Dominick Pezzulo
Encyclopedia
Dominick A. Pezzullo (1965 – September 11, 2001) was a Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) officer who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. His final hours were portrayed in the Oliver Stone
movie World Trade Center
.
In the early morning of September 11, he volunteered to assist PAPD Sergeant John McLoughlin
help with the rescue effort in the first World Trade Center
building along with Officer Will Jimeno
. After a brief overlook of the common area the floor shook as the South Tower collapsed just 53 minutes after being struck by United Airlines Flight 175
. With only ten seconds defining the collapse from 110 floors to Ground Zero
the men dashed for the elevator shaft. Only Pezzullo, McLoughlin and Jimeno would survive the initial hit. As they struggled to lift debris from Officer Jimeno, the North Tower collapsed, causing more rubble, concrete, steel and ash to fall on the already existing pile of rubble formed by the collapse of the South Tower. Pezzullo was pinned, and in an effort to alert rescuers to their whereabouts, he fired a single shot into the air before passing away.
Pezzullo also returned to teach auto repair, math and computer technology.
After seven years as a teacher, Pezzullo became a Port Authority Police Officer. He was stationed at the Port Authority Bus Terminal
. Pezzullo was on his new job for only 13 months when he received the urgent telephone call on September 11, 2001 about the attacks. He and other officers commandeered a city bus and raced downtown to the World Trade Center. Dominick Pezzullo was 36 years old and had served with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department for 13 months. He is survived by his wife and two young children and a brother, Tony.
, were stationed at the entrances of a New York bus terminal. Upon being informed of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
twin towers, the pair volunteered to assist Sergeant John McLoughlin
in aiding rescue efforts. They were joined by two other men, Antonio Rodrigues and Chris Amoroso.
The five officers were located in the South Tower when the building gave way. McLoughlin, Pezzulo and Will Jimeno were able to seek cover in a nearby freight elevator and survive the collapse, but were trapped by fallen debris. Amoroso and Rodrigues were unable to reach the elevator in time and were both killed.
Of the surviving trio, Pezzullo was the only one still capable of digging a way out through the debris, and was attempting to do so when the north tower collapsed, causing further debris to fall in the south tower. Pezzullo was mortally wounded when a large piece of concrete landed on his lap. The two officers that survived say "Just remember me, I died trying to save you guys," were Officer Pezzullo's last words. He then fired a single shot into the air trying to let the others know where his friends were. He died of his injuries shortly thereafter.
On September 9, 2005, all of the public safety officers killed on September 11, 2001, were posthumously awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor
by President George W. Bush.
by Oliver Stone
, Pezzullo was portrayed by Jay Hernandez
.
At the National 9/11 Memorial, Pezzulo is memorialized at the South Pool, on Panel S-29.
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
movie World Trade Center
World Trade Center (film)
World Trade Center is a 2006 American disaster-drama film directed by Oliver Stone and based on the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center. It stars Nicolas Cage, Maria Bello, Michael Peña, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon. The film was shot from October 19, 2005 - February 10, 2006...
.
In the early morning of September 11, he volunteered to assist PAPD Sergeant John McLoughlin
John McLoughlin (World Trade Center attack survivor)
John McLoughlin is one of two Port Authority Police Officers who survived after being trapped in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center...
help with the rescue effort in the first World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
building along with Officer Will Jimeno
Will Jimeno
William J. Jimeno is a Port Authority Police officer who survived the September 11 attacks. He was buried under the rubble for a total of 13 hours, but survived, along with fellow Port Authority officer John McLoughlin....
. After a brief overlook of the common area the floor shook as the South Tower collapsed just 53 minutes after being struck by United Airlines Flight 175
United Airlines Flight 175
United Airlines Flight 175 was United Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight, from Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California...
. With only ten seconds defining the collapse from 110 floors to Ground Zero
Ground zero
The term ground zero describes the point on the Earth's surface closest to a detonation...
the men dashed for the elevator shaft. Only Pezzullo, McLoughlin and Jimeno would survive the initial hit. As they struggled to lift debris from Officer Jimeno, the North Tower collapsed, causing more rubble, concrete, steel and ash to fall on the already existing pile of rubble formed by the collapse of the South Tower. Pezzullo was pinned, and in an effort to alert rescuers to their whereabouts, he fired a single shot into the air before passing away.
Early life
Dominick was born to Italian Parents Dino and Victoria Pezzulo. He was named after his Grandfather Domenico Pezzullo. His nickname was Mimmo.Jean-ette Pezzullo met her husband Dominick while they were attending Herbert Lehman High School in the Bronx. Although they knew each other from the neighborhood and school, they didn't start dating until they finished high school. Ms. Pezzullo, now a School Aide and Local 372 member at Lehman, was struck by how considerate Dominick was during their first date. "We went to the World Trade CenterWorld Trade CenterThe original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
," she recalled. "We were by the water fountain and he was concerned that I might get wet. That impressed me."
Pezzullo also returned to teach auto repair, math and computer technology.
After seven years as a teacher, Pezzullo became a Port Authority Police Officer. He was stationed at the Port Authority Bus Terminal
Port Authority Bus Terminal
The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City...
. Pezzullo was on his new job for only 13 months when he received the urgent telephone call on September 11, 2001 about the attacks. He and other officers commandeered a city bus and raced downtown to the World Trade Center. Dominick Pezzullo was 36 years old and had served with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department for 13 months. He is survived by his wife and two young children and a brother, Tony.
September 11, 2001
On September 11th, 2001, Pezzullo and his fellow officer and friend, Will JimenoWill Jimeno
William J. Jimeno is a Port Authority Police officer who survived the September 11 attacks. He was buried under the rubble for a total of 13 hours, but survived, along with fellow Port Authority officer John McLoughlin....
, were stationed at the entrances of a New York bus terminal. Upon being informed of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
twin towers, the pair volunteered to assist Sergeant John McLoughlin
John McLoughlin (World Trade Center attack survivor)
John McLoughlin is one of two Port Authority Police Officers who survived after being trapped in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center...
in aiding rescue efforts. They were joined by two other men, Antonio Rodrigues and Chris Amoroso.
The five officers were located in the South Tower when the building gave way. McLoughlin, Pezzulo and Will Jimeno were able to seek cover in a nearby freight elevator and survive the collapse, but were trapped by fallen debris. Amoroso and Rodrigues were unable to reach the elevator in time and were both killed.
Of the surviving trio, Pezzullo was the only one still capable of digging a way out through the debris, and was attempting to do so when the north tower collapsed, causing further debris to fall in the south tower. Pezzullo was mortally wounded when a large piece of concrete landed on his lap. The two officers that survived say "Just remember me, I died trying to save you guys," were Officer Pezzullo's last words. He then fired a single shot into the air trying to let the others know where his friends were. He died of his injuries shortly thereafter.
On September 9, 2005, all of the public safety officers killed on September 11, 2001, were posthumously awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor
9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor
The 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor is a decoration of the government of the United States, created specifically to honor the 442 public safety officers who were killed in the line of duty during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the empty wing of The Pentagon.The...
by President George W. Bush.
Legacy
In the film World Trade CenterWorld Trade Center (film)
World Trade Center is a 2006 American disaster-drama film directed by Oliver Stone and based on the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center. It stars Nicolas Cage, Maria Bello, Michael Peña, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon. The film was shot from October 19, 2005 - February 10, 2006...
by Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
, Pezzullo was portrayed by Jay Hernandez
Jay Hernandez
Javier Manuel "Jay" Hernandez, Jr. is an American actor.-Early life and career:Hernandez was born in Montebello, California, the son of Isis , a secretary and accountant, and Javier Hernandez, Sr., a mechanic. He has a younger sister, Amelia, and two older brothers, Michael and Gabriel. Hernandez...
.
At the National 9/11 Memorial, Pezzulo is memorialized at the South Pool, on Panel S-29.
See also
- Will JimenoWill JimenoWilliam J. Jimeno is a Port Authority Police officer who survived the September 11 attacks. He was buried under the rubble for a total of 13 hours, but survived, along with fellow Port Authority officer John McLoughlin....
- John McLoughlin
- Dave KarnesDave KarnesDavid W. Karnes is a retired U.S. Marine, who with Jason Thomas located and helped rescue two police officers trapped in the rubble from the September 11, 2001 attacks at the World Trade Center.-During the 9/11 attacks:...
- Jason ThomasJason ThomasJason Thomas is a former U.S. Marine who located and rescued people after the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City. With David W...
- World Trade CenterWorld Trade Center (film)World Trade Center is a 2006 American disaster-drama film directed by Oliver Stone and based on the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center. It stars Nicolas Cage, Maria Bello, Michael Peña, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Shannon. The film was shot from October 19, 2005 - February 10, 2006...
External links
- Crimelibrary.com Article
- PAPD Memorial Site
- "Dominick A. Pezzulo". Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
. Retrieved October 29, 2011.