Preview
  • The Red Bandanna

  • A Life. A Choice. A Legacy.
  • By: Tom Rinaldi
  • Narrated by: Tom Rinaldi
  • Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (403 ratings)

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The Red Bandanna

By: Tom Rinaldi
Narrated by: Tom Rinaldi
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Publisher's summary

A New York Times best seller

What would you do in the last hour of your life?

The story of Welles Crowther, whose actions on 9/11 offer a lasting lesson on character, calling, and courage

One Sunday morning before church, when Welles Crowther was a young boy, his father gave him a red handkerchief for his back pocket. Welles kept it with him that day and just about every day to come; it became a fixture and his signature.

A standout athlete growing up in Upper Nyack, New York, Welles was also a volunteer at the local fire department along with his father. He cherished the necessity and the camaraderie, the meaning of the role. Fresh from college, he took a Wall Street job on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center, but the dream of becoming a firefighter with the FDNY remained.

When the Twin Towers fell, Welles' parents had no idea what happened to him. In the unbearable days that followed, they came to accept that he would never come home. But the mystery of his final hours persisted. Eight months after the attacks, however, Welles' mother read a news account from several survivors, badly hurt on the 78th floor of the South Tower, who said they and others had been led to safety by a stranger carrying a woman on his back, down nearly 20 flights of stairs. After leading them down, the young man turned around. "I'm going back up" was all he said.

The survivors didn't know his name, but despite the smoke and panic, one of them remembered a single detail clearly: The man was wearing a red bandanna.

Tom Rinaldi's The Red Bandanna is about a fearless choice, about a crucible of terror and the indomitable spirit to answer it. Examining one decision in the gravest situation, it celebrates the difference one life can make.

©2016 Tom Rinaldi (P)2016 Penguin Audio
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Featured Article: In the Oral Histories of 9/11, Grief, Hope, and Heroism Find a Voice


Memories passed down through storytelling have been a vital part of culture since the dawn of civilization, and we've all had moments of pained reminiscence: Where were you on that day? There are few accounts more powerful than audio recollections of the lived histories of 9/11—their words, their voices, their stories all ensure we will never forget, that the passage of time will never erode the memory of those loved, lost, and left behind.

What listeners say about The Red Bandanna

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Extraordinary

I am emotionally spent. The Red Bandanna tells the behind the scenes story of a young man that left an extraordinary "forever" legacy.

I wish there were 10 STARS.

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a must read

Takethe time, Make the time to listen to this book. You won't just be inspired, you will be FULL.

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Beautiful heartwarming story

I think everyone should read/listen to this. What a loving tribute to a great young man.

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Praise God.

Praise God for this story.
Praise God for Wells, who showed God s love to us all through actions. Self less action.
Amazing .

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Incredibly Inspiring

The narrator’s voice intoned every chapter perfectly. Wells’ story is now out there and will continue to spread to all ages. Thank you to everyone who made this book possible from the author to the parents of such a selfless young man.

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A devastatingly beautiful life

May we all learn the lesson of “The Red Bandana” ♥️ The life of Wells Crowther is a lesson of the good in people.

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Stopped me in my tracks

A must read for all BC alum. Proud to be a member of the class of '99 with Welles.

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Never forget

It's just a well written story about a real hero. Tom Rinoldi reads his own book and sounds like a poet as always, not that that's bad. It's his thing and it works. Some of his stuff in the past is part hype, this piece is not hype. This is a story you should read and hope your children are as strong and helpful in society. This is also a book your children should read.

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Heroic, moving, and a great performance!

Tom Rinaldi tells an amazing story of 9/11. Please read this book, it is 100% worth it.

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A true hero!

What a touching story of an amazing young man. I have a son he same age as him when he was lost. I can't imagine the loss and grief, but their story of hope is remarkable. I will never look at a red bandana the same again......

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