I was brought up in a FDNY buffing family in Brooklyn. My uncle Johnny Weisberger was Honorary Battalion Chief of the 44th Battalion, and rode out of Watkins Street. With my father Lollie, uncles Arthur and Bill, cousins Arthur and Lenny, and we would strive to take in every major job in reasonable traveling time from our respective homes. It was like a family gathering at every major multiple, and I was the 'junior buff' in the group. When I became 16 years of age, I was issued my very own FDNY Fire Line Card - I had officially arrived!
A neighbor and good friend was Russell Brown, Marine Engineer on the old Engine 77 (Shame on me, I've forgotten the name). He used to haul me here and there on interesting adventures, and he introduced me to Gerry Fitzpatrick, the pilot of the Firefighter, Engine Co. 57. Fitz invited me to come visit him on the Fighter, and we arranged a date. I arrived late in the afternoon one day, and after being given a personal tour of the boat, he told me that the evening radio test on the old department frequency of 1630 Kcs was coming due in a few minutes. He asked if I was familiar with the test procedure, and when I answered in the affirmative, he asked if i'd like to give the test. I was nervous as hell, but when the dispatcher called Fireboat Firefighter, Engine co. 57 for the test, I responded loud and clear " Fireboat Firefighter, Engine Co. 57 reads you OK ", and then "Firefighter off". Whew, I was literally bouncing off the bulkheads with excitement.
At that moment, I was the voice of the Fighter.
A neighbor and good friend was Russell Brown, Marine Engineer on the old Engine 77 (Shame on me, I've forgotten the name). He used to haul me here and there on interesting adventures, and he introduced me to Gerry Fitzpatrick, the pilot of the Firefighter, Engine Co. 57. Fitz invited me to come visit him on the Fighter, and we arranged a date. I arrived late in the afternoon one day, and after being given a personal tour of the boat, he told me that the evening radio test on the old department frequency of 1630 Kcs was coming due in a few minutes. He asked if I was familiar with the test procedure, and when I answered in the affirmative, he asked if i'd like to give the test. I was nervous as hell, but when the dispatcher called Fireboat Firefighter, Engine co. 57 for the test, I responded loud and clear " Fireboat Firefighter, Engine Co. 57 reads you OK ", and then "Firefighter off". Whew, I was literally bouncing off the bulkheads with excitement.
At that moment, I was the voice of the Fighter.
