Warrior Connection - 09/09/12

The September 9, 2012  Warrior Connection was part one of a discussion with Willie Rodriques, the hero of the WTC on 9-11-01.  Willie specified  the time sequence of events from that morning beginning with explosions in the sub-basement before either aircraft hit either the north or south tower and how the adverse health  and environmental effects continue to ravish all who were involved.

William Rodriquez, is a native of Puerto Rico, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the state of New Jersey. On September 11, 2001 and for approximately nineteen years prior thereto. Rodriquez was employed as a maintenance worker at the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York, New York.

On 9-11 Rodriquez initially rescued fifteen persons from the WTC, and as Rodriquez was the only person at the site with the master key to the north tower stairwells. He bravely led firefighters up the stairwell, unlocking doors as they ascended, thereby aiding in the successful evacuation of unknown hundreds of those who survived.  Rodriquez, at great risk to his own life, re-entered three times after the first, north tower  impact at about 8:46 am, and is believed to be the last person to exit the north tower alive, surviving the building’s collapse by diving beneath a fire truck. After receiving medical attention at the WTC site, Willie spent the rest of 9-11 aiding as a volunteer in the rescue efforts, and at dawn the following morning was back at Ground Zero continuing his heroic efforts. Willie Rodriquez lost his employment of 19 years and his means of earning a living as a direct result of the attacks on the WTC on 9-11. Deeply affected, as one might imagine, by his experiences of 9-11, Rodriquez has, in a variety of capacities and through different organizations, worked ever since that terrible day to help others who were affected by the atrocities committed. He has continued in these labors, not withstanding the fact that, due to loss of his employment, he has been unable to earn a living and was even homeless for a time.