Pablo served as a Navy Seal during the Vietnam War. He was employed by the Port Authority of New York as Superintendant of Construction at the World Trade Center.

After the first jetliner hit the North Tower, he and a co-worker, Frank De Martini went up to the 91st floor the North Tower, equipped with only a flashlight, a crowbar, and walkie-talkies. They worked their way down, floor by floor, to the 78th floor, freeing people and leading them to the stairwells and to safety. They were last heard from on the 78th floor, radioing in that the elevators were in imminent danger of collapse. This was minutes before the North Tower collapsed.

Pablo never made it out of the North Tower. He and De Martini rescued over 70 people that day, and were the subjects of the documentary, "9/11: Heroes of the 88th Floor."

Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery

We will never forget.  Thank you for your service.

PABLO ORTIZ

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