President Trump honors 9/11 hero who died saving WTC lives
President Trump Thursday posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to Rick Rescorla, who died on 9/11 while saving the lives of many co-workers at the World Trade Center.
Rescorla was head of security for Morgan Stanley at 2 World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 and defied a shelter in place order by directing employees to evacuate the building.
The former Army Colonel was known for his constant drills and having a fire marshal on each floor trained to head to the stairwells no matter how innocent a situation may look.
After the first tower was struck by a terrorist-hijacked jumbo jet on Sept. 11, Rescorla sprung into action and directed employees down dozens of flights of stairs.
Despite a Port Authority announcement that employees should stay at the their desks, Rescorla’s instincts told him that everyone needed to get out. Still, when a jet hit the second tower, Rescorla kept calm.
“Come this way, let’s keep it moving,” Rescorla said on the megaphone. “You’re all going to be fine, everything is going to be all right.”
He’s credited with getting some 2,700 people outside to safety.
Rescorla could have gotten out alive, too. But in his final act of bravery, he returned to the tower to do a final sweep of stragglers just before it collapsed.
“On the day of the attack, Rick died while leading countless others to safety,” Trump said in a speech on 9/11 this year where he announced Rescorla would receive the medal. “His selfless actions saved approximately 2,700 lives.”
“Though Rick has left this Earth, we will ensure that the memory of his deeds will never, ever be forgotten,” Trump said. “His memory will forever endure.”
Rescorla previously earned the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam.
The Presidential Citizens Medal was established by Executive Order on Nov. 13, 1969, to honor Americans who performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.
The medal may be bestowed upon any US citizen at the sole discretion of the president.