When the topic of conversation changes to the terror attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, there is almost always one question that follows: Where were you?

More often than not, people will have a story for you. For many, they recall being in their classrooms crowded in front of a small television watching the towers go down. For others who have scarier tales, they were in New York City the day of, their place of business having been evacuated due to the horrendous acts of violence happening nearby. For Welles Crowther, things are a little different. This day changed his life forever, as it was his last. But Welles’ story is not one of despair; it is one of courage, sacrifice, and hope. You may ask, Where was Welles? Welles was on the 104th floor of the South Tower when the second plane crashed into the World Trade Center.

Welles Crowther was a rookie equities trader from Upper Nyack, New York. As a boy, he began helping out at his local fire company and continued participating by becoming a volunteer firefighter once he was old enough. On 9/11, Welles put his training to use. After United Airlines Flight 175 hit his tower, Welles left his mother a voicemail to let her that he was okay, and then immediately went to work trying to save others. 

Survivors of the attacks recall a “mysterious man” appearing before them who had located the only functioning stairway and was directing people on his floor towards it. Welles also managed to obtain a fire extinguisher and put out haphazard fires that blocked their way. Eventually, Welles passed off the extinguisher to one of the women he saved and proceeded to carry another injured woman on his back down to safety. And instead of following the rest of the survivors out of the building, he turned around and went back inside to search for more of the living.  

Welles, now better known as “The Man in the Red Bandana”, succeeded in saving at least 18 people. His nickname comes from the handkerchief he wore everyday from boyhood to adulthood and is how the people he rescued later identified him after the terror attacks. Welles’ remains were uncovered six months after the tragedy occurred at ground zero. In 2006, he was named an honorary firefighter by the New York City Fire Department. Then, in 2014 Welles was praised by then-president Barack Obama at the September 11 Memorial. The benevolence, self-sacrifice, and altruism demonstrated by Welles Crowthers during 9/11 is truly inspiring. It is through his teachings that we as Americans should reflect on our own lives and work towards becoming more like Welles.

Kilgannon, Corey. “Saved on 9/11, by the Man in the Red Bandanna.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Sept. 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/08/nyregion/welles-crowther-man-in-red-bandanna-911.html.