# Legacy of Welles Crowther

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/legacy-of-welles-crowther
> Updated: 2026-09-13T09:42:05.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

Welles Crowther, a 24-year-old equities trader and former volunteer firefighter, is recognized for his heroic actions during the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center. Known to survivors as the ‘man in the red bandana,’ Crowther used a red bandana to protect himself from smoke while guiding nearly 20 people to safety from the South Tower’s 78th-floor sky lobby. He reportedly carried an injured woman on his back before losing his life.

His legacy has been highlighted through various media, including a 2019 ESPN special, and through local tributes in East Islip. Crowther was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, in a ceremony where President Donald Trump presented the award to Crowther’s mother and sister.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-13: Welles Crowther: The hero known as the man in the red bandana

Welles Crowther, known as the ‘man in the red bandana,’ saved numerous lives by guiding people to safety during the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/welles-crowther-the-hero-known-as-the-man-in-the-red-bandana

### 2026-09-09: Welles Crowther awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

Welles Crowther, the 9/11 hero known as “The Man With The Red Bandana,” was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/welles-crowther-posthumously-awarded-presidential-medal-of-freedom-1

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Cite as: Legacy of Welles Crowther. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/legacy-of-welles-crowther