Rick Rescola, Morgan Stanley’s head

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the 44th floor of the tower south of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Rick Rescola, Morgan Stanley’s head of security at the trade center, was coming to work early as usual and touring the office.

A former Vietnam War veteran, he was always prepared for the worst.

After the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, he continued to warn the company’s management.

“This building is going to be attacked again. And next time, we’re going to use a plane.”

No one took his words seriously.

But Rick prepared by himself.

He conducted regular evacuation drills for 2,700 employees.

The employees complained.

“Are you training again? We have to work…”

But Rick was adamant.

Each time, he personally carried a megaphone up and down the stairs to check the evacuation route and taught his staff to keep calm.

At 8:46 a.m., the first plane hit the north tower and shook the entire building.

The manager of the building informed the company through in-house broadcasting.

“It’s safe. Please return to your seat.”

But Rick was different.

He immediately called his colleagues on all floors and shouted.

“Get out now! This is not a drill!”

He stood at the foot of the stairs with a megaphone.

Thousands of people could panic.

But Rick’s voice was calm.

“Keep calm! We’ve already practiced. You can do it.”

His deep, stable voice reverberated through the stairwell.

People followed his voice step by step.

Rick started singing.

“God Bless America”와 “Men of Harlech”을.

Thirty-five years later, I was using the method I called to calm my men on the battlefield in Vietnam again.

As they passed the 22nd floor, a second plane hit the south tower where they were.

The building shook violently.

A horrified scream broke out.

But Rick sang louder.

“Keep going! Don’t stop!”

It took about 50 minutes from the 44th floor to the ground.

Rick kept going up and down and encouraged the laggards.

His friend and colleague Dan Hill later testified.

“Rick was like a commander on the battlefield. He gave us courage and made us believe that we would survive.”

At 9:50 a.m., nearly all Morgan Stanley employees were evacuated from the building.

It was 2,687 out of 2,700.

Rick spoke to colleagues who were waiting outside.

“There are still a few more left. I’ll get them.”

He went back into the building.

Minutes later, at 9:59 a.m., the south tower eventually collapsed.

Rick’s body was never found.

But there were testimonies that he was guiding people in the stairwell until the last minute.

One survivor said.

“I heard his voice. ‘Keep going, keep going,’ until the moment the building fell.”

Rick Rescola died at the age of 62.

Among the 2,687 lives he saved were pregnant women, newly married newlyweds and parents with young children.

They were all able to go home and meet their loved ones again.

Thanks to Rick.

People call him a hero.

But Rick said this in his lifetime.

“I just do my job. Soldiers protect their companions. That’s what we do.”

That morning, Rick Rescola had a moment he had been preparing for all his life.

And he did it perfectly.