worst nightmare happened, on September 11, 2001. A plane, American Airlines Flight 11, hit the World Trade Center Tower 1 at exactly 8:48 A.M. While Rescorla began evacuating his company of 2,800 employees on WTC 2, he knew he had to try to keep them calm, so he sang through his bull horn "God Bless America" and reminded them to "be proud to be an American". "He was doing what he always did, singing to them," Galloway said. Rescorla had most of the 3,800 employees out and people who were working on other floors, when the 2nd plane hit WTC 2 at exactly 9:07 A.M. After safely evacuating out of the building, he returned back inside to try and save others still trapped.

Unfortunately, Rescorla never made it out alive. Many say he was last seen heading up the stairs to the tenth floor of the already collapsing WTC 2. Rescorla's remains have never been found among the wreckage. He leaves behind his wife, Susan, and their 2 children. Rick was an amazing man who did everything he could for America whether that is in war across the country or right here at home.