uts3000 said:
Hello Brothers
I?ve been following this site for some time and enjoy reading all the stories.
I figure it time for me to step up.
In April 1995 I was promoted to Lt and assigned to the 26 battalion. I spent about 2 months covering Dennis Mironchik?s spot in Squad 41. I worked with some great guys. Paul Somin, Don Regan Tony Lamagna, Tom Foley, etc. The Lt?s there were Chris King and Charlie Schmidt and the Capt was Jack Spillane. As a Johnny Lt I couldn?t find my ass with 2 hands and a map, the guys really took care of me.I remember back then you were Engine 41 on the Dept radio but Squad 41 when you reported in at a job. I really loved my time in Sq 41
In the fall of 1995 I got the spot in 96 engine, the Capt. there was an old Lt of mine. In 2000 I was promoted to Capt and slid across the floor to 54 truck. I was there until Aug 2018 when I was retired with a 9/11 illness.
At jobs I would always run into the guys from R3 who I got to know pretty well. 3 of the guys in the picture Athanas, Knobbe, Citerella were in my groups and always stopped to chat. The majority of the brothers that I worked with in Sq 41 went on to have extraordinary careers. I feel extremely lucky to have had the chance to work with them, even for a short while
Thom
Thom, aka "uts3000", we sure welcome you here.
As so many of us here will tell you, "we enjoy reading the stories of guys like you that write about your time with the FDNY". Many of us have become personnel friends because it and because of this site.
I'm sure during some of your time on the job I watched you perform in some of those streets. I have many friends who also joined me once in awhile. We all say the same thing; "we got and education in life, as well as in fighting fires, that we could NEVER get from a book or even a classroom".
As I once said to one member here who was fighting the fires during those very busy years, "didn't you ever notice me in the street watching you guys with my camera in one hand and scanner in the other" ? His answer typical of many FDNY Brothers; "Well Willy, if you weren't wearing a skirt, I didn't really notice". I thought that was GREAT and I never forgot it. You probably already read it here because I posted it a half dozen times already.
Brad, "sig...73", thanks for posting that picture too.