I know, I know…. It’s 10 years and everyone has had enough of it…
It changed the world and on that day, like other horrific instances – those who would be heroes appear and then silently disappear…
So today, as it’s the anniversary I want to say something about a guy who came from Cornwall…
You see, rarely do I mention people that say or do things that truly affect me… As a for instance Col. Hal Moore (later Lieutenant General) who I have actually mentioned. For those who don’t know; Mel Gibson played the part of Hal Moore in the movie of the book “We Were Soldiers Once… And Young”… There was and is nothing fictitious about Hal, his motivation, ethos and rules stand as firm today as they ever had… So, lets get his story told eh!
On 27th of May 1939 in the small town of Hayle in Cornwall, a child was born who would have a far reaching impact all over the world!
When old enough he joined the British Army and in fact he joined The Parachute Regiment.
It didn’t take him long to get into the thick of things when with the intelligence unit in Cyprus – the Cypriot insurgency happened.
After the Army he worked for Rhodesian Police force for a few years before returning to London and joining the Metropolitan Police..
A few years later he moved the US and in 1963 joined the US Army, once again heading for Airborne, but this time to be an officer.
It is at this time our stories start to intertwine…
In 1965 (the year of my birth) he was sent with his unit to Vietnam, oh, his unit?
The 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) As a platoon commander under the very same Col. Hal Moore…
As such he was not only part of the pioneering use Airmobile infantry, but also fought at the almost incredible battle at La Drang Valley..
Of his actions, Col Hal Moore stated : “the best platoon leader I ever saw”. 
After the battle his men nicknamed him “Hard Core” for his bravery in action. He was also highly revered for his compassion towards his men and his earthy, dark but, hilarious humour.
After the Army, he went on to study at university and later in 1992 was employed as Director of Security for Morgan Stanley at their headquarters – The World Trade Center.
Now, his first area of business as Director of Security was to do a full threat and risk analysis of Morgan Stanley property… This, along with his friend and consultant Dan Hill led them to survey the entire WTC with a view to future trouble.
While many still did not believe real terrorism could even happen on US soil, our Cornishman had been in too many hotspots around the world to know that such an iconic structure and symbol of US global business was indeed not only a high value target, but believed it was the single biggest target!!
In no time they had ascertained than the complete lack of security of the underground loading bays were a genuinely real threat… Imagine for a moment, a 44ton truck loaded with C4… With this information, not only did our friend devise a serious escape and evacuation plan, but petitioned the Port Authority of New York bringing this serious flaw to their attention…
Of course, no one really took much notice until one year later a truck bomb detonated in the parking/delivery structure of the WTC with the loss of 6 lives and hundreds injured.
Strangely, security was sorted out…
However, this did not stop our friend doing another complete risk/threat assessment… this time the conclusions were alarming;
The building had one over riding weakness and with this knowledge they set about simulator software to see how easy it could be…
Easy?? Too easy and furthermore – obvious..
As such plans were put into place and practiced regularly to evacuate all employees of the company in the actual eventuality of such an event.
In fact the Director of Security believed it was never a question of “If”, but “WHEN” this event would happen because all the risk and threat assessments pointed to an event of this magnitude being the only plausible and effective way to attack the WTC in the future.
Of course at 08:46 local time on the 11th Sept 2001 we all know and witnessed what happened…
So what of the strategic planning and forethought of this?
While WTC building officials told everyone to remain where they were, our man immediately ordered the evacuation of all 2700 Morgan Stanley employees across 20 floors of the WTC-2 building and then 1000 more employees working over in WTC-5. All of them knew what to do and where to go. A drill he had forced them all to practice over and over.
By the time WTC-2 was struck at 09:03 nearly all 2700 employees of WTC-2 had been evacuated.
So what of our Cornishman, the man who calmly told evacuating staff to remain calm and today be a proud American?
True to his nature to be where the trouble was, to be where he could be most useful – he re-entered the building and was on the 72nd floor helping people evacuate…
To my knowledge, he, two of his team and 3 others were the only Morgan Stanley employees not to leave the WTC… His job was completed to the best of his knowledge and skill. His planning and it’s subsequent actions fulfilled…
This British born Cornishman who was respected so highly by Col Hal Moore, a battle hardened man and by those who knew him had dedicated so much time in securing not only his people but bringing threat attentions to the Port Authority….
Yes, on 9/11 there were many heroes… on planes, in the Pentagon, ordinary people, FDNY and the list can go on and on…
Well if I had to pick one to honour – he would be mine…
That man was Colonel Rick Rescorla, and while it is my view, he should have been awarded the George Cross!!
Rick knew how to carry on regardless, to stay sharp and focussed, how to use his imagination and in doing so – saved so many!
His remains were never found…
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