Thanks Rick....9-11 Hero

[Jagged]

Rick Rescorla.......... British police/soldier..American soldier with the 7th Cavalry serving in the Vietnam (fought in Ia Drang the battle depicted in We Were Soldiers http://www.lzxray.com/18.htm ) and Morgan Stanley staffer (security director). A resume of heroics to be proud of but to him probably one of his proudest moments was becoming an American citizen.

Rick died on 9-11 evacuating staff members of his company. He saved thousands with his preplanning drilling and improvements. He encouraged people to leave not matter what...the fact that Morgan Stanley lost so few is a testement to his thinking and forthought. Rick went back in to make sure all others were saved and died before being able to escape. Many said they survived because Rick said to leave......

So today on a day of rembrance I would like to reconize a hero that stepped forward on one of our darkest days and said not on my watch!


Rick unlike some others less deserving has not received a Presidential Medal of freedom....His widow knows he was a great guy, so do his friends and coworkers. Isn't it bought time the rest of the country did.


So thanks to you Rick and every other person who became a hero that day simply by doing their job.


"The man who knows when not to act is wise. To my mind, bravery is forethought." Euripides (Greek playwright, c. 480-406 BC)

 

[Guest]

 

[Jagged]

That about says it Sweets....

 

[R. Richard]

In memoriam to a brave man.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I thought I'd heard that he was Welsh? Or possibly I remember the accounts of him singing Welsh songs to the people he was rescuing, saved both by his evacuation plan (drawn up after the first bombing) and his personal decision to grab a bullhorn and clear them as swiftly as possible.

Good man. He died that they might live. God bless him and his.


Shanglan

 

[AppleBiter]

 

[Jagged]

5 years later Rick and your still missed. If they had only listened to you sooner. Your like should never be taken for granted.

 

[glynndah]

Thank you.

 

[Belegon]

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Rick Rescorla.......... British police/soldier..American soldier with the 7th Cavalry serving in the Vietnam (fought in Ia Drang the battle depicted in We Were Soldiers http://www.lzxray.com/18.htm ) and Morgan Stanley staffer (security director). A resume of heroics to be proud of but to him probably one of his proudest moments was becoming an American citizen.

Rick died on 9-11 evacuating staff members of his company. He saved thousands with his preplanning drilling and improvements. He encouraged people to leave not matter what...the fact that Morgan Stanley lost so few is a testement to his thinking and forthought. Rick went back in to make sure all others were saved and died before being able to escape. Many said they survived because Rick said to leave......

So today on a day of rembrance I would like to reconize a hero that stepped forward on one of our darkest days and said not on my watch!


Rick unlike some others less deserving has not received a Presidential Medal of freedom....His widow knows he was a great guy, so do his friends and coworkers. Isn't it bought time the rest of the country did.


So thanks to you Rick and every other person who became a hero that day simply by doing their job.


"The man who knows when not to act is wise. To my mind, bravery is forethought." Euripides (Greek playwright, c. 480-406 BC)

I saw this man's story and he saved so many lives that day. There was a statue erected for him but I can't remember where.
what a beautiful soul.

 

[Jagged]

8 years later....and thanks still seems to fall short. You were the best Rick. The history channel has giving you your own documentary and your story is told along with so many others on that day who were heroic. You gave your last full measure for your adopted country.


Rick was born in the UK and grew up around American soldiers during WWII. He wanted to be a soldier, but most of all an American soldier. His story still inspires me and there should be a statue to him at Ground Zero.


On a day when humanity was at its worst you were at your best....

 

[Safe_Bet]

Great thread Jagged. Thanks.

Now let me add one of my personal heros: Mark Bingham

http://img162.imagevenue.com/loc955/th_87311_Mark_Bingham1_122_955lo.jpg

Here is a quote from an article by Martin Snapp, a writer who attended Mark Bingham's memorial service.

"The next-to-last speaker was John McCain. He made it quite clear why he had flown all the way across the country to be there: He wanted to thank the man who saved his life. McCain was in the Capitol that terrible morning. So was every other Senator and Representative, plus hundreds of Congressional staffers. Worst of all, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of schoolchildren visit the Capitol every day. You can see their tour buses stretching for blocks and blocks.

Mark Bingham, Todd Beamer, Tom Burnett, and Jeremy Glick saved them all.

They also saved the Capitol itself, the temple of our democracy. They saved the Rotunda, where martyred presidents from Lincoln to Kennedy have lain in state. They saved priceless paintings and irreplaceable historic artifacts. Without those brave men, the unspeakable horror of Black Tuesday would have been even worse.

McCain quoted the Gospel of John—“Greater love hath no man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends”— adding, “The only way I can thank Mark is to try to be as good an American as he was.”

McCain’s remarks were much appreciated by the audience, and he got a long round of applause. But not a standing ovation. That was reserved for the final speaker, Mark’s mom, who got two. The first came when McCain introduced her: Everyone rose as one to thank her for producing and nourishing such a wonderful son. The second came when she sat down again, after she said, “God bless you for coming here, God bless Mark Bingham, and God bless America.”

There are many great paintings in the Capitol, the building that was saved by Mark Bingham and his band of brothers. They depict the great heroes of every generation. (The most recent one is a group portrait of the Challenger astronauts.) Some of the walls are still blank. They’re being reserved for the heroes yet unborn and the great deeds yet to be done.

I reminded McCain of this when we were talking in the basement of Wheeler Hall, and I said, “Senator, I think it’s time for a new painting.” “Don’t worry,” he said. “It’s already in the works.”

Thank you, Mark. Say hi to Nathan Hale. I think you two will have a lot to say to each other."

Yeah, thanks from me too Mark. Thanks for being a brave American; thanks for being a proud gay man and thanks for being a true patriot.

(and hell, yeah, I'm crying while I type this... )

 

[Handley_Page]

There was a TV programme about him a while ago
I was lost in admiration for his sheer guts.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Safey, I usually agree with you but this is a bit OTT. Rick and Mark were/are heroes but whether they were male/female, gay/straight, jewish/ rastafarian, American/Somalian is beside the point. They were fantastic, incredible people who deserve our undying gratitude.

Don't spoil it, and their memory, by labelling bravery in some sidepocket - they wouldn't want it.

 

[sr71plt]

Safey, I usually agree with you but this is a bit OTT. Rick and Mark were/are heroes but whether they were male/female, gay/straight, jewish/ rastafarian, American/Somalian is beside the point. They were fantastic, incredible people who deserve our undying gratitude.

Don't spoil it, and their memory, by labelling bravery in some sidepocket - they wouldn't want it.

Amen to that. It isn't all about team sports.

 

[michchick98]

I saw this man's story and he saved so many lives that day. There was a statue erected for him but I can't remember where.
what a beautiful soul.

According to this website: http://www.rickrescorla.com/ the statue is at the National Infantry Museum in Fort Benning, Georgia.

God bless Rick and ALL the heroes of 9-11 and their families.

 

[amicus]

That History Channel special is, "The Man Who Predicted 9/11" originally aired September 11, 2005, it is replaying this evening.

Not sure if hulu.com has it but one might try there.

Amicus

 

[TE999]

There was no shortage of heroes that awful day. So many perished helping others by performing their assigned duties or taking charge when others were too frightened. Many stories of heroisim and bravery will never be told because there is no one alive to recount them.

9/11...let us never forget.

 

[Jagged]

Sigh....

It is that time a year again. I come off a good weekend and it only takes a moment to drive by the skyline to notice something is missing, and so little has been done since that hellish day. I'll start remembering all the heroes today though....