[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 26 (Monday, March 11, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S1729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO COL. CYRIL R. RESCORLA

  (At the request of Mr. Daschle, the following statement was ordered 
to be printed in the Record.)
 Mr. CORZINE. Madam President, on the 6-month anniversary of a 
terrible tragedy, I wish to honor a man whose unfaltering courage and 
generous spirit showed the world the best of humanity, Colonel Cyril 
Richard Rescorla.
  On September 11, our Nation was attacked in ways none of us ever 
thought possible. Many Americans have been affected profoundly by these 
events, and I grieve with all of those who have lost loved ones. At the 
same time, I have been heartened to see, in the midst of such 
destruction and despair, a nation united.
  On that fateful day, Colonel Rescorla led thousands to safety before 
his own death in the south tower of the World Trade Center. But valiant 
service to his country was nothing new to Rick, as he was known to his 
family and friends. A decorated veteran, he served in Vietnam as a 
platoon leader in the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, inspiring awe in 
fellow soldiers and earning the reputation of a ``battlefield legend.'' 
As a testament to his bravery, Rick's image is forever immortalized on 
the cover of We Were Soldiers Once . . . And Young, the book by 
Lieutenant General Harold G. Moore and Joseph L. Galloway that has been 
made into the recently released movie ``We Were Soldiers.'' Unwavering 
in even the most horrific situations, Rick gave his men courage in 
battle, and provided comfort and safety to his civilian colleagues in 
both attacks on the World Trade Center.
  As Vice President for corporate security at Morgan Stanley Dean 
Witter & Co., Rick devised the evacuation plans for the World Trade 
Center and, in the 1993 bombing, ensured that everyone had evacuated 
before he would leave the building. A testament to his selfless 
generosity, Rick's colleagues are sure he would have been the last 
person out of the building on September 11 if the situation had been 
different.
  Rick's altruism extended into every corner of his life. As husband, 
father, son, friend, and teacher, Rick faced even chronic illness with 
humility and valor. His life serves as a model of heroism. May his 
honored memory be a constant reminder of America's great courage and 
resolve.

                          ____________________