Rick Rescorla: Difference between revisions
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==Military service== |
==Military service== |
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Rescorla enlisted in the [[British Army]] in [[1957]] and |
Rescorla enlisted in the [[British Army]] in [[1957]], training as a parachute soldier, and then serving with an intelligence unit in [[Cyprus]]. He then served as a para-military police inspector in the [[Northern Rhodesia]] Police (now the Zambia Police Service), with his service ending when the British withdrew to give Zambia its indpendence. On returning to [[London]] and [[civilian]] life, he joined the [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan Police]], but found the paperwork boring. |
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Rescorla and best friend Dan Hill (born [[Chicago]]) told people laterly that had first met at basic US Army training at [[Fort Dix]], [[New Jersey]], in [[1963]]. However, they had met at a [[Rugby union|rugby]] game in Northern Rhodesia in [[1961]], while Rescorla was a policeman and Hill a [[mercenary]]. Hill had fought against the [[communist]]s in [[Hungary]] in [[1956]], in the [[Lebanon]] in [[1958]], and in the [[Bay of Pigs Invasion]] in [[1961]]. On hearing Rescorla was bored, Hill persuaded his friend to join him in the United States Army, arguing that the next fight was in [[Vietnam]] |
Rescorla and best friend Dan Hill (born [[Chicago]]) told people laterly that had first met at basic US Army training at [[Fort Dix]], [[New Jersey]], in [[1963]]. However, they had met at a [[Rugby union|rugby]] game in Northern Rhodesia in [[1961]], while Rescorla was a policeman and Hill a [[mercenary]]. Hill had fought against the [[communist]]s in [[Hungary]] in [[1956]], in the [[Lebanon]] in [[1958]], and in the [[Bay of Pigs Invasion]] in [[1961]]. On hearing Rescorla was bored, Hill persuaded his friend to join him in the United States Army, arguing that the next fight was in [[Vietnam]] |
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Revision as of 00:00, 12 September 2006
Cyril Richard Rescorla | |
|---|---|
| File:RickRescola.jpg | |
| Nickname(s) | Rick |
| Allegiance | U.S. Army |
| Years of service | 1968-1990 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Ia Drang |
| Awards | Silver Star Bronze Star (OLC) Purple Heart |
| Other work | World Trade Center Security Chief, Morgan Stanley |
Cyril Richard Rescorla (May 27, 1939 – September 11, 2001), known as Rick Rescorla, was a retired United States Army officer of British birth who served with distinction in Rhodesia as a British soldier and the Vietnam War as an American officer. As the World Trade Center security chief for Morgan Stanley, Rescorla anticipated both attacks on the towers and implemented evacuation procedures that are credited with saving many lives. He died in the September 11, 2001 attacks while leading the evacuation efforts.
Early life
Rescorla was born Cyril Richard Rescorla in the British town of Hayle, Cornwall, in 1939. In 1943, Hayle served as headquarters for the 175th Combat Regiment of the U.S. 29th Infantry Division, largely composed of soldiers from Maryland and Virginia. Young Rescorla, like many British youths, idolized the American soldiers. As he later recounted to close friend Daniel J. Hill, Rescorla hated his given name "Cyril" and began using "Rick" on joining the British Army. The events of the war made a deep impression on Rescorla. He would tell Hill how he never forgot the words of Churchill on the eve of the Normandy Invasion: This vast operation is undoubtedly the most complicated and difficult that has ever taken place. The ardour and spirit of the troops, as I saw myself, embarking in these last few days was splendid to witness.
Military service
Rescorla enlisted in the British Army in 1957, training as a parachute soldier, and then serving with an intelligence unit in Cyprus. He then served as a para-military police inspector in the Northern Rhodesia Police (now the Zambia Police Service), with his service ending when the British withdrew to give Zambia its indpendence. On returning to London and civilian life, he joined the Metropolitan Police, but found the paperwork boring.
Rescorla and best friend Dan Hill (born Chicago) told people laterly that had first met at basic US Army training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, in 1963. However, they had met at a rugby game in Northern Rhodesia in 1961, while Rescorla was a policeman and Hill a mercenary. Hill had fought against the communists in Hungary in 1956, in the Lebanon in 1958, and in the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961. On hearing Rescorla was bored, Hill persuaded his friend to join him in the United States Army, arguing that the next fight was in Vietnam
Rescorla enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1963, and after basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, he attended Officer Candidate School and airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia. On graduation, Rescorla was assigned as a platoon leader in the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).
Sent to Vietnam, Rescorla participated in the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang described in the book and hit movie We Were Soldiers Once...And Young. Rescorla is the prominent soldier appearing in the bookjacket cover photograph. Co-author Lieutenant General Hal Moore described him as "the best platoon leader I ever saw". Rescorla’s men nicknamed him "Hard Core" for his bravery in battle, and revered him for his good humor and compassion towards his men. He is also mentioned in the book Baptism by Larry Gwin who also fought at Ia Drang. The fourteenth chapter of the book is called Rescorla's Game and describes him as the "Cornish Hawk"
Rescorla's Vietnam honours inlcuded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, a Purple Heart, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry
Later life
After Vietnam, Rescorla became a U.S. citizen, earned college and law degrees, married and raised a family. He continued to serve in the Army Reserve, retiring in 1990 as a Colonel. In 1985, he began working in corporate security for the investment giant Morgan Stanley in the World Trade Center.
WTC risk assessment
In 1992 Rescorla warned World Trade Center security about the possibility of an attack on the pillars in the basement, but was ignored. When Islamist terrorists bombed the World Trade Center basement in 1993 (see World Trade Center bombing), Rescorla was instrumental in evacuating the building. He was literally the last man out. He and his friend Dan Hill prepared a report that warned authorities of another attack, suggesting that such an attack would almost certainly come from commercial aircraft, but he was again ignored. At Rescorla’s insistence, all employees, even senior executives, practiced quarterly emergency evacuations.
Death on 9/11
On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 hit World Trade Center Tower 1 at 8:46 a.m (see September 11, 2001 attacks). Rick Rescorla, who was supposed to be on vacation that day in preparation for his step-daughter's upcoming wedding but was covering a shift so one of his deputies could vacation herself, ignored building officials' advice to stay put and began the orderly evacuation of Morgan Stanley's 2,800 employees on 20 floors of World Trade Center Tower 2, and 1,000 employees in WTC 5. Rescorla reminded everyone to "be proud to be an American ... everyone will be talking about you tomorrow", and sang God Bless America and other songs over his bullhorn to help evacuees stay calm as they left the building.
Rescorla had most of Morgan Stanley’s 2800 employees as well as people working on other floors of WTC 2 safely out of the buildings by the time United Airlines Flight 175 hit WTC 2 at 9:07 a.m.
After having led many of his fellow employees to safety, Rescorla returned to the building to rescue others still inside. When one of his collegues told him he too had to evacuate the World Trade Center, Rescorla replied "As soon as I make sure everyone else is out".
He was last seen heading up the stairs of the tenth floor of the collapsing WTC 2. His remains were not recovered. As a result of Rescorla's actions, only 6 of Morgan Stanley's 2800 WTC employees were killed on September 11th, 2001, including Rick and three of his deputies who followed him back into the building--Wesley Mercer, Jorge Velazquez, and Godwin Forde.
He left behind a widow, Susan Rescorla, and two children. A memorial stone was erected in his hometown of Hayle, Cornwall, to commemorate his life.
Tributes
A biography of Rescorla, Heart of a Soldier by James B. Stewart (ISBN 0-7432-4459-1), was described by Time Magazine as "the best non-fiction book of 2002". Rescorla was the subject of a 2005 documentary entitled The Man Who Predicted 9/11. The film was shown on Channel 4 in the UK and the History Channel in the United States.
There is a petition drive to award Rescorla a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom with over 25,000 web signatures as of mid-2006. [1]
In 2006, Fort Benning, Georgia, unveiled a statue of Rick Rescorla. [2]
Notes
External links
- The Richard C. Rescorla Memorial Foundation
- Rick Rescorla at IMDb
- Template:Nndb name
- Voice of the Prophet - a 1998 Video interview with Rick Rescorla
- Rick Rescola news articles
- The Real Heros are Dead
- American Legion memorial pages: Post 44Post 149
- 9/11 Remembered: Rick Rescorla was a soldier Article on Rescorla and film review from the Mudville Gazette blog