Meet Jason Thomas. He was dropping off his 2 year old daughter at his mother’s house on the morning of September 11, 2001. His mom told him the news about the attack on the World Trade Center. “They got us” was his first reaction. His second was to retrieve his Marine uniform from his car (he served from 1996-2000) and speed to the WTC site.

He talked his way past the checkpoints and started helping the victims of the terrorist attack. He heard the faint voice of Port Authority Police Officer Will Jimeno 20 feet below a pile of rubble.

Twelve hours later Jimeno and his fellow PA officer John McLoughlin were pulled alive from the rubble with the help of Thomas and another Marine, Sgt. David Karnes. As the rescue effort was nearing it’s completion, Thomas quietly left the scene. He didn’t stay around for the kudos.

In fact, he only told a small circle of family that he was even there. He was called “the mystery Marine” until recently. Thomas’ aunt convinced him, nearly 5 years later, to come forward.

Now we know that the 6′3″ Black American is the man depicted by the short white actor William Mapother, in the new movie World Trade Center. Here is what a fellow rescuer said about Thomas in this story from USA Today last week:

“He’s an incredibly humble and amazing individual,” says Scott Strauss, a former New York police officer who helped in the rescue. He says he and Thomas talked on the phone, and Thomas knew details that only those who were there know.

For example, Strauss says when he arrived at the site, it was dark and the air so thick with smoke that he didn’t get a good look at the man who stood waving a flashlight to signal where the officers were trapped. When he asked Thomas how he alerted rescuers, Thomas said, “I waved my flashlight.”

Thankfully Thomas came forward so we can all say, “Thanks Hero. Thanks”! He was honored by a group of 300 in Ohio last week.

Have you seen the movie yet? What are you waiting for? Here is what Cal Thomas said about the show:

I have a long list of favorite patriotic movies, including “Victory at Sea,” “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “Sands of Iwo Jima,” but Oliver Stone’s “World Trade Center” is right up there with the best of them. It is one of the greatest pro-American, pro-family, pro-faith, pro-male, flag-waving, G-d Bless America films you will ever see.

What? Oliver Stone, who hangs out with and praises Fidel Castro? Oliver Stone, who indulges in conspiracy theories and is a dues-paying member of the Hollywood left? Yes, THAT Oliver Stone.

See it. So you never forget that day or heroes like Jason Thomas.

Have PoliticalMavens.com delivered to your inbox in a daily digest by clicking here