Thread by @NickLawtonTV

THREAD: What took me 20 years to find was revealed in one simple TikTok. Now I can completely tell his story.

This is Rick Rescorla. He’s credited with saving more than 2,700 people on #September11

But 3 months before that, he found me crying in my Boy Scout uniform.

Back in June 2001, just months before #September11 , I was a 13-year-old Boy Scout on the 2001 National Boy Scout Jamboree.

It took me to stops at the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.

And this Texas teen was awed by New York City and the view from the tower.

When you’re staring in awe, you tend to slow down.

And fall behind.

I lost my troop. I knew I was lost at the top of the tallest building in the world.

So I lost my cool, sat down and cried.

That’s where Rick found me.

Rick asked me if I was OK, and I told him I was lost and I didn’t know where my Troop was.

He smiled, said he was with security, and told me he could take me to a safe place where he could call for my troop.

His smile was so genuine, so comforting. He took me out of my mania.

So I sat in the security office with him for an hour. We played cards. He asked me about Texas. I asked him about his accent. He asked me if I liked to sing. I told him I did, and he said he LOVES to sing.

My troop came for me, and I thanked him for helping me.

We said goodbye.

Three months later on #September11, I stood frozen in my living room, watching the towers burn.

And the first person I thought of was Rick, not knowing if he was alive.

Knowing that I was powerless to help the man who helped me.

But Rick was already helping others.

When the South Tower was hit, Rick grabbed a bullhorn and started directing thousands of people down the stairs to safety. He sang to them to help keep them calm, like he did for his fellow soldiers in the Vietnam War.

Rick called his wife to say: "Stop crying. I have to get these people out safely. If something should happen to me, I want you to know I've never been happier. You made my life."

Rick was last seen on the 10th floor, heading upward, shortly before the South Tower collapsed.

Rick’s body was never found. He was declared dead 3 weeks later.

The man was a Vietnam veteran, a ceaseless security officer.

And for me, for one hour on one night in June 2001, he was my confidante and friend.

I will Never Forget Him.

It took me 20 years to learn his name. I made a TikTok telling his story last year, and one user tagged me in a different tribute video to him.

The second I saw his face….I knew it was him.

Thank you, Rick Rescorla.

Now, I will donate to the National Infantry Museum in Georgia to help restore his Vietnam veteran monument.

It’s the least I can do for you now, Rick. Thank you. #September11

nationalinfantrymuseum.org/rescorla/