9/11 was one of America’s worst days.  It was the day our enemies dealt a blow on our turf and killed Americans.  Patriots.  Fathers.  Mothers.  Children.  Veterans.

In the burning buildings, men and women were facing their last moments, each in different ways.  Some were helping others.

Rick Rescorla was vice president of safety and security at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (MSDW), a massive financial institute and “the largest tenant in the World Trade Center (WTC)” (Feavel, Douglas: Uncommon Character).

Rescorla had previously served as a career officer in the armor and was highly decorated with the Bronze Star and the Silver Star for heroism.  When the World Trade Center was attacked, Rescorla was front and center caring for his fellow patriots, just as he had cared for his men in the military.

Borrowing heavily from the books Uncommon Character by Douglas Feavel and Heart of a Soldier by James B. Stewart, I will tell Rick Rescorla’s courageous story here.  

In Light of Today’s Political Events

So much has happened in the last year and a half in America that when we talk about 9/11, many political commentators are warning there could be a replay, and Americans shudder when they hear that.  When?  Where?  How?

As I tell the story of Rick Rescorla, think to yourself how to become a hero like him.  He had a heart of gold.  He had a servant’s heart but was a leader at the same time.  He sacrificed his life for his country to save thousands of other people.  His story is one that should be modeled after in all Americans.

Rick Rescorla’s Childhood

Rescorla was born May 27, 1939, just before WWII began.  He grew up in Hayle on the southwest coast of England where he thrived on the town’s Cornish roots (Stewart, p. 24).  He grew up seeing Allied soldiers rolling through his town and demonstrated amazing academic skills as he devoured countless books and excelled in rugby (Stewart).  At his school, he was known far and wide as a strict follower of the rulers but a ruthless player and other boys begged him to be on their team, fearing they would get hurt playing against him (Stewart, p. 37).

Rick Rescorla in the Military

Because of Rescorla’s high intelligence and military prowess in the Royal Air Training Corps during his youth, he joined the military as a adult and was assigned to an army intelligence unit in Nicosia, located in Cyprus (during the time that it was under British control) (Stewart, p. 42).

He was brave and bold, sometimes reckless, but the men around him loved him.  At one point, Rescorla went on a lion hunt in South Africa and struck lucky when he shot a 350-pound lion.  He took two of the lion’s teeth and a shell from the bullet that killed it as a necklace that he always wore as a good-luck charm (Stewart, p. 50).

He told his best friend, Dan Hill, who was in the American military, “They say it gives you the heart of a lion”, and Rescorla truly did have the heart of a lion (Stewart, p. 50).

Rick Rescorla in Vietnam

Rescorla and Dan Hill were both in the Vietnam War.  This time, Rescorla fought on the American side, having ended his military term with the British military.  He was an avid admirer of the U.S. Constitution.

Rescorla led his men into battle and on reconnaissance missions in dangerous enemy territory, and he taught his men gorilla warfare.  His men were some of the best in the military.  He went through several military ranks, including serving in the Battle of Ia Drang in 1965.

His military tenure was one of the greatest in history.

After the Military

Rescorla retired from the military in 1990 and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Oklahoma.  He also received his law degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law (The Famous People).

He taught criminal justice for several years and finally moved to Dean Witter Reynolds at the World Trade Center in 1985 before Dean Witter merged with Morgan Stanley in 1997 (The Famous People).

Rick Rescorla became vice president of safety and security at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (MSDW), a massive financial institute and “the largest tenant in the World Trade Center (WTC)” (Feavel, Douglas: Uncommon Character).

Rick Rescorla and 9/11

The attacks on 9/11 were not a complete surprise to the people involved in security at the Twin Towers, including Rescorla.  He commissioned his best friend, Dan Hill, to tell him what the greatest weaknesses in the towers were and how a Muslim terrorist might attack the towers.  Dan Hill practically read the terrorists’ minds when he predicted exactly how they would do it.  Not long after, Rescorla’s and America’s worst fears took place, even after repeated warnings and requests from Rescorla that the building reinforce its security to avoid an attack (Stewart).

When the first building was hit, Rick took a moment to call his precious wife, Susan, and let her know he was fine.  After that, the intercom system sent out a broadcast to all inhabitants of the building, telling everyone to stay where they were.  Rick could see the cruciality of the moment and instead began evacuating people out of the building (Feavel).

“After the second plane hit his [Rick’s] building just above the MSDW floors, all possible escape for the 1,355 other business occupants was instantly gone.  Because Rick had refused to follow the Port Authority recommendation, he had gained seventeen vital minutes of security, permitting 3,700 MSDW staff to have already exited the tower” (Feavel,  page 78).

Rick continued evacuating people after the second hit.  “Just as in combat, he was everywhere – calm, [pleasant in the face of others’ panic, and reassuring by his personal presence and charismatic demeanor.”  He sang God Bless America and Cornish songs and, in a one-man show, he evacuated all but five of his fellow employees (Feavel).

As Feavel says, “Think about that legacy: They left and they lived!  Otherwise, the toll of the dead on that day of horror would have far exceeded six thousand instead of being limited to about three thousand” (Feavel, p. 78-79).

Rick continued to sing and evacuate more people.  “When it appeared that everyone was out, Rick returned with the professional rescue workers for a final look.  That’s where he was last seen.  He was inside South Tower Two – the first one to fall when five hundred thousand tons of steel and concrete collapsed and buried this five-time hero, ending his selfless life and concealing his body forever.  Rick died exercising the virtues he’d learned and he’d lived: duty, honor, and courage” (Feavel, page 79).

Rick Rescorla is just one of the thousands of American examples of courage and valor and sacrifice.

Conclusion

Rick Rescorla is one of America’s greatest stories of military service, American intelligence and academic achievements, hard work, and unwavering friendship.  Single-handedly, Rescorla sacrificed his life to save 2,700 of his co-workers (Stewart).

So many people are asking right now, “Is it hopeless for America?  Will we ever go back?”

There are fears that 9/11 will happen all over again with the Taliban terror and horrific betrayal of our own military in Afghanistan.  I think if Rescorla could see America today, he would be deeply saddened and furious.  But would he give up?  I don’t think so.

We have to have the heart of a lion.  We have to take our country back, come what may.  And we will never forget.  We won’t forget the men and women who are serving in the military.  We won’t forget the sacrifices.  We won’t forget 9/11.  We won’t forget our founding.  We won’t forget our Christian roots.  It’s not over yet.

*For more info on Rick Rescorla, read Heart of a Soldier by James B. Stewart.  I guarantee you won’t regret it!