Posted on 09/10/2011 4:12:29 AM PDT by nuconvert
He's been called a "prophet" for being so ready for the attacks, "the Man Who Predicted 9/11" in a History Channel special, and a true American hero by countless others.
As tragic as the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, was, the sky-blue day still held unexpected miracles, and Richard "Rick" Rescorla was at the center of one of the greatest -- the evacuation of financial-services behemoth Morgan Stanley.
Rescorla , a 62-year-old retired and decorated U.S. Army colonel, had focused on security at the World Trade Center for years. Prior to the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993, and while he was working in security for Dean Witter, he had approached the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey about security vulnerabilities in the WTC's garage. He was told to focus only on his companies' floors, according to biographer James Stewart. He did that. But, along with Dan Hill, a military buddy of his, he didn't stop thinking about security weaknesses and terrorism.
After a company merger in 1997, Rescorla became director of security at Morgan Stanley, where he maintained vigilant attention to the firm's -- and the building's -- safety. Despite disruption at the busy brokerage firm, he insisted on holding twice-yearly evacuation drills by the stairwell for the firm's 22 floors in the south tower.
The result: On Sept. 11, 2001, his team was ready.
Despite having received official instructions to stay put after the 8:46 a.m. crash next door, Rescorla told Morgan Stanley staffers to follow his evacuation plan, and he sent them two by two, as they had practiced, down the many flights of stairs. His decision and his preparation made all the difference. Although 13 employees -- including Rescorla -- perished, more than 2,500 employees left the tower alive.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
We were very fortunate the toll wasn’t significantly higher.
Well done, Mr. Rescorla... you are one of many heroes of that day. RIP.
Remembrance Archive: Free Republic Threads From 9-11-01
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/620413/posts
Bump
“Despite having received official instructions to stay put after the 8:46 a.m. crash next door, “
Who gave the official instructions to stay put? Has that person been hunted down and killed???
This came out early on. You can’t hunt down & kill the dead.
Rick Rescorla ping
Police and fire are the mop up crew.
More about Rescorla. He was on the cover of the book “We Were Soldiers Once, and Young.
http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/000307.html
That is totally unfair and untrue. 343 men of the New York Fire Department died on 9/11/01. They went IN to burning, crumbling buildings to save people. How dare you.
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