Hero of the Week 36

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Rick Rescorla

Rick Rescorla was born on May 27th, 1939. Throughout his early life, Rescorla dedicated much of his life to serving in the United States Army. He served in the battle of the Ia Drang Valley during the Vietnam War. For his service and valor he received the bronze star and purple heart. Although he displayed incredible courage in Vietnam, it was what he did on 9/11 that turned him into a legend.

Following his retirement from the army, Rescorla became employed as a security director for Morgan Stanley, a financial services firm located in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. He was present during the 1993 terror attack on the twin towers and helped to coordinate its evacuation. In the aftermath of the 1993 attack, Rescorla made major improvements to the trade center incase for the need of future evacuation. Unlike many, Rescorla believed that there would be a second attack on the trade center in the years to come. He was proven right on September 11, 2001.

When American Flight 11 flew into the North Tower, Rescorla immediately assumed the worst and ordered the evacuation of Morgan Stanley's employees. Using a bullhorn and a walkie-talkie, he directed people to the staircase and organized an orderly evacuation out of the tower. Minutes after he did this, United Flight 175 struck the South Tower. This caused Rescorla to step up the evacuation. For the next 50 minutes Rescorla successfully evacuated a total of 2,700 people from the South Tower. Despite being urged to evacuate himself, he refused to do so until he made sure everyone else was out. He was last seen on the 10th floor heading up to check for more people. The South Tower collapsed at 9:59 AM killing all who were still inside. Rick Rescorla's body was never found. He was 62 years old.

The heroism of Rick Rescorla was truly remarkable. He put his life on the line multiple times for his countrymen during his military service and his civilian life. Instead of living a relaxing life of retirement after serving in the Army, he continued to dedicate his life to protecting those around him. And on a day that became the worst in American history, he gave his life to save them. I believe that he is one of the greatest heroes in the world.

https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Rick-Rescorla-Saved-2-687-Lives-on-September-11

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/10/28/a-tower-of-courage/c53e8244-3754-440f-84f8-51f841aff6c8/?utm_term=.928a732c24d3

https://www.thayerleaderdevelopment.com/blog/2017/leadership-on-9-11-the-story-of-rick-rescorla-and-morgan-stanley

Hero of the Week 35

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Joshua James

Joshua James was born on November 22, 1826. He grew up in Hull Village, Massachusetts in a large family. One of the things that James was fascinated by, was the sea. In his early years James was very much determined to become an expert seaman who would travel the world. However his life was forever changed when tragedy struck. In April 1837, Joshua James witnessed his mother (whom he was very close to) and one of sisters drown in boating accident while he watched from shore. It was after this that the young boy made a solemn promise to himself. He would forever do everything in his power to saving the lives of anyone who fell to the mercy of the sea.

In December 1941, James joined a volunteer crew of the Massachusetts Humane Society. It was then that he participated in his first rescue at sea. Over the next few decades, James continued to serve in the Humane society and participated in rescuing hundreds of people from wrecked ships. One of his finest hours would be in the winter of 1888. 

On November 25th, a massive hurricane swept along the Atlantic coast of the northeastern states. From his observation post, James noticed a number of schooners out at sea. Knowing that they were likely going founder in such terrible weather, he immediately ordered a beach patrol to prepare for the worst. Before long, a schooner (Cox and Green) ran aground and began to break up. James quickly organized a rescue (luckily the ship wasn't too far from the shore). Using a breeches buoy, James and his crew were able to successfully rescue 9 men from the stricken schooner. However, this was only the beginning.

Within minutes of the rescue, James was notified that another schooner (Gertrude Abbot) had run aground nearly an eighth of a mile up the beach. By now it was getting very dark and the hurricane's winds blew at an estimated 100 mph. To further complicate matters, the Abbot was too far out for its crew to be rescue by the breeches buoy. The rescuers would need to board a rescue boat, paddle through the rough seas to the schooner, evacuate the crew, and then paddle back to shore. Knowing the danger that was involved in this rescue, James told his crew that this would be volunteer only. To his surprise, every man volunteered. They quickly set out in a rescue-surf boat. Despite nearly losing a man overboard, they made it to the Abbot and rescued its eight man crew. As they were nearing the shore, a wave smashed the rescue boat into the shore, shattering it. Luckily, everyone survived. 

After this rescue, Joshua James and his fellow volunteers resumed their beach patrol. For the rest of the 25th of November and into the early morning of the 26th, James and his crew came to the rescue of six wrecks and saved the lives of at least 29 men. For their heroism in the hurricane of 1888, Joshua James and his crew were all awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal by the Massachusetts Humane Society and U.S. Lifesaving Service. Within a year, James was appointed keeper of the U.S. Lifesaving station at Hull, Massachusetts. A position that he would hold until his death.

For the rest of his life Joshua James remained in the Lifesaving service (this organization later became the Coast Guard) and participated many more rescues. Including a massive hurricane in November 1898, where he participated in saving the lives of 41 people. He continued to save people until his death from a heart attack on March 19, 1902. He was 75 years. During his entire lifetime, Joshua James is believed to have saved the lives of more than 200 people. Today, he is one of the most revered figures within the United States Coast Guard. 

Joshua James was a remarkable individual who dedicated his life to saving people from disasters at sea. As of today, his legacy lives on in those who continue serve in our nation's Coast Guard and protect people around the world. I believe that he should be seen as one of the most influential unsung heroes in American history. 

http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2015/07/who-was-joshua-james/

http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2016/02/the-long-blue-line-joshua-james-u-s-life-saving-service-hero/

https://excellentorpraiseworthy.org/2018/04/joshua-james-the-greatest-lifesaver-3/

https://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Area-Cutters/CGCJAMES/History/