Rescorla

Taken from the compulsively readable 2002 book by the journalist James B. Stewart, "Heart of a Soldier" is the story of Rick Rescorla, head of security for Morgan Stanley, who marched the firm's 2,700 employees out of the World Trade Center's South Tower on Sept. 11, returned to hunt for stragglers, and died in the tower's collapse.

Sanitized 9/11 Heroics Heidi Waleson 2011

Rescorla was adamant that people should be disciplined and prepared for the unknown eventualities of their lives.

Heart of a Soldier: capturing 9/11 in an opera 2011

As a boy, Rescorla is impressed by the U.S. soldiers who prepared for D-Day in his town in Cornwall, England; as a policeman in Rhodesia, he kills a marauding lion; in Vietnam in 1965, he drills his U.S. platoon into a victorious "Hard Corps" and looks after his men.

Sanitized 9/11 Heroics Heidi Waleson 2011

It is also about his lifelong friendship with Daniel J. Hill, a fellow soldier in Northern Rhodesia now Zambia and Vietnam, and his 11th-hour romance with his "soul mate" Susan Rescorla, whom he met just a few years before his death.

Sanitized 9/11 Heroics Heidi Waleson 2011

Ms. Di Novelli's efficient libretto condenses the book and Rescorla's life story into a series of vignettes that illustrate the formation of Rescorla's philosophy of soldiering and hammer home the opera's themes, bolstered with his favorite quotes from Rudyard Kipling and Raymond Chandler.

Sanitized 9/11 Heroics Heidi Waleson 2011

In support of the San Francisco Veterans Memorial Project, the San Francisco Opera is generously opening its final dress rehearsal for "Heart of a Soldier" -- a true story of war, love, friendship and heroism through thelife of Vietnam Veteran and 9/11 Hero Rick Rescorla -- to veterans, their families and guests.

Craig Newmark: "Heart of a Soldier" -- Free Tickets for Vets, Families, Guests Craig Newmark 2011

Susan Rescorla, of Mendham Township, N.J., was awakened by a call from a friend, then watched spontaneous celebrations at the White House on television.

9/11 families react to bin Laden's death with relief, sadness 2011

I was hysterical crying, she said Monday, tearful again as she talked about her husband, Richard Rescorla, head of security for Morgan Stanley who was killed as he helped get people out of the World Trade Center.

9/11 families react to bin Laden's death with relief, sadness 2011

In support of the San Francisco Veterans Memorial Project, the San Francisco Opera is generously opening its final dress rehearsal for "Heart of a Soldier" -- a true story of war, love, friendship and heroism through thelife of Vietnam Veteran and 9/11 Hero Rick Rescorla -- to veterans, their families and guests.

Craig Newmark: "Heart of a Soldier" -- Free Tickets for Vets, Families, Guests Craig Newmark 2011

It seems clear that Rescorla was a remarkable hero.

Sanitized 9/11 Heroics Heidi Waleson 2011