My younger Buff years
- Thread starter nfd2004
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IRISH said:
Tom was a FF in 82/31 and retired as a Lt. from L-42 ( we also collaborated on a book )
Some thoughts back. I came on the job 3/60. We had a class of about 100. The proby school was on Welfare Island and there was a class in session, so we had to wait until they graduated to start school. My first day myself and about 20 other new guys reported to the 6th Division in with 50/19 for assignment. Thinking back now this was unbelievable and sure dangerous. I was assigned to 19 truck. The first officer I worked with was a Lt. Whitney, a great guy. 19 had a spare wooden ladder that day. During the tour a kid came into qtrs. and said a "cat was stuck in a tree." Whitney said we'll test the spare and take the cat down, we did. I never took another cat out of a tree for the next 37 years. We had no equipment so Whitney just said take gear off the rack. He gave me a second can and hook to carry, and I responded to jobs with them. Every two weeks we were assigned to a different 6th Div. engine or ladder until we went to school in late April. Had a couple of all-hands and two multiples during this time. Worked in 82 for two weeks. Didn't know it at the time but had several calls to the infamous 2743. Then Charlotte and 170 was 6 and 7 story tenements, H's and rows of stores around it. I remember the crowds of people at that location. It was like one of those old movies in Africa where you had to drive slowly and blow the horn to get people out of the way going down the street.
Made Lt. 8/69 and was assigned to 50 engine 1/70. 50/19 responded to all the 274 boxes with the exception of 2743. I remember how many times a 274 box was coming in (bells) and it would stop at 3, seem to be over and over again every tour. Mostly 9-2's but always a job thrown in. Made Captain 4/73 and was assigned to 82 9/73. At that time the 6th was the busiest division in the job followed closely by the 15th. My wife was always after me to transfer out of 50 during my 3 1/2 years because I would come home dragging after the tours. I placated her by saying that when I made Captain they would send me to a slower division. Made Captain with 5 other Lt's, almost passed over because I had blood poisoning in my leg from a knee burn, common then. I was assigned to the 15th Division. First night I was in 103 truck and we had 27 runs. Came home the next day and my wife told me I didn't look any different. So I called up the transfer officer a lt. Hennessy and started the call with asking him did I have "ghetto next to my name." He said what do you mean and I said I went from the busiest division to the second busiest division while one of the othe new Captains promoted out of the slow 16th Division stayed in the 16th. He said he would taker care of it, he did and I was assigned to the 13th a few weeks later. Then I got a call from DC Kelsey 6th Division Commander saying that Captain Al Gray, 82 engine (Captain Albergray in Smith's book) was being promoted to BC and did I want the spot. I took it, wife not happy at all. Neither was Hennessy who called me after he got my transfer and told me I was a "wise guy."
My first tour in 82, and my first structural fire in 82 was in a vacant synagogue box 2743. No more crowds of people teeming the streets. Canyons of burned out tenements and H's, empty stores. A few buildings were still partially occupied, very few. I've written about Gasoline Gomez, a fire bug. He would hit Charlotte and 170 every 10 days or so. We'd get a 1st floor rear rubbish fire in a vacant around 1900. Then around 2300 another in the same or close by building, we knew Gomez had our night planned. Around 0300 he would have 3 or 4 floors going usually one of the same earlier buildings, rear of the building so we couldn't use the towers. Always amazed me how the job never did anything about him as we would transmit the 10-41's each fire. All they had to do was put a couple of marshals on a nearby roof after 2400 and wait for the guy carrying the gas can in the street later. They never did and a lot of ff's went out with 3/4's from 2743. I remember one night after the 2nd rubbish fire BC Powell (RIP) pleading with an old Irish couple who lived in the now vacant building that there was going to be a big fire that night and we probably wouldn't be able to save them. They had a bunch of dogs and wouldn't leave their pets. Powell was able to get the Red Cross to get them and their pets a place and they left. We had a 3rd in their building that night. Gomez finally blew himself out a window, God took care of it for us. He was critically injured but survived. Arrested he beat it in court as he said he only went into the building to light a cigarette and woke up in the hospital. If I remember right the assignment for 2743 then was 82,85,45,31,59, Sq2,R3,B27,D9.
Made Lt. 8/69 and was assigned to 50 engine 1/70. 50/19 responded to all the 274 boxes with the exception of 2743. I remember how many times a 274 box was coming in (bells) and it would stop at 3, seem to be over and over again every tour. Mostly 9-2's but always a job thrown in. Made Captain 4/73 and was assigned to 82 9/73. At that time the 6th was the busiest division in the job followed closely by the 15th. My wife was always after me to transfer out of 50 during my 3 1/2 years because I would come home dragging after the tours. I placated her by saying that when I made Captain they would send me to a slower division. Made Captain with 5 other Lt's, almost passed over because I had blood poisoning in my leg from a knee burn, common then. I was assigned to the 15th Division. First night I was in 103 truck and we had 27 runs. Came home the next day and my wife told me I didn't look any different. So I called up the transfer officer a lt. Hennessy and started the call with asking him did I have "ghetto next to my name." He said what do you mean and I said I went from the busiest division to the second busiest division while one of the othe new Captains promoted out of the slow 16th Division stayed in the 16th. He said he would taker care of it, he did and I was assigned to the 13th a few weeks later. Then I got a call from DC Kelsey 6th Division Commander saying that Captain Al Gray, 82 engine (Captain Albergray in Smith's book) was being promoted to BC and did I want the spot. I took it, wife not happy at all. Neither was Hennessy who called me after he got my transfer and told me I was a "wise guy."
My first tour in 82, and my first structural fire in 82 was in a vacant synagogue box 2743. No more crowds of people teeming the streets. Canyons of burned out tenements and H's, empty stores. A few buildings were still partially occupied, very few. I've written about Gasoline Gomez, a fire bug. He would hit Charlotte and 170 every 10 days or so. We'd get a 1st floor rear rubbish fire in a vacant around 1900. Then around 2300 another in the same or close by building, we knew Gomez had our night planned. Around 0300 he would have 3 or 4 floors going usually one of the same earlier buildings, rear of the building so we couldn't use the towers. Always amazed me how the job never did anything about him as we would transmit the 10-41's each fire. All they had to do was put a couple of marshals on a nearby roof after 2400 and wait for the guy carrying the gas can in the street later. They never did and a lot of ff's went out with 3/4's from 2743. I remember one night after the 2nd rubbish fire BC Powell (RIP) pleading with an old Irish couple who lived in the now vacant building that there was going to be a big fire that night and we probably wouldn't be able to save them. They had a bunch of dogs and wouldn't leave their pets. Powell was able to get the Red Cross to get them and their pets a place and they left. We had a 3rd in their building that night. Gomez finally blew himself out a window, God took care of it for us. He was critically injured but survived. Arrested he beat it in court as he said he only went into the building to light a cigarette and woke up in the hospital. If I remember right the assignment for 2743 then was 82,85,45,31,59, Sq2,R3,B27,D9.
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Chief *******. Always great stories that should never be forgotten!
1261Truckie said:
Jim, you are absolutely correct. It's hard for people to understand what exactly went on during those years. Even I have to say to myself sometimes "did that really happen" ? The stories, the videos, the pictures on here prove that "it did happen". Guys like G-man, fdce54, R1Smoke..., lived or worked in it. Some were auxiliaries like yourself (1261Truckie), svd..., johnd..., and were a part of it. Then we have those that actually fought the fires who were on the job and have since retired, Chief ******, Chief 68jk09, 69Mets, or Capt J. Bend... Sr., For many, like "mack" whose father brought him to the firehouse where they got an education that no school could ever provide. For some guys like "mikeindabronx", myself, "Bxboro", were buffs, sometimes taking pictures of these "War Years Greatest Generation of Firefighters" at work. For "mikeindabronx", he published a collectors book and now has a web site (www.fdnysbravest.com )that offers some of the best fire photos of the time. For guys like myself, Bxboro, and my brother George, we became career firefighters in Connecticut. But what we learned from just watching and talking to this special breed of firefighters carried with us throughout our careers (Bxboro is still on the job). And no doubt, some of the "tricks of the trade" was passed down to many members on the job.
It was certainly a special time to be around. I am very thankful for this web site and to all the members that have helped to tell the story of the busiest time in the entire history of the fire dept. I was glad that I was able to see it. To this day, I am very thankful to the War Years Firefighters that took the time to explain some of the operations to me. It was a big part of my life. And now I'm thankful to those who have contributed their stories. It is a part of the FDNY history that should never be forgotten. As we see in "Another War Years Vet Passes" thread, time is starting to take its toll on the "Greatest Generation of Firefighters". They should not be forgotten. I think we can all agree, there will never be another group like it.
It's a little overdue, but to those firefighters, "thanks for what you did". And we also need to remember those fire dispatchers who worked without computers and answered the millions of phone calls, or ERS boxes saying "where's the fire" ? Nobody responded until these dispatchers were some how able to get the right information. All that while pull box after pull box was coming in. Every time I went to visit one of those communication offices (dispatch centers), the fire activity was non stop. I don't know how they did it. But I guess we have to call you, "FDNYs War Years Dispatchers - The Greatest".
Bill - ditto on your comments.
I also wanted to add that the dispatchers were (and still are) amazing. If you listen to any of the War Years audio tapes, it seems impossible that anyone was able to maintain conrol while 4 or 5 working fires were in progress at the same time. And they were so matter-of-fact, calm and in-charge. They dispatched, re-directed, relocated, provided directions, warned companies approaching the same intersection, provided weather warnings, advised of traffic - constantly, efficiently, expertly. They were into the job. If you walked into busy firehouses, you would frequently find an off-duty dispatcher buffing with a company. Everyone knew who they were. When the voice alarm went off, guys knew who the dispatcher's voices. They personalized messages to identify units. I remember alarms announced as "Coney Island box 3542..." instead of "Brooklyn box...". They cared. They were always respectful of everyone - chiefs, officers and firefighters. They appreciated the work being done on the front lines. They were the battle coordinators sending troops into combat. And they were appreciated. I always admired the dispatchers I met.
I also wanted to add that the dispatchers were (and still are) amazing. If you listen to any of the War Years audio tapes, it seems impossible that anyone was able to maintain conrol while 4 or 5 working fires were in progress at the same time. And they were so matter-of-fact, calm and in-charge. They dispatched, re-directed, relocated, provided directions, warned companies approaching the same intersection, provided weather warnings, advised of traffic - constantly, efficiently, expertly. They were into the job. If you walked into busy firehouses, you would frequently find an off-duty dispatcher buffing with a company. Everyone knew who they were. When the voice alarm went off, guys knew who the dispatcher's voices. They personalized messages to identify units. I remember alarms announced as "Coney Island box 3542..." instead of "Brooklyn box...". They cared. They were always respectful of everyone - chiefs, officers and firefighters. They appreciated the work being done on the front lines. They were the battle coordinators sending troops into combat. And they were appreciated. I always admired the dispatchers I met.
Bronx Central Office video:
FDNY Bronx Dispatch Operations - vintage FDNY video
War years audio series:
FDNY War Years Audio
FDNY Bronx Dispatch Operations - vintage FDNY video
War years audio series:
FDNY War Years Audio
A few years ago I posted on the RANT pretty much the following. Posting it here now because some men and what they did should be written and not forgotten. The FDNY honors its members once a year at Medal Day. In the 70's with less than 40 medals awarded and 11,000 officers and firefighters, with all the responses and rescues made only .003% rise to the level of being worthy for an actual medal. Three classes for awards are given, a Class 3 for a rescue made under unusual personal risk for the firefighter making the rescue, a Class 2 for a rescue made under great personal risk and a Class1 for a rescue made under extreme personal risk. The highest and oldest medal awarded each year is the James Gordon Bennett medal, the FDNY's Medal of Honor. To receive the Bennett medal the firefighter so honored must have been awarded a Class 1. In the history of the FDNY only 2 or 3 members have been awarded two Bennett medals. I had the privilege and honor to have worked beside one of those men.
I remember it as a warm evening. Around 2000 hours the 6th Division deputy, Chief Curley (RIP), entered our (82/31) qtrs. With the chief was a photographer from Life Magazine. Dennis Smith's book "Report From Engine 82" had been on the best seller list for a number of months and the photographer had permission from downtown to do a picture spread of the members and qtrs. for a human interest article in the magazine. As we lined up for a roll call a first due box for both companies came in. We responded and the deputy with the photographer followed in the division car. Engine 94 and Ladder 48 returning from another box in the area saw the smoke from the fire and responded to it, normally both 2nd due at this box they arrived first. As we arrived I saw that the fire building was a 5 story occupied new law tenement. There was a front fire escape. There were 6 front windows three for each of the two front apartments, one fire escape window and two adjacent serving a large bedroom. On the top floor exposure 2 side apartment heavy smoke was showing from all 3 windows with some fire at the fire escape window. At the 3rd window over a woman was leaning out the window holding a 2 year old girl out in front of her. 94 was stretching. 48 was raising its aerial, the aerial was malfunctioning, it would lift/raise and rotate but would jam on extending, extending only a few inches each try. There were a couple of hundred people in the street, half were yelling for her to drop the child the other half yelling for her to hold on. There was an outside cellar entrance protected by an iron picket fence directly below her line of apartments. If she didn't throw the child out far enough the child would either fall into the bottom of the cellar stairs or onto the pickets. 31 arrived. FF Tom Neary, L31 looked up at the trapped woman and child and went up the building steps into the building followed by his officer Lt. Don Butler,L31. The other members of 31 went for their roof rope for a roof rescue. We carried a life net on 82 so I told my guys to get it. At this point heavy fire was showing from the fire escape window and the adjacent window now had some fire showing. Seeing the apartment later there was a 20+foot hall fully involved leading to the bedroom. As the woman lifted her arms to throw the child a firefighter embraced her, FF Neary, followed by Lt. Butler a second later. 48's aerial tip was about 5 feet now from the window. Butler took the child in his arms and dove out onto the ladder. A member from 48 had raced up the ladder now and caught them. A few seconds later Neary then threw the woman out onto the ladder, she was also caught by the 48 truckie. Neary then dove out onto the ladder head first, his turnout was smoldering and his pants (no bunker gear then) were on fire. Neither Butler nor Neary wore a mask as there was no mandatory mask policy then in the FDNY. 48 truck said later that they "felt like shit" when Neary and then Butler pushed passed them and entered the apartment, nobody faulted them, fire was out into the public hall. Butler said later that he wouldn't have gone in either but when Neary went in he had to follow. All 4 went to the hospital, Neary was out for a number of months with his leg burns. After it was over I went over to the LIFE photographer and asked him did he get the pictures of the rescue. He said no that he was so taken by what he was seeing that he forgot to take any pictures. A shame as they would really have been something. Butler and Neary were written up for the meritorious act. The Bronx Borough Command kicked it back and said "bullshit," this would have been impossible. DC Curley who was in the street watching (it was a 9th Div. box) then wrote an endorsement that he witnessed it, and that's how it happened. Butler and Neary received Class 1 awards, and Neary received his first Bennett medal.
A few years later Neary was promoted to Lt. and assigned to L28 in Harlem. Another fire with another child trapped in a rear room with a fully involved room between her and the firefighters. Neary took a door off an adjacent apartment, using the door over him as a shield slid on the floor to the room where the girl was trapped and brought her back under the door with him. Again no mask, and even though he was wearing gloves his hands were burned exposed holding the door. Neary received another Class 1 and a second Bennett medal.
I post this as it should be somewhere other than in a filing cabinet. Great men then, as now, as there will always be Butlers and Nearys in the FDNY, and the fire service throughout.
I remember it as a warm evening. Around 2000 hours the 6th Division deputy, Chief Curley (RIP), entered our (82/31) qtrs. With the chief was a photographer from Life Magazine. Dennis Smith's book "Report From Engine 82" had been on the best seller list for a number of months and the photographer had permission from downtown to do a picture spread of the members and qtrs. for a human interest article in the magazine. As we lined up for a roll call a first due box for both companies came in. We responded and the deputy with the photographer followed in the division car. Engine 94 and Ladder 48 returning from another box in the area saw the smoke from the fire and responded to it, normally both 2nd due at this box they arrived first. As we arrived I saw that the fire building was a 5 story occupied new law tenement. There was a front fire escape. There were 6 front windows three for each of the two front apartments, one fire escape window and two adjacent serving a large bedroom. On the top floor exposure 2 side apartment heavy smoke was showing from all 3 windows with some fire at the fire escape window. At the 3rd window over a woman was leaning out the window holding a 2 year old girl out in front of her. 94 was stretching. 48 was raising its aerial, the aerial was malfunctioning, it would lift/raise and rotate but would jam on extending, extending only a few inches each try. There were a couple of hundred people in the street, half were yelling for her to drop the child the other half yelling for her to hold on. There was an outside cellar entrance protected by an iron picket fence directly below her line of apartments. If she didn't throw the child out far enough the child would either fall into the bottom of the cellar stairs or onto the pickets. 31 arrived. FF Tom Neary, L31 looked up at the trapped woman and child and went up the building steps into the building followed by his officer Lt. Don Butler,L31. The other members of 31 went for their roof rope for a roof rescue. We carried a life net on 82 so I told my guys to get it. At this point heavy fire was showing from the fire escape window and the adjacent window now had some fire showing. Seeing the apartment later there was a 20+foot hall fully involved leading to the bedroom. As the woman lifted her arms to throw the child a firefighter embraced her, FF Neary, followed by Lt. Butler a second later. 48's aerial tip was about 5 feet now from the window. Butler took the child in his arms and dove out onto the ladder. A member from 48 had raced up the ladder now and caught them. A few seconds later Neary then threw the woman out onto the ladder, she was also caught by the 48 truckie. Neary then dove out onto the ladder head first, his turnout was smoldering and his pants (no bunker gear then) were on fire. Neither Butler nor Neary wore a mask as there was no mandatory mask policy then in the FDNY. 48 truck said later that they "felt like shit" when Neary and then Butler pushed passed them and entered the apartment, nobody faulted them, fire was out into the public hall. Butler said later that he wouldn't have gone in either but when Neary went in he had to follow. All 4 went to the hospital, Neary was out for a number of months with his leg burns. After it was over I went over to the LIFE photographer and asked him did he get the pictures of the rescue. He said no that he was so taken by what he was seeing that he forgot to take any pictures. A shame as they would really have been something. Butler and Neary were written up for the meritorious act. The Bronx Borough Command kicked it back and said "bullshit," this would have been impossible. DC Curley who was in the street watching (it was a 9th Div. box) then wrote an endorsement that he witnessed it, and that's how it happened. Butler and Neary received Class 1 awards, and Neary received his first Bennett medal.
A few years later Neary was promoted to Lt. and assigned to L28 in Harlem. Another fire with another child trapped in a rear room with a fully involved room between her and the firefighters. Neary took a door off an adjacent apartment, using the door over him as a shield slid on the floor to the room where the girl was trapped and brought her back under the door with him. Again no mask, and even though he was wearing gloves his hands were burned exposed holding the door. Neary received another Class 1 and a second Bennett medal.
I post this as it should be somewhere other than in a filing cabinet. Great men then, as now, as there will always be Butlers and Nearys in the FDNY, and the fire service throughout.
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Thanks for sharing the stories Chief. It's interesting in the book Tom Barry & I put out Tom wrote about the same incident.
Tom Neary when he was a Lt. in L-28
http://fdnysbravest.com/fp37.htm
http://fdnysbravest.com/fp360.htm
Tom Neary when he was a Lt. in L-28
http://fdnysbravest.com/fp37.htm
http://fdnysbravest.com/fp360.htm
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******* Thank You for sharing that piece of FDNY History once again....these are act's that were executed & should never be forgotten & should be passed down not as folklore but as FACT by someone like yourself who witnessed it ....these Men were the real deal & should be an insperation to all who follow.
Thanks M. Dick's great site - pictures of warriors
http://fdnysbravest.com/fp306.htm
Squad 41 w/Chief Kleehaas (then Lt)
http://fdnysbravest.com/fp306.htm
Squad 41 w/Chief Kleehaas (then Lt)
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A nice mug w/a great slogan in relation to the current politically correct blitz....... http://www.ebay.com/itm/FIREFIGHTER-BEER-MUGS-OUR-JOB-IS-TO-SAVE-YOUR-ASS-NOT-KISS-IT-/380674121395?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58a1f21eb368jk09 said:
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Chief JK,
Thanks for the link, says what I feel and was a good laugh
Jim (1261)
Thanks for the link, says what I feel and was a good laugh
Jim (1261)
Currently (7/17/13) the Tri State area along with most of the rest of the country is experiencing "a heatwave". Temperatures in NYC above 95 degrees, very high humidity. Tough conditions for any firefighter to fight a fire in.
During the very busy years for the FDNY I remember leaving my home about 8 am for a summer July or August buff trip. Usually I would bring a cooler with a few sandwiches and sodas. (no booze since 1978 for me). Maybe myself and one or two other buffs. Sometimes my brother George (now a retired FF). With a few stops along the way, we'd usually get to the Bronx around 11 am. A little longer if we went to Brooklyn (usually Bushwick/Bed Sty).
There was a certain smell in these areas during the months of July and August. It was the smell of garbage in the vacant lots and in the vacant buildings. Sometimes even a dead animal just left there. Flies were all over the place. Abondoned burned out cars, mattresses, broken bottles and empty beer cans littered the area. Burned out buildings in these areas everywhere you looked. And the heat just made matters worse. The only area where I would go for some shade was to park under the Cross Bronx Expressway near Eng 46/Lad 27, or on the street near Crotona Park or Clairmont Park. We dressed in shorts and tee shirts. And still it was brutal to be in those streets.
But those guys that were fighting those fires. No air conditioned rigs and the members would be sitting right next to that hot running motor. For the times I rode, it got pretty hot in that cab. Then these guys would have to go to work. The heavy hot gear, and going in to do their job. Sometimes it was to the upper floors. Sometimes some of the stairs were missing and instead of a stairway, there would be trash piled high enough to get to the next floor. A group of rats feasting on the piles or dumpsters in the middle of the day. And this was not a once in awhile fire. Many of the buildings were like this for miles. And in the darkness of night, it made it that much tougher.
The general public had no idea of what was going on in these places. The world kept turning as building by building these FDNY members were trying to hold their own. It was a war every day and it wasn't going on across the ocean. It was going on right in New York City.
There was no rac unit, no relief companies. The only relief during these hot, humid days, was maybe some water running from a hydrant or what I called "the bent tip". Just a straight smooth bore nozzle with a bend in it, attached to one of the discharges on the rig. Nothing fancy, I think it was made up from an old brass nozzle. Having the tip face upward made it like drinking water from a water fountain. Once you were in there the streets became an oven.
Since all those years that have past, I have NEVER seen conditions like that in any city. I've had the opportunity to visit and buff many other cities throughout my life. I have not seen any city in America, to this day, compare to the conditions that existed during these FDNY War Years.
I can not believe the conditions that existed, and the amount of fire duty that took place, will ever be repeated again. If you were a part of it, as a Firefighter, an auxiliary ff, a dispatcher, or a buff, as retired Chief ****** says; "it was the best and the worst of times". And you will never forget it.
During the very busy years for the FDNY I remember leaving my home about 8 am for a summer July or August buff trip. Usually I would bring a cooler with a few sandwiches and sodas. (no booze since 1978 for me). Maybe myself and one or two other buffs. Sometimes my brother George (now a retired FF). With a few stops along the way, we'd usually get to the Bronx around 11 am. A little longer if we went to Brooklyn (usually Bushwick/Bed Sty).
There was a certain smell in these areas during the months of July and August. It was the smell of garbage in the vacant lots and in the vacant buildings. Sometimes even a dead animal just left there. Flies were all over the place. Abondoned burned out cars, mattresses, broken bottles and empty beer cans littered the area. Burned out buildings in these areas everywhere you looked. And the heat just made matters worse. The only area where I would go for some shade was to park under the Cross Bronx Expressway near Eng 46/Lad 27, or on the street near Crotona Park or Clairmont Park. We dressed in shorts and tee shirts. And still it was brutal to be in those streets.
But those guys that were fighting those fires. No air conditioned rigs and the members would be sitting right next to that hot running motor. For the times I rode, it got pretty hot in that cab. Then these guys would have to go to work. The heavy hot gear, and going in to do their job. Sometimes it was to the upper floors. Sometimes some of the stairs were missing and instead of a stairway, there would be trash piled high enough to get to the next floor. A group of rats feasting on the piles or dumpsters in the middle of the day. And this was not a once in awhile fire. Many of the buildings were like this for miles. And in the darkness of night, it made it that much tougher.
The general public had no idea of what was going on in these places. The world kept turning as building by building these FDNY members were trying to hold their own. It was a war every day and it wasn't going on across the ocean. It was going on right in New York City.
There was no rac unit, no relief companies. The only relief during these hot, humid days, was maybe some water running from a hydrant or what I called "the bent tip". Just a straight smooth bore nozzle with a bend in it, attached to one of the discharges on the rig. Nothing fancy, I think it was made up from an old brass nozzle. Having the tip face upward made it like drinking water from a water fountain. Once you were in there the streets became an oven.
Since all those years that have past, I have NEVER seen conditions like that in any city. I've had the opportunity to visit and buff many other cities throughout my life. I have not seen any city in America, to this day, compare to the conditions that existed during these FDNY War Years.
I can not believe the conditions that existed, and the amount of fire duty that took place, will ever be repeated again. If you were a part of it, as a Firefighter, an auxiliary ff, a dispatcher, or a buff, as retired Chief ****** says; "it was the best and the worst of times". And you will never forget it.
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minerva in regards to your situation w/the judges decisision...... .....Keep your chin up...sorry that you & others got screwed by the decision...it is worth the fight & well worth waiting for....hopefully you do not have to wait too long but in the meantime consider taking a Civil Service position where your time can carry over.
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68jk09 said:
Sir, thank you for those words. Also, thank you for sharing all of the history that you do. I really enjoy and appreciate it.
It has been an eventful ride. Because of my birth date, I was just short of being eligible for the 2002 exam. So, 2007 was my first shot and when I scored a 100. I figured I'd get hired at the age of 23, as I passed all of the 'steps' and was supposed to be in the January 2009 class that was cancelled and never happened. Then the judge came and out the door that went. Fortunately, on their new exam, I scored a 104. I was processed for the class that's in the academy now, but there ended up not being enough spots. So, I should be in the next class, should everything go according to plan. Everyday is simpy making sure I put in the work, so I'm ready do my very best when the time comes.
Thanks again to all who share the stories. I really enjoy them.