9/11 Hero: Man in the Red Bandanna
- Posted on September 6, 2011 at 11:27pm by
Christopher Santarelli
- Print »
- Email »
ESPN interviewed those who knew and loved Welles Crowther, known among the heroes of 9/11 as “the man in the red bandanna:”
Welles was 24-years-old on September 11, 2001. As mentioned by ESPN, Crowther played D-1 Lacrosse at Boston College, graduating in 1999 to then move on to New York City and work as an equities trader at Sandler, O’Neill and Partners on the 104th floor of the South Tower. A volunteer firefighter, Welles gave a call to his mom after the first plane hit to let her know he was ok at 9:12 a.m. He would never speak to her again.
Welles mother Allison said she knew that her son was lost the moment she watched the South Tower collapsed, and with no signs of him at the end of September 2001, the family held a memorial service in Welles’ honor at Grace Episcopal Church in Nyack, N.Y. where over 1,000 people came to pay respects.
Welles’ remains were recovered on March 19, 2002 along with NYFD firefighters and emergency services personnel who had been operating a NYFD Command Center in the lobby of the South Tower. Welles wore the number 19 at Boston College.
“We were just ready to accept we would never hear anything” about what happened to Welles during his last hour, said Alison to Fox News at the family home in Upper Nyack for a September 2002 story. Fox News reports that in the months following 9/11, Allison meticulously combed over every news video or article on the attack, hoping to see a glimpse of her son for any further information of what happened to him.
Then, on May 26, The New York Times published witness accounts of the last 102 minutes before the Twin Towers fell, featuring Judy Wein and Ling Young’s story of the man in the red bandanna.
“A mysterious man appeared at one point, his mouth and nose covered with a red handkerchief. He was looking for a fire extinguisher. As Judy Wein recalls, he pointed to the stairs and made an announcement that saved lives: Anyone who can walk, get up and walk now. Anyone who can perhaps help others, find someone who needs help and then head down.
In groups of two and three, the survivors struggled to the stairs. A few flights down, they propped up debris blocking their way, leaving a small passageway to slip through.
A few minutes behind this group was Ling Young, who also survived the impact in the sky lobby. She, too, said she had been steered by the man in the red bandanna, hearing him call out: ‘This way to the stairs.’ He trailed her down the stairs. Ms. Young said she soon noticed that he was carrying a woman on his back. Once they reached clearer air, he put her down and went back up.”
Knowing that her son always carried a red bandanna in his back right pocket, Welles’ mother believed that the description in the New York Times of the mysterious man with the red handkerchief was her son. After receiving a letter from Allison with a photo of Welles, Judy and Ling confirmed that Allison had finally found out what her son did in the last hour of his life. Wearing the red bandanna, a childhood habit, Welles’ saved at least 18 lives acting as a firefighter, not an equities trader in the final hour of his life.
“If he hadn’t come back, I wouldn’t have made it,” said Wein to CNN. “People can live 100 years and not have the compassion, the wherewithal to do what he did.”
The Crowther family told Fox News that they gained a sort of peace in knowing Welles spent his last hour helping others.
While his life ended on September 11, Welles has lived on through his family, friends and those he saved. Tyler Jewell, a friend of Welles’, wore the red bandanna with him while competing in the 2006 Winter Olympics and reflects upon his friend and how he honors him:
Allison Crowther tells Guideposts TV on how Welles spent the Labor Day Weekend before his death, including the profound final things he said when leaving the Crowther family home, and his presence there since his death:
Jeff Crowther said of his son to CNN:
“He didn’t live long enough to be head of a corporation or do good works or endow a museum. But what he did on September 11, that’s his legacy.”
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 679 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 636 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 523 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 360 Comments
Have You Seen the Giant ‘Sand Obama’ Sculpture in Charlotte? 311 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 134 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 184 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 146 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Scathing New Ad Capitalizes on Rep. Ryan‘s ’Fading Obama Posters’ Remark 124 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 134 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (50)
DanWesson455
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 9:35amI am amazed at your courage. I weep over your death. I pray the lord to hold you close and comfort your family. God Bless you all.
Report Post »WhiteFang
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:07pmMister Welles Crowther.
Report Post »Respect!
Libby Tarian
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 9:13am3,000 perished at the hands of Muslims who believed the writings in the Qur’an and in their prophet who surrounded villages of Jews and beheaded them if they would not convert to Islam ( which was the religion made up by Khadijah and Waraqah who were Roman Catholics. These two people fed Mohammad a bunch of lies and then supplied him with an army to kill in the name of a moon god who married a sun goddess and had 3 daughters.
Report Post »Don’t forget that millions of US citizens will perish this year at the hands of abortion doctors and nurses. I am ashamed to be a nurse sometimes. Where is the Memorial to the Aborted millions of US citizens?
gretalynn
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:35pmI think you need to lay off the drugs a little…. Being in healthcare I thought compassion was part of taking care of the patient…….???? This NOT about abortion HUN..
Report Post »neocon1
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 6:19amMurder is Murder
Report Post »The nurse is 100% on the money
islam and abortion murder inc of satan.
dont know
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 3:05pmThank God Crowthers mother didn’t see him as a blob or many more people would have died. I am with you satan is out to kill steal and destroy until he is finally taken out. I am sure we are going to see worse carnage than this in the near future it has been written in the word. God Bless both the parents of this hero we are going to need more like him in the not to distant future. May we all wake up and realize there is but one God and get closer to him that is all that will save us.
Report Post »HellAndBack
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:08amI feel Honored to share something with this Man… we are from the same family… AMERICAN!!!
GOD BLESS AND KEEP HIS FAMILY.
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:22amGod Bless this hero, and all the rest of the heroes of that fateful day.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 11:01amHere is a real American! He was not a victim but an active participant who ventured on to save others so they would not be further victimized and or killed that day. Fair winds and following seas Mr. Crowther. Rest well.
Report Post »alrunner58
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:04amA true hero. God Bless.
Report Post »Sara72
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:57amMy heartfelt prayers and admiration go to the family of . Wells…… NO Greater Love for your fellow man, than to give your life! GOD BLESS! I sit here and watch and cry for lour loss, it was a loss for all of us.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:22amGood men (and women) always show up at the worst times to do great things. We never seem to get to thank them properly though. So to the parents who reared such a fine man I say thank you. Your son is one of the best of the best. God bless you with peace in your hearts and souls.
Report Post »BlackAce41
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:54amhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Let-Free-Speech-Reign-Free/121066094660355?sk=wall&filter=1
Report Post »dottygoat
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 3:58am“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Report Post »Welles gave his all so that others might live.
I am sitting here crying. From a mother’s heart, I want you to know that I am so proud of your son. What a wonderful young man you raised. He is a hero. May God bless you John and Allison.
loriann12
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:17amI can already tell I’ll be crying a lot over the next few days. I watched a special yesterday (I‘m sure I’ve seen it before) on 9/11 and my son said he didn’t want to watch it (he’s 12). I always tell him where I was, what I was doing and how I felt. I was in the St. Louis area, and I imagined what it would be like to suddenly lose the Arch, which is the landmark there, and how the skyline would be changed. We must never forget the real history, because the revisionists will revise it right out of the books.
Report Post »Free_Stater
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 2:04amThank you Welles! Semper FI.
Report Post »Secessionista
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 1:45amI am one of those people, I just haven’t had the chance to give my life for my fellow countrymen yet, But I will, someday Maybe for a girl on a bike, maybe for a few hundred people in a tower. It’s all good.
Report Post »yeah I got an itch
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:46amdrunk early in the morning and thinking all about you? When I read this article, I immediately thought about how you were waiting it out for just the worthy victim to save from the grasp of the reaper. heres to one day buddy….rock on
Report Post »ExTex
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 12:52pmYou said it “Itch”!! I mean REALLY Secessionista? You can sit there and watch this heart-wrenching tale of a young man with a very bright future, without hesitation, throw caution to the wind and knowingly sacrificed his own life to save others in a most valiant display of honor and courage…and you take this opportunity to NOT extole the greatness of this young man, but to extole your own would-be greatness…someday…in the future…somehow? REALLY? What are you, 12?
Report Post »amerbur
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 1:31amThank you Welles.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 3:32amThank you Sir…That was you’re calling to do something great………You accompolished what you were meant to do………You became a true Hero on that Day… You will always be remembered……
WE AS A COUNTRY WILL NEVER FORGET !!!!!!!!
Report Post »Secessionista
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 1:28amOh really blaze, you put an ad in a 911 story? You dumbasses.
Report Post »ExTex
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 1:30pmYou’re a bafoon. ” ‘Tis better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak/blog/post and remove all doubt” -Abe Lincoln. Your comments above preclude you from any intelligent credence hence forth. Go trolling somewhere else.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 1:05amWonderful account of a man who put the lives of others before himself. He did the best he could do, and that makes him a superior human being.
Report Post »bornagaincowgirl
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 12:52amWhat a true hero. Yet another beautiful story of bravery and self sacrifice on 9/11. It brings such hope….terrorists can kill us, but they can’t kill the American spirit. We are willing to sacrifice (even our lives) for others. Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Report Post »uncleskull
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 12:25amUnsung heros are the true heros. I hope this young man has a special place in Heaven. He certainly deserves it.
Report Post »ezeewhiz
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 12:23amThank You my fellow American!!!
Report Post »Buldogg
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 12:21amI saw this story on ESPN…incredible…a true hero.
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 12:11amDid anybody get hurt trying to avenge the sacrifice of this noble life and p[revent the loss of even more lives? When will the morning of the dead end and the celebration of the death of the murderers begin?
A suggestion:
Bury the bodies of Al Qeda in the 911 memorial beneath a concrete dance floor.
Surround the dance floor with 2996 statues of the murdered New Yorkers.
Play Benny Goodman or Metallica and dance, New York. Your heartfelt memorials cast in bronze won’t mean anything in 10 years. But hold the annual New Year’s Eve celebration at the “Al Qeda Dance Floor” and celebrate justice. Honor the memory of every New Yorker murdered, many, many of whom were not heroes.
Cast Osama Bin Laden’s face in the back wall or every urinal.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:43amI like the idea of Bin Laden’s face inside urinals, along with OBAMMY’s Image as well!
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 9:38amMohammad if you please…..the pedophile jackass.
Report Post »smitty938
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 3:30pmI’m not really much of a dancer but I would love to dance till my feet bleed on that floor. Maby a retractible roof could be built over it and every 9/11 a huge ( Pork ) BBQ cookoff could be held. Being from the south we just love a good plate of pulled pork cooked low and slow.
Report Post »I am in the Army 82nd Airborne I had the chance to go to ground zero a few years ago before a deployment. I can’t explain the feeling of standing there in a place where so many died. I salute the men and women that went in to save the lives they could and the ones that died trying. May God Bless The survivors.
francesp44
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 12:06amWhat a remarkable young man. I hope that I would have the courage that he had in a time of crisis. This is so sad. Ten years later and it still makes you cry. We must never forget the hero’s and the terror that was inflicted on us on 9/11.
Report Post »hersey10
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 11:52pmWow , that was incredible .
Report Post »Benetto
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 11:52pmI hope and pray this country NEVER forgets….
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 11:51pmRIP Firefighter Crowther. You have place at the right hand of Jesus.
Report Post »PrfctlyFrank
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 11:46pmWhat can you say besides ” No greater gift can a man give but the gift of life, through sacrifice.” What a hero..
Report Post »shorthorn
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 11:44pmAnd so another hero of 9/11 is revealed. There are so many others whose names will never be known, but to God. People owe their lives to these heroes who, when the moment for action came, didn’t hesitate to sacrifice themselves to help their fellow Americans. Makes me proud just thinking about them.
Report Post »Parnell3rd
Posted on September 6, 2011 at 11:40pmWords cannot express gratitude for Hero’s
Report Post »