Heart of a Soldier

by James B. Stewart

Heart of a Soldier is the extraordinary story of war, love and comradeship, danger and heroism, told by a Pulitzer Prize winner who is one of our finest writers.

When Rick Rescorla got home from Vietnam, he tried to put combat and death behind him, but he never could entirely. From the day he joined the British Army to fight a colonial war in Rhodesia, where he met American Special Forces' officer Dan Hill who would become his best friend, to the day he fell in love with Susan, everything in his remarkable life was preparing him for an act of generosity that would transcend all that went before.

Heart of a Soldier is a story of bravery under fire, of loyalty to one's comrades, of the miracle of finding happiness late in life. Everything about Rick's life came together on September 11. In charge of security for Morgan Stanley, he successfully got all its 2,700 men and women out of the south tower of the World Trade Center. Then, thinking perhaps of soldiers he'd held as they died, as well as the woman he loved, he went back one last time to search for stragglers.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, War, Military Fiction, Book Club, Biography Memoir

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

James Bennett Stewart is an American lawyer, journalist, and author.

Reviews

[MelissaB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every year on 9/11, I read the New Yorker article titled “The Real Heroes Are Dead” which describes Rick Rescorla’s heroic actions on that day and the background of his life that lead him to be there on that day saving lives. This book is by the same author and really fleshes out Rick’s life story, including his epic friendship with Dan Hill and their time in combat together in Vietnam and his love story with his wife Susan. The story talks about Rick’s larger than life personality and his life as a warrior. Considering where we are right now, it was very interesting to see the parallels in their Vietnam experiences and also Dan’s experience in Afghanistan and think about how similar things are now to what they went through. I am glad I read the book, Rick deserves to be remembered as a hero from both his time in combat and his efforts as a security officer on 9/11 who saved so many lives at the expense of his own.

[Mark Mortensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Heart of a Soldier” tells the full life story of Rick Rescorla, a rugged military trained individual, who sacrificed his life on 9/11 to save others. Like most good non-fiction literature this book reads like a novel. Knowing firsthand the process of researching, writing and publishing a biography I’m fully amazed that author James B. Stewart performed all this within a year.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes I realize the recommendation statement seems a bit vague. And maybe on the surface seems to not fit the title. But I assure you that is at the core of this book.

Rick Rescorla was a war hero in Vietnam in the Ia Drang Valley. Made famous with the book "We Were Soldiers Once and Young" later adapted into a movie "We Were Soldiers." He was actually depicted in the movie but more like a "composite" character. Rescorla would later work for Morgan Stanley as their security chief and would actually prepare for possible terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, drilling the employees with how to evacuate in case there is an attack. He predicted that the World Trade Center was vulnerable to an attack, and when the time did come on 9-11-01, he and the Morgan Stanley employees were ready.

Over 2000 can thank Rick Rescorla for saving their lives. He sacrificed his own life, returning back into the building to look for more stragglers when the building collapsed. He is a huge reason that 9-11 also goes down in history as the greatest rescue operation ever.

But this story is about the love of friends and of loved ones. It is about taking advantage of every minute you can to tell loved ones you love them and create those loving memories that linger on when a loved one dies unexpectedly.

Rick Rescorla believed in taking advantage of every minute, because he fully understood, after Vietnam and also advisor stints in Afghanistan helping the guerillas against the Soviet invasion, that the next moment could be your last moment on earth. He witnessed death and evil first hand. And he knew that love carries on.

I have read a few things by the author, Pulitzer winner, James Stewart. And I can honestly say that this is his best and most personal. He delves deeply into Rescorla's story uncovering things that he never would have revealed on his own. But it paints a complete portrait of a trully selfless human being. And one that I can emulate in the military and with a family. I read this book a few months before a deployment in 2004 and I was fully conscious then of taking advantage of every moment you have with loved ones. Because tomorrow you could be wiped off the planet and hopefully you told those that you love so dearly how much they mean to you.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this audiobook at the library when I was browsing for audiobooks for my husband. I have heard of this story many years ago and was interested to learn more. I truly enjoyed this story, even though it took my emotions on a roller coaster ride. I cried, I was enraged, I was inspired, but mostly I was truly proud to be an American. It is so comforting to know that our world is filled with such wonderful people yet so tragic to lose them to such senseless acts. What a truly inspirating story. I loved the line that states that it only takes 1 person to make a difference; how true that rings.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Time' rated this one 'The best nonfiction of 2002. Who am I to argue. A testament to Rick Rescorla, a great son of Kernow. 'Heart of a Soldier' I read in a day, unable to put it down. Not just an engaging read but truly inspiring too. I highly recommend this book not just for it's gripping accounts of combat and valour in Vietnam but the many other aspects of profound truths this story contains. A tale of extreme courage, comradeship, friendship, love, sacrifice and the human spirit.
James B. Stewart is a Pulitzer winning author and journalist from New York. Credit to him for putting this incredible and poignant narrative in print.

[Adam Balshan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars [Biography]
(W: 3.08, T: 2.47, P: 3.38)
Exact rating: 2.98

When I saw that the decision of one man, Rick Rescorla, on September 11, 2001 prevented the number of dead that day from almost doubling, I decided to delve into his life's story.

Heart of a Soldier turned out to be a collective biography, of himself, his close war-buddy from youth Daniel Hill, and the wife of his final years Susan Greer.

Writing: 3.08 (lex 3, sem 3.25, syn 3)
Plot: 3.38 (dyn 4, pac 3.13, story 3)
The best elements of the biography were its quick pacing, realistic (and raw) language, and honest self-reflection.

Truth: 2.47 (ranging from 1.0 to 4.5)
General content told the story of adventurous youths seizing the world by the collar, and performing unusual deeds [2.75]. An unfortunate undercurrent throughout the book was that of naïve religious understanding, including that which concerned witchcraft, Islam, Buddhism, and mysticism [1]. An oversentimentality for carpe diem [2.5] was offset by the protagonists' youthful anticommunism [3], extreme training which led to the "hard corps" of Vietnam [3.5], and maturing doubts about the prosecution and morality of that war [3]. The anticommunist thread was tied off by a humane story about Daniel Hill meeting some North Korean officers at a peaceful dinner in a peasant hut; while this is a welcome personal anecdote and datum for the broader topic, Stewart never engaged the other side of Communism, including the geopolitics of Vietnam or its grave record in the 20th century [2].

Finally, the penultimate chapter on September 11, 2001 was a stunning [4.5] display of calm leadership that saved 2,700 lives.

Takeaway
I can only hope Rescorla's bravery and sacrifice on September 11 were memorialized in a different work. This biography, while interesting and well-researched, contained too many demerits for broad recommendation, despite my comparatively high rating.

[Brinton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up based on my love for Stewart's Den of Thieves. This was a pretty good read but not in the same league. Nonetheless if you love non-fiction war it's a worthwhile read.

The characters involved are extraordinary... it is good that their stories are told. That said, I found the war years and their lead-up much more compelling than the post-war years and the Sep 11 sections. Having lived through Sep 11 and been there the morning of I was expecting to be more moved by this part of the book.

There is a surprising love story in here which is somewhat inspiring.

There are better war books out there and better adventure books and better hero books.

[Tropean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this one a 3.5 rating. As a story of soldiers in Vietnam, it's a 4. The September 11th aspects are a 3, and the romantic elements are probably less than that. One of the sad ironies of the story is that it took the 9/11 attacks to bring to light the astonishing heroism which took place in Vietnam.

Very much recommended as a story of soldiers in combat.

[Sean Hays · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 10 pages were some of the best I've read, and was so promising. However, the story peaked with Rescorla's involvement in Vietnam, and I found myself finishing the book out of premise rather than anything else. The final chapter about 9/11 was moving, but the third of the book before that was unmemorable and boring.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided this month that it was time to read something about 9/11. I picked this book pretty much by random, having no idea other than that it had to do with events of that date. James Stewart had no choice but to tell the story as he did. It could not have been told otherwise and have made sense, but in following the intertwined lives of Dan Hill, Rick Rescorla, and Susan Greer, I ended up speed-reading because as much as it was necessary, it was only necessary in terms of where it led. So I skimmed through the book.
I'm glad I read it. I don't want to forget Rescorla's name or the key events leading up to what happened because of what Rescorla did. I can definitely see the potential to use characters like Rick and Dan in a story except I can't imagine spending months so close to the pain of the story. My hat is off to Mr. Stewart.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some people work in an office, go home see the kids , rinse repeat. This guy was a powerhouse of achievement and sacrifice. Survived close combat wars, predicted 911 and gave his life saving others, wow. Humbling to read. Why three stars? Well the focus of Susan Greer an attractive 5 foot one 20 year old dating etc etc, sounded like a weak chic flic. Sounded like it was written by her publicist when in actual fact her involvement in the hero's life was but a fleeting glimpse at the end. Also half the book seemed to be about his mate Dan Hill. The printing on the copy I had is the worst I have ever seen in a book, how they can sell such poor quality beggars belief.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does the name Rick Rescorla ring a bell? If you think back to the many heroes of 9/11, you might recall the man who was the head of security for Morgan Stanley saving thousands of lives by calmly taking over the evacuation of several floors of the financial firm (ignoring the announcements of the NY Port Authority for everyone to remain at their desks). He had been a much-decorated soldier in the Vietnam War, and on September 11th, he exhibited the same kind of selfless bravery in the World Trade Center he had shown on the battlefield. This is his story...I recommend it.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

P. 112. Story meanders all over the place instead of progressing comprehensively in a linear way. Characters are introduced in minute detail then forgotten. Excellent writing but hard to know what’s important.
Finally finished this. It picked up at the end but could have benefited from tighter editing or a greater sense of urgency at the beginning. I’m glad I didn’t abandon it because the last 20% was engrossing.

[Spenser · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good solid 4+ stars. Its not a book for anyone and everyone. Its a 'thinking' book based on history. Through the years, I'd read other pieces pertaining to Rescorla. This book came out circa 2002/2003. Fascinating soldier, man and hero. I'm glad I took the time to read this at my leisure.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart of a Soldier by James B. Stewart is the story of Rick Rescorla a soldier who fought in the Vietnam war. In the aftermath, Rick Rescorla never could put combat behind him and enlisted in the British armed forces and fought in Rhodesia. A remarkable life Rick Rescorla died an American hero on September 11th during the attacks on the world trade center whilst escorting evacuees from the south tower. Heart of a Soldier by James B. Stewart accurately depicts Rick Rescorla's life and the hero he was.

[Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The account of an absolute hero. A man who fought valiantly in Vietnam, was awarded several medals including the Silver Star. A man who loved deeply. A man who saved literally thousands of lives on 9-11. A patriot who gave so much for so many.

[Sandie Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amazing true story of Rick Rescorla, who fought in the Vietnam War, and was at the World Trade Center on 9/11, among many other things. I would rather tell you to read the book than go into any detail about it.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m very glad I read this book. It was moving, surprising, sweet. It was a lot of things to tell the story of this man and his friends and his loves, from Cornwall to Africa to Vietnam to New York City. This story of Rick Rescorla and his friend Dan Hill and many others was worth the read.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

[Peter Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come join the family

The author was so adept at highlighting Secorla and his daily life, the reader soon felt he was a family member to this remarkable human being.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic book - what a story. Very interesting read and historical account from Vietnam to 911. Heart wrenching, amazing and eye opening.

[Jon Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those interested in either of the Vietnam War or the events of 9/11, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better biography than this one. Rick Rescorla was a hero in both circumstances.

[Sebastian Coloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing real-life story full of adventure and a surprisingly touching love story.

[Gayle Styles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story even knowing how it ends. Highly recommend.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

[Steve Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like glass. Stewart has a gift for prose that engages reader in most minute details. Well researched and documented. One of best reads in 2022.

[Jad Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written book about an amazing soldier and person.

4.75/5.0

[Erinn Donnolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written book about a man who so willingly gave his life for others.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A soldier's story... Almost feels like you know Rick Rescorla. You will feel the loss on September 11. Rhodesia, Vietnam, and finally New York City.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this would be a tough read. Thank you Rick and Dan.