Morris Co. Man Awarded Presidential Medal For 9/11 Heroism

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A Morristown veteran killed while ushering others out of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Donald Trump in a Thursday evening ceremony.

The medal was given to Retired Army Colonel Rick Rescorla's family during a ceremony honoring in the White House, just days ahead of Veteran's Day. His wife, Susan, and two of his children, Trevor and Kim, were in attendance at the ceremony.

"Our debt to you is beyond measure. We can never reverse the horrors of that day. We can never replace the precious lives we lost. But on behalf of our entire nation, I pledge that we will forever and always remember this incredible American hero, Colonel Rick Rescorla. We will never, ever forget," Trump said, speaking to Rescorla's family.

Susan Rescorla said in an acceptance speech that her late husband was a man of character from the day they met.

"On our first date, he said to me, 'What are you about?' And I said, 'What do you mean, Rick?' And he said, 'Well, when I was a very young man, I declared what I wanted to be. And I knew that if I stayed on that path, that at the end of my life, that I would have done the very best that I could.' And that’s exactly what Rick did," Rescorla said. (You can read the full text of both Trump and Recorla's speeches here.)

Eighteen years ago, Rescorla was working as the vice president for corporate security at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co., on the 44th floor of the south tower. Seemingly anticipating the second strike, he made the decision to ignore messages from the Port Authority to stay put in the south tower, and instead began evacuating his employees, the Army said.

"The dumb sons of bitches told me not to evacuate. They said it's just Building One. I told them I'm getting my people the [expletive] out of here," Rescorla reportedly said on a call to his best friend.

He kept helping people out of the buildings even after the south tower was struck. Before heading back in to the building, Rescorla called his wife and told her, "Stop crying, I have to get these people out safely. If something happens to me, I want you to know I've never been happier. You made my life."

He was last seen going back into the building to rescue more people, when a coworker told him to stop heading back in and to evacuate.

"As soon I make sure everyone else is out," was his response.

Rescorla was killed in the south tower's collapse.

Rescorla's actions saved thousands of lives. On a day when companies lost unspeakable numbers of people, Morgan Stanely lost just six of their 2,700 World Trade Center employees.

Even before giving his life on 9/11, Rescorla lead a life of bravery. He served as a British paratrooper during the Cyprus Emergency, and was a commissioned officer in the American Army during the Vietman War. He was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Gallantry Cross, and the Combat Infantry Man in recognition of his service.

The Presidential Citizens Medal is the second highest award a civilian can be awarded, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom.