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— Scott Allison and George Goethals
That’s interesting 🙂
I remember, when I was young (something like 4 years old), I wanted to be a hero, like batman or spiderman.
Amazing heroic efforts. Thanks for publishing this.
Approximately three thousand people were killed in the terrorist attacks of 2001– that death toll would have nearly doubled if not for this one man. Some will tell you that one man can’t make a difference. Rick Rescorla proves them wrong. I’ll bet none of those 2700 people, nor their spouses and children, nor their family and friends, will ever say that one man can’t make a difference. But maybe this kind of selfless heroism is rare. Maybe only one in a million people can manage it. And yet Mr Rescorla’s two assistants went back with him into a burning skyscraper to make sure everyone was saved. No, Rick Rescorla’s heroism is not limited to the saving of lives– he is an inspirational hero who teaches us that everyone has the capacity to rise to the occasion, that everyone has the nobility and courage and grace to stand up to the fear and darkness.
This story just amazes me every time. I thank him for his acts and there is always people out there looking out for others. 🙂
This man’s story is absolutely incredible, and it demonstrates that a quality many heroes have to possess is the ability to stay calm in situations of danger in order to get what is necessary done. Had Rick Rescorla panicked along with his coworkers on 9/11, many of the 2,700 lives he saved very well may have been lost. His ability to ignore authority and do what needed to be done is also a very impressive and heroic quality, one that not many people would possess in such a situation. Rescorla acted incredibly selflessly on 9/11, wanting to ensure that everybody was out of the building before he left, and that ability to put others’ needs far above one’s own is a quality that nearly all heroes seem to possess.
Last semester I was fortunate enough to take an English class based on post 9.11 literature. The course allowed me to conceptualize how catastrophic 9.11 must have been like, and I believe has made me genuinely respect Rick Rescolora more. When someone is in a situation where one can lose his/her life, I believe that a person’s actions become instinctual. One does not have time to process the trauma that is occurring, and must react to the situation in order to save oneself. The reason I respect Rick Rescolora is that his decision to risk his life came so easy to him. He genuinely to the core, had to have been a good person, to be so at peace with his decision when in such external turmoil. I find it very noble of him.
From searching this blog, I found that I enjoy the stories of unsung heroes the most, especially in the case of Rick Rescorla. This story especially interests me because it is about 9/11. As a native New Yorker, 9/11 is an event that has had a strong presence in my life and learning of heroic stories that have stemmed from this tragic happening is always good to hear.
The story of Rick Rescorla is amazing in that he saw the possibility of a terrorist attack and was able to save almost all the members of a company. His heroic acts did not stop there when he tried to save more people and sacrificed his own life to do so. While many people would be happy to be out of the towers safely, Rick return back into the burning towers to save other, which is the greatest act a hero can do. Rick Rescorla’s life, as a veteran and hero of 9/11, should be remembered and an inspiration for all Americans.