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Summary: The Heart of a Soldier
Review: After reading "We Were Soldiers Once and Young" and going to the LZ-XRAY web site I found out about the soldier on the cover of we were soldiers once and young. His name was Rick Rescorla. A few more digs into the history behind the photo I learned that Rick had died in the world trade center on 09-11-01 helping to save 2,700 of his fellow employee's. This book is a very good read as to the life of Rick Rescorla and I simply could not put it down reading the entire book in the last 48 hours. A hero that survived the Ia drang valley in Vietnam in November 1965 and numerous other military battles lost his life as a hero on 09-11-01. Rick Rescorla was a true leader in military and should set an example for others to follow. It's a shame we have not heard of Rick or the things that he has done prior to his death. Dan Hill the long time friend of Rick is also another hero of this story. If you want a book that will grab you then by all means this is the one for you. Author James Stewart has outdone himself.
Rating: 
Summary: The Heart of a Soldeir
Review: Outstanding read! Given their incredible life stories, I couldn't believe I had never heard of either Rick Rescorla or Dan Hill prior to reading this book. Mr. Stewart has done a great thing bringing their story to the public. It appears to be a fitting tribute to these two warriors....I couldn't put it down. My heart goes out to Susan Rescorla, along with my compliments for her touching testimonial to her husband in the Epilogue.
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Summary: He answered the call - what an example for us.
Review: We have all seen and been deeply affected by the pages and pages of short biographies (and pictures) of those who perished on September 11, 2001 in the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and aboard the hijacked planes. This wonderful book is about one of those people, his best friend, David Hill, and his last wife and soul-mate, Susan.I didn't know the name of Rick Rescorla, although I have since found that I have a friend who fought with him at Ia Drang and thinks highly of him. When I heard the news stories describing a man who had been a hero in that battle and then died saving others on 9/11 I wanted to read more about him. I think you not only enjoy this book, you will be moved by his story. It isn't a fairy tale, but it reads like one. Here is a poor kid from Cornwall, UK who heads to Africa to fight, becomes friends with an American soldier. He then joins the US Army, fights in Vietnam, becomes a US citizen. His life ends in the fall of the South Tower. Mr. Rescorla's life, like ours, had its peaks and valleys. He was a hero, no doubt about it. But he also had parts of his life that didn't work out as well as he had hoped with ordinary failings (again, just like us). The difference is, that when the call came, he heard the call to duty, and putting others first, went back into the building when he could have gotten out. In doing so, he perished. As you read this book it will be clear why. What is especially nice about this book is that the reason you will know why he tried to save others isn't a comic book version of heroism. It isn't just Mr. Rescorla's nobility and intrinsic heroism, though there is plenty of that in my view. It also came out of his own sense of who he was and his sense of what he needed to do. He likely wouldn't have survived even if he had "lived". If those he was charged with protecting perished it would have been nearly impossible for him to live with that. He had to try and save them just as he had done in other places and in other times. What was an amazing man. Mr. Stewart always writes well. I especially like the way he talks about the heroic, the ordinary, and the whacky in elegant and clear prose. He doesn't cue how you are supposed to feel about this or that aspect of Mr. Rescorla's life or the lives of his friends and family. Mr. Stewart tells the story and its internal power communicates through the author's effective prose. Pointing out Mr. Rescorla's heroism doesn't in any way detract from the hundreds of heros who gave their lives that day also trying to save others. This story just makes one of those heros more real for those of us who weren't directly involved. This is a story you will not want to put down.
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Summary: Today's Heroes
Review: What a thrill it was to read. Having read Mr. Stewart's article in the New Yorker, I was aware of some of Rick's life, but the book filled in so much more of a modern day hero.As the sister of Mr. Hill, I was aware of Rick and their friendship for many years, but having the full picture painted for me by Mr. Stewart was certainly an eye opening experience.Rick has truly been a bright light to come out of such a tragedy. Thank you for allowing us to share in this great man's life.Very well written and riviting, I could not put the book down until I had finished it. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to feel good about an American Hero.
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Summary: Surprising and very good
Review: When I picked this book up, I was in a mood to read everything I cound about September 11. I was surprised by this one, though. Rick Rescorla plays a part in the tragedy, but the book is really about his amazing life leading up to September 11. A fascinating read, but not for the reasons I thought when I first got it. I kept turning to my wife saying, "I'm on page 100 and Sept. 11 still isn't mentioned..." or "Now I'm on page 200 and Sept. 11 still isn't mentioned." Fans of James Stewart will not be disappointed. The rest of you will not be either. A highly engrossing read about Rescorla -- soldier, father, husband, Englishman, American, etc. -- and the people around him.
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