There is probably no other member on this site that I have known longer than my good, long time friend I call "Johnny D", actually "johnd248" on this site. Johnny D and I were volunteer firefighters back in the early 70s in Fairfield, Ct. A long time before his son was probably born and I know before his son became a career firefighter and was promoted to Lt there.
Back in our days of riding the back step of Fairfields Engine Co 3 or in a former Bread delivery truck converted to a Rescue known as Truck 15 (now called Rescue 15), we would talk about the busy FDNY War Years as they were on going at the time. Most of my stories were from the Bronx or Harlem. Most of his stories were from a place called Brooklyn. But we both understood what tower ladders did, or rear mount ladders, and handie talkies. There weren't too many of those things around our Connecticut neighborhoods then. We also knew how many fires were burning in some New York City neighborhoods and we could see a very similar pattern of fires starting to burn in a neighboring city called Bridgeport. But that's not really my purpose for writing this.
My purpose for writing this is to tell, what a great guy that Johnny D is. I think those that know him would agree. As it turns out, we live only a few miles away from each other now. But I hate to say this, there is another side to Johnny D that some may not know. He is quite a character. Let me explain.
In my last post of "My Younger Buff Years", I had mentioned about how an energy crisis several years ago severally affected my buff trips to New York City. Gas for the 120 mile one way trip was tough to get. Apparently in response to my mention of this subject, Johnny D felt the need to send me this you tube video as an answer to that energy crisis. This is the real Johnny Ds idea on the subject. I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch this video. This is the real Johnny D, who rode with the busy Engine Co 248 and was the high executive banker as I know him. But I still LOVE him.
This is what he sent me. (Sorry, I don't know what happened to the picture, but if you don't get it, you can just click on the link below the video picture).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=27geTochXsU