It Pays to Pay Attention: What a Real Hero Looks Like

Sometime in 1990, a United States Army veteran named Rick Rescorla invited brother in arms Daniel Hill to New York. In addition to the desire to knock back a pint or two of Guinness with an old friend, Hill had another thing in mind. The World Trade Center was Rick Rescorlas’ workplace and as Director of Security for Dean Witter, he was charged with the safety of over two thousand employees. Having extensive experience in counter-terrorism measures, Daniel walked the grounds of the WTC with Rick and upon completion of their assessment, Mr. Hill said if he were a terrorist he would plant some sort of bomb in the WTC basement.

This statement was solidified upon their descent into the basement, which they were able to do with no visible identification and not even a single set of eyes from security being laid upon them. Rick Rescorla delivered a report to the New York/New Jersey Port Authority which strongly suggested the implementation of heightened security measures.

Ricks' suggestions were ignored, mainly in part to the high “cost” of such measures.

Final cost of the ignorance: - six deaths and 1,043 injuries.
Following the truck bombing on February 26^th, 1993 Rick Rescorla filed another report, this one with his employer. His report to Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter strongly suggested moving out of the WTC entirely, citing numerous reasons yet all focused on protecting lives. Again, Rick Rescorlas’ suggestions were ignored due to as you may have guessed by now, “cost”.

At the chagrin of his superiors (once again, due to “cost”), Rick held quarterly surprise evacuation drills for all employees. Workdays were interrupted as the jolly man from Cornwall led VP’s, Executives, managers and interns down dozens of flights of steps, then back up again. This went on for nearly eight years and before the Twin Towers fell on that tragic day, over 2,500 Rescorla-trained employees walked out and went home to their families.

In a constant search for stories of real heroes I can share with my children, I have studied all I can about Rick Rescorla. A statue of him has been chosen to represent all American infantry soldiers at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia. An image used for the statue graces the cover of "We Were Soldiers Once... And Young" by Lt Gen. Hal Moore and Joe Galloway. Moore called him "The finest platoon leader I ever saw."

Rick Rescorla was last seen alive on the 10th floor of Tower 2. Unlike ever other person in the tower at that time; he was heading upstairs. His last known words were "As soon as I make sure everyone else is out..."