Remembering a hero

[fintstone]

Salt Lake Tribune
April 7, 2006

From Vietnam To 9/11, Remembering A True Hero

By Joe Galloway

FORT BENNING, Ga. - The word ''hero'' has been so debased and overused in our modern society that it is almost meaningless when applied to the real thing.

This past week, here at the U.S. Army home of the infantry, several hundred people gathered for the dedication of a larger-than-life bronze statue of a real American hero named Rick Rescorla.

The statue is iconic: the young infantry 2nd lieutenant platoon leader leading the way in combat, his M-16 rifle with bayonet attached ready for use. It is based largely on the photograph on the cover of the book We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young, written by Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and me, which tells the story of the deadly battles in the Ia Drang Valley in the dawn of the Vietnam War.

Rescorla was a hero of the battles of Landing Zone X-Ray and Landing Zone Albany. He earned a Silver Star, the third-highest military medal for heroism, for his sterling leadership of a platoon of Bravo Company 2nd Battalion 7th U.S. Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in those battles in November of 1965.

But that statue in the home and headquarters and training ground for the mud-foot infantry was the result of unvarnished heroism long after the British-born Rescorla left the Army, became an American citizen and retired from the Army Reserve with the rank of colonel.

The statue of the young Rescorla was born out of what he did as an older, heavier civilian vice president for security for Morgan Stanley in New York City. The brokerage firm occupied 22 floors of the south tower in the World Trade Center.

Ever since the failed terrorist truck bombing in 1993 in the basement of that building, Rescorla was convinced that the terrorists would come back to finish the job. He urged Morgan Stanley to build its own low-rise, high-security headquarters across the river in New Jersey, where most of its employees lived. Not possible, he was told, because the firm had a long-term lease on those 22 floors.

Rescorla fought for the time and money needed for half a dozen surprise full evacuation drills each year. And, yes, he knew how much it cost to pull a couple thousand stockbrokers off their telephones. He knew and didn't care.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Rescorla stood at the window of his office on the 66th floor and watched the tower across the way burn. The Port Authority Police squawk box on the wall urged everyone in the other buildings of the Trade Center to remain at their desks and not panic. You are safe, the reassuring voice said.

Rescorla responded with a curt word: ''Bull--!'' He grabbed his bullhorn and moved floor by floor, ordering Morgan Stanley's 2,700 workers to evacuate immediately. They knew where to go and how to do that, thanks to Rick. Two by two, the old buddy system, they began the long walk down the stairs to the street.

Halfway down, the second hijacked airliner plowed into their building. The building shook and swayed to the impact. Smoke began filling the stairwells. People were frightened. Rick Rescorla used his bullhorn again. This time he sang to the evacuees, just as he sang to his soldiers on a long night in Vietnam. He sang ''God Bless America.'' He sang the songs of the British Army in the Zulu Wars. He sang the old Welsh miner songs.

He got them all out and headed for safety down the streets away from the World Trade Center. Four of his own security people were still up clearing the Morgan Stanley floors, so Rick Rescorla turned and headed back up the stairs with New York City firemen. None of them made it out alive, and neither did Rick Rescorla.

His widow, Susan, spearheaded the drive to raise $100,000 to create that bronze image of her hero and ours. Eventually it will occupy a spot on the Walk of Heroes in a new $76 million Infantry Museum being built at the gates of Fort Benning. More than 500 people turned out to see it unveiled outside the Infantry Museum on the old Army post.

Among them were plenty of other real American heroes. There were three recipients of the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty. Scores of veterans of America's wars of the past half-century and more. Also, Gen. Moore and his sidekick, Sgt. Maj. Basil L. Plumley.

As I sat there looking at the statue of Rick, my mind carried me back 40 years to that terrible November in Vietnam and the words of the young Rescorla as he and his battle-weary soldiers strode into the surrounded position at LZ Albany to rescue their decimated battalion: ''Good, Good, Good! I hope they hit us with everything they got tonight - we'll wipe them up.''

You want a definition of the word hero? In my dictionary it says simply: Rick Rescorla.

[ckissick]

Thanks, fint,

America recently lost another hero, my wife's uncle, Col John Kizirian, U.S. Army. My wife and I wrote this obit for him. We were very proud of him.


Colonel John Kizirian, U.S. Army (ret.) passed away at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida on February 26, following a brief illness. He was born on April 4, 1928 in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, to parents who had emigrated from Kharpert, Armenia. In May of 1945, at the age of seventeen and an Eagle Scout, his military career began. He joined the Navy and was sent to San Diego to be trained for action in the Pacific. However, the war ended just before he was shipped out. After an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1949, he soon resumed his military career and joined the Army.

In his 25 years with the Army he rose to the rank of full colonel. At the time of his first retirement in 1975, Colonel Kizirian was the most highly decorated officer in the history of Army Intelligence, with 66 decorations and awards. He served with distinction in Korea and Vietnam, with three battle campaigns in Korea, and six in Vietnam. While a lieutenant colonel in Vietnam, he often personally led troops in special combat missions. These missions were very dangerous, resulting in two purple hearts and a Distinguished Service Cross. Many colleagues argued that he should have been awarded the Medal of Honor instead of the Distinguished Service Cross, but his outspoken nature probably created too many foes in high places.

He worked closely with General William Westmoreland in Vietnam. He was Senior Intelligence Advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam III Corps, concurrently as Commander, III Corps Military Intelligence Detachment and Senior Advisor to the Vietnamese III Corps Reconnaissance Element until the summer of 1968. After graduating from the U.S. Army War College in 1970, he returned to Vietnam and served as the Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence, G2, First Air Cavalry Division.

Probably his greatest military achievement was his prediction of the Tet Offensive, while with Army Intelligence in Bien Hoa (20 miles north of Saigon), based on the 400 or so intelligence reports that came to his desk every day. He raised the alarm, but at first no one took the warning seriously. It took a briefing with General Abrams to get any action. This warning very likely saved thousands of American and South Vietnamese lives. Like his work in uncovering the Tet Offensive, most of his accomplishments and successes took place behind the scenes. One of his dearest friends, the late General James Hamlet, once said, “Colonel Kizirian is one of America’s greatest heroes, but nobody knows it.”

In 1980 he was recalled to active duty and served in the US Embassy in Jakarta, as the Senior U.S. Defense Representative and the U.S. Defense Attaché to the Republic of Indonesia until 1984, when he retired for the second time. He was offered a high level position in the office of the Secretary of Defense by Alexander Haig, but opted to decline due to his first wife Edith’s terminal illness.

Among his 39 decorations are the Distinguished Service Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit (4 awards), Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldiers Medal, Bronze Star with “V” for Valor (6 awards), and Purple Heart (3 awards).

Colonel Kizirian’s distinguished career has earned him a place in Honolulu’s Hall of Heroes. In addition, his record and accomplishments are subjects of study in a military education course in army intelligence.

He earned a Master’s of Science degree in Sociology from Florida State University, and a bachelor’s degree from University of Nebraska at Omaha. His military education included Special Forces Officers Course, Area Intelligence Officers Course, and Foreign Service Institute, Department of State.

[fintstone]

Charlie

Thank you for sharing that. Too many brave men and women never receive the recognition thay deserve. It is too bad becuase there are many others who could use the inspiration their story brings.

[TyFenn]

thank you both.

[Joeaksa]

Its men like this who made America what it is today.

There are more of them coming up the ranks, thank God.

[fintstone]

Men like these are hard to replace. Thank God that we are growing a fresh crop of heroes in the fields of Iraq. Although we sadly lose a few of this precious crop…who pay the ultimate price on the field of battle...their blood nourishes freedom…. and the harvest is immeasurable.

May these men be remembered for their honor and strength in a world of weakness; for their compassion and morality in a world of vice and their sacrifice in a world of pomposity and self-importance. Rest in peace, brave soldiers; your battles are over and you have carried the day.

[Don Ro]

Originally posted by fintstone
Men like these are hard to replace. Thank God that we are growing a fresh crop of heroes in the fields of Iraq. Although we sadly lose a few of this precious crop…who pay the ultimate price on the field of battle...their blood nourishes freedom…. and the harvest is immeasurable.

May these men be remembered for their honor and strength in a world of weakness; for their compassion and morality in a world of vice and their sacrifice in a world of pomposity and self-importance. Rest in peace, brave soldiers; your battles are over and you have carried the day.

Tears now.







.
Pleiku/Bien Hoa area, Viet Nam '65

[fintstone]

Spending one's life working for freedom.... is inspiring
Giving one's life for freedom.... is brave and selfless
Giving one's life for another man's freedom....defies decription by mortal man....
Only God knows the right words...and they are unspoken.....divine

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Don Ro Pleiku/Bien Hoa area, Viet Nam '65

Don,

Very good friend of mine flew A-1 Skyraiders in that area about the same years you were there. Remember seeing any "sandy's" flying around when you were there?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Inspiring stuff, we need more of it in these days of negative media.

[Don Ro]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Don,

Very good friend of mine flew A-1 Skyraiders in that area about the same years you were there. Remember seeing any "sandy's" flying around when you were there?

Man, what memories!
"Sandy"...call-sign for rescue chopper escort cover. Yep.
A-1E, the "Flying Dump Truck"...what a load they carried, eh? Large ordnance loads and BooCoo gas.

Another Pelican comes here now/then, BBakerBiggs...he flew A-1E low support in VN the same time I was there.
Awarded a few medals his own self. Like me, he doesn't talk much about the fun times.

He, BBB, flew low support for me here last week on a thread.
Turns out the other poster was jesting.

Small world, Joe.
Be safe.

[Joeaksa]

Don,

My friend goes to the Wright Pat museum from time to time to see an old friend. Its the A-1 that he flew in 'Nam.

Only reason its there is that its the same airplane that Bernie Fisher flew while getting his Medal Of Honor a few years later in the same area.

Believe that the A-1's carried as large a load of ordinance as the B-17 in WW2. Unbelieveable but it sure was a workhorse. Got my friend home alive and Bernie and his wingman as well.

The world is very small indeed. As far as being safe, am heading back overseas in 36 hours. You do not realize what we have here in America until you leave it. I realize what we have here and have fought to defend it, as you have. Just wish that others realized it as well...

Take care,

Joe

[Don Ro]

USAF Maj. B. Fisher...in early '66 - I was still there.
Unbelievable what he did, given the circumstances in the A Shua Valley.
I'd be in his foxhole any day.

Forgive me...no disrespect meant towards the two fine men mentioned at the beginning of this thread.

[Joeaksa]

Don,

There were men like that then and still are now. As long as we remember that we raise to the occasion when needed, then it will work out in the end.

Joe

[fintstone]

Lots of fine men served. Some did not make it home...many returned to quietly continue to their serve their nation in other ways. All are heroes. Many were not properly recognized. Thank you for your service gentlemen.

[rcecale]

To all who have served, to all who serve today and to those who continue to serve tomorrow, you have my utmost gratitude. Semper fi!

For those who serve, freedom has a taste the protected will never, ever know.

Randy

[azasadny]

The History Channel just broadcast a story abour Ric Restorla. He sure sounds like a hero to me...

[azasadny]

Oops, that's "Rescorla"n not "Restorla"...

[azasadny]

More info here...

http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/000307.html

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Inspiring stuff, we need more of it in these days of negative media.

This is another inspiring story/thread.