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Rick Rescorla
9/11 where Rick Rescorla saved thousands.
Episode 3104 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Part 2 of a story about Vietnam Vet Rick Rescorla, a hero of the nation. The featured story appeared on the Military Times website and is titled: Before he was a hero on 9/11, he was a hero in Vietnam. It was submitted by Robert Batemen.
Rick Rescorla was a man of uncommon courage, vision, and leadership—qualities that made him a legendary Vietnam veteran and a hero of 9/11. His greatness lay not in his military rank, but in his innate understanding of people. In combat and in crisis, Rick embodied what others only aspired to be: a calm, fearless leader who inspired trust and action.
As a U.S. Army officer in Vietnam’s brutal Ia Drang Valley, Rick earned a reputation for fearlessness. Later, as head of security at Morgan Stanley in the World Trade Center, he applied the same foresight and discipline. Following the 1993 bombing, Rick became obsessed with preparing for another attack. He trained employees relentlessly in evacuation drills—measures that would save thousands.
On September 11, 2001, when chaos and confusion reigned, Rick took command. Ignoring official orders to shelter in place, he orchestrated the evacuation of 2,684 Morgan Stanley employees. His drills paid off: people moved calmly, efficiently, and survived. Rick, however, went back into the tower to find three missing employees. He was last seen heading up, not down.
Rick’s humility was as striking as his bravery. He rarely spoke of his military service, even to his wife. But among soldiers, he was revered. When introduced at West Point by General Hal Moore as “the best combat leader I ever saw,” the room erupted in thunderous applause. Rick simply waved and sat down.
He was a soldier, a poet, a protector—and above all, a man who ran toward the storm.
Listen to Episode 3104 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Rick Rescorla, a hero of the nation.
