WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:02.600 Disclaimer. We'd like to know before the start of this 2 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:05.200 interview that the opinions about to be expressed by the 3 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:08.359 guest of Tonight's Getting Salty Experience Podcast are that of 4 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:11.359 the guest and do not directly or necessarily reflect the 5 00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:15.640 views of the host of the Getting Salty Experience Podcast. 6 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:33.039 You're listening to the Getting Salty Experience Podcast. 7 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:48.479 Hello, Hello, Nancy Cordbone. Welcome back to the Getting Salty 8 00:00:48.520 --> 00:00:51.200 Experience Podcast. It's the only one that brings the fire hat. 9 00:00:51.719 --> 00:00:54.079 Oh wait, somebody else beats the kitchen table to you. 10 00:00:54.159 --> 00:01:00.039 I'm sorry you, Tonight Blooded show, It's the only. 11 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:02.119 To you. 12 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:06.400 That's right. Look at the stars started panel. We have tonight, 13 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:10.879 just this line up, grab your grab your hanks right 14 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:15.000 and be ready to go through the wide range of 15 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.200 emotions that we call mental health. 16 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:20.760 Right Mike, Oh yeah, I got plenty of stories. 17 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:23.079 We all have plenty of stories. We have a legend, 18 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:27.159 a living legend, double L L squid. She Vincent done 19 00:01:27.159 --> 00:01:28.840 with us tonight sharing his stories. 20 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:30.959 Yes, welcome. We'll give you all. 21 00:01:34.040 --> 00:01:36.319 Dancy Cabo from Friends of Firefighters. 22 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:38.000 Yes, well another. 23 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:45.560 There we go, Ron to the Zoni. Everybody knows Ron 24 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:52.959 knows everybody give and Mikey Milner and Kenny Delaney all 25 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:56.439 come in to talk about something that we need to 26 00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:00.799 talk about frequently. Right. So what I'm gonna right off 27 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:03.439 the bat is I need you guys, because Friends of 28 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:07.799 Firefighters is run solely on contributions. I'm gonna hit you 29 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:09.400 over the head tonight. We need to go into our 30 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:12.280 pockets and we need to start with the super thanks, 31 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:15.439 with the super chat and start donating money because they're 32 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:17.639 gonna close the doors of Friends of Firefighters. And once 33 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:19.240 we get through the list of things that Friends of 34 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:23.080 Firefighters have done and the way it's growing, it's growing 35 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:26.560 further than they have the funds for. So we need 36 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:30.080 as a community to pitch in and start showing some 37 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:32.840 cash out right, Mike, starting with you, Maury, let's go 38 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:36.919 get it out here. Good for you. No pressure here. 39 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:38.680 I don't wanna have to do that. I don't have 40 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:44.199 people to watch to step up on, no doubt. So 41 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:46.800 what we gotta do a deal? It's such a deal 42 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:51.639 mental health, how much? What Let's let's get off commercials 43 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:52.479 out of the way quick. 44 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:54.560 Guns, Yes, sir, we'll do the pledge real quick. 45 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:57.080 Uh No, let's do the commercials for us. 46 00:02:57.159 --> 00:02:59.199 We'll do all right. Here we go. We're gonna listen to. 47 00:02:59.280 --> 00:02:59.960 New Jersey Fire. 48 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:04.599 Established in nineteen thirty and under the current ownership since 49 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:08.520 nineteen eighty seven, the New Jersey Fire Equipment Company handles 50 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:12.800 a complete line of fire department equipment and supplies. Headquartered 51 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:16.319 in green Brook, the company operates full three M Scott 52 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:20.719 service facilities in Ridgefield Park and Toms River staff by 53 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:24.840 ten fully authorized Scott's certified technicians with a fleet of 54 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:29.039 six fully equipped service fans. All New Jersey Fire technicians 55 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:33.400 and sales representatives are active or retired firefighters, officers or 56 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:38.159 chief officers, career and volunteer. They understand the business and 57 00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:41.919 the importance of their work. New Jersey Fire has represented 58 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:45.319 Scott since Earl Scott entered the SCBA business at the 59 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:49.039 end of World War II. Among other leading manufacturers represented 60 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:52.479 by New Jersey Fire are Globe and Fireedex turnout gear, 61 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:59.039 Mercedes Hose, task Force Tips and Akron Brass, Higenol fire Hooks, 62 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:04.400 Arctic Wress, m s A Carns, Helmets, Keemguard, Phone, Alcoholite 63 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:10.719 and Duo safety ladders, BA Facield Protectors, Truckman's Choice Saws, Groves, 64 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:16.480 gear racks and washer drivers, supervac fans, r p I, Streamlight, 65 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:20.439 and many others. A New Jersey incorporated and based company. 66 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:23.240 Sales and service are limited to the state of New Jersey. 67 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:28.000 Find us now at www Dot nj f E dot com. 68 00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:35.480 That's www Dot nj f E dot com. 69 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:38.120 Yes, and we promised with changing out that commercial soon. 70 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:41.480 Right, Yes, we're just waiting on him. Get us in 71 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:42.720 some new uh. 72 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:46.000 Jimmy de Guiney down in Indianapolis. He looks great. Yes, 73 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.519 a lot of weight. I don't even recognize them. We're 74 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:51.000 gonna get a new uh commercials so you guys don't 75 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:52.839 have to listen the same commercial. Let's go to the 76 00:04:52.839 --> 00:04:55.720 Little Guineas. Another another guinea, little little another little guy. 77 00:04:55.720 --> 00:04:56.079 Here we go. 78 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:59.439 Okay, need a new floor for your fire station shoes. 79 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:03.399 An Armor Tough interlocking flooring system to cover your aging, stained, crack, 80 00:05:03.480 --> 00:05:07.040 concrete or POxy floor around for nearly twenty years and 81 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:09.759 proven to be the best choice in renovating your station floors, 82 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:12.920 covering nearly six hundred floors across the country. Armour Tough 83 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:16.360 is proudly made in America and comes with a lifetime 84 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:19.920 warranty with floors that are usually installed in one or 85 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:22.560 two days, depending on the size of your station, and 86 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:26.279 no disruption in the process to your station's operations. 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Call Vince 107 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:30.800 today for a no obligation quote at nine oh eight 108 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:33.639 nine one seven seventy six ninety seven. 109 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:42.519 Yes, and Vince brought a nice uh logo for booth right. 110 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:48.079 Set it up. He was in this hammering away setting up, so. 111 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:51.639 He's giving away. Listen to the free logo of your 112 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:54.279 company with every floor. So find a love the word 113 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:57.360 free for for free, free, free free, that's free. It's 114 00:06:57.399 --> 00:06:59.360 for me, you know, word free for me. A less 115 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:04.759 commercial quick and this entire broadcast is sponsored by this 116 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:05.959 next sponsor. 117 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:10.480 The First Responders Center for Excellence is a not for 118 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:14.120 profit organization dedicated to protecting the lives and livelihoods of 119 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.800 first responders. Their education and research initiatives aim to bring 120 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:22.040 greater awareness and understanding the challenges to the health, safety, 121 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:25.319 and well being of firefighters, EMS personnel, and other first 122 00:07:25.319 --> 00:07:28.480 responders too. They are an affiliate of the National Fallen 123 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:29.920 Firefighter Foundation. 124 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:33.480 There we go, all right, we're going to dive in. 125 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:36.480 Oh before we do, I'm sorry. And the pledge. 126 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:40.399 Yes, that's it. Here we go. 127 00:07:43.480 --> 00:07:47.279 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States 128 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:51.800 of America and to the Republic for which it stands, 129 00:07:52.639 --> 00:08:00.360 one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. 130 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:11.759 So we're going to get into what it was like 131 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:15.959 back in the fifties being a fireman with chief done 132 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:18.759 and mental health and how it was looked upon. But 133 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:20.720 first I wanted to start a little bit with Nancy. 134 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:23.439 I want you to tell us exactly what Friends of 135 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:26.279 Firefighters does, what they offer a little bit of the 136 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:28.519 history as much as you could pass on to the audience. 137 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:31.680 Okay, the history, Well, it started with nine to eleven 138 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:33.879 and keV, remember I was in your house in the 139 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:40.360 first weeks, and really it was just a neighborhood resident 140 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:42.919 that wanted to help out, like so many others. 141 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:45.759 But I ended up becoming. 142 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:47.879 Friends with the firefighters and they came to trust me 143 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:51.480 because they needed things. Initially they needed boots and socks 144 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:55.200 and bunting for the houses, and buglers for the funerals, 145 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:58.759 help with writing eulogies. And then by around Christmas time 146 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:03.080 we had bond with has Matt one squad. 147 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:06.000 To eighty eight. Uh two five eighteen. 148 00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:10.360 Thirty one in eighty two, and I have to mention 149 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:12.840 the guys up the street or else two two of 150 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:15.960 one on one and I was at their houses helping 151 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:19.399 them get the things that they needed. And John Sarentino 152 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:22.080 from two o five said, we really need counseling and 153 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:23.679 we don't want to go to the job for it. 154 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:26.840 Can you set something up. I am not a counselor, 155 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:29.159 so I thought, I got to do this really carefully. 156 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:33.759 It was Christmas time. Elizabeth O'Connell owned some property in 157 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:36.320 the area. She gave us an old flower shop. Guys 158 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:39.240 came from the site to build it into a counseling 159 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:44.600 room at an office and I started with a safe 160 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:48.080 horizon because they knew what they were doing. So February 161 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:51.279 oh two we started. We were officially friends of firefighters. 162 00:09:51.480 --> 00:09:53.799 We had tricklings of guys coming in. We had a 163 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:56.720 lot of rigs throw guys off into our place and 164 00:09:56.840 --> 00:10:02.320 saying you need help, But really it had Where we 165 00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:06.919 are today, twenty four years later, we're exploding. We had 166 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:11.600 over forty five hundred sessions this year. We now are 167 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:16.320 seeing one hundred and forty. I believe firefighters active retired 168 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:18.600 their families. We're seeing a lot of children. 169 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:22.120 We have a wait list of sixty people. Twenty of 170 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:22.840 them are children. 171 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:25.960 I think seven of them were just taken off and 172 00:10:26.039 --> 00:10:28.360 brought into counseling because of their need of being a 173 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:29.120 little more urgent. 174 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:30.639 So what we're doing. 175 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:33.159 With the wait list is we're in the meantime having 176 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:35.679 them see the peers if they're comfortable with that. Obviously 177 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:38.279 you have to do an intake and make sure that 178 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:42.080 they're safe first of all. And we also have a 179 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:44.679 wives group, So we're trying to get people into some 180 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:47.720 kind of service rather than just have them sit and wait, 181 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:50.559 because that's you know, if we call up for help, 182 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:53.759 especially first responders, they and their families should get it 183 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:54.279 right away. 184 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:57.720 Right. And you were totally funded by donations, right. 185 00:10:57.600 --> 00:10:58.799 We're funded by donations. 186 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:01.960 We do have little bit of We get discretionary funding 187 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:05.039 from the city council right around fifty thousand a year. 188 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:08.679 We're actually operating at one point three million. Now that's 189 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:11.559 how many We have a small staff inside, but we 190 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:15.480 have a large and growing counseling staff, and that's predominantly 191 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.799 what we spend our money on is the actual counseling. 192 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:21.159 So this direct service is what we spend most of 193 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:21.679 our money on. 194 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.840 And I got attest to the fact that they were 195 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:26.200 in the firehouse from Jump Street. I don't know how 196 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:28.240 that happened, how you guys even we could talk about 197 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:30.679 that a little bit, but basically they were there to 198 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:34.240 get us whatever we needed, you know, somebody to talk to, 199 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:37.679 like you said, socks, whatever it is. And they were 200 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:40.279 always around the firehouse. And I tell you that it 201 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:43.399 was like a grassroots thing, you know, it just came up, right. 202 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:45.960 I mean, you had some people work with you, but 203 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:50.000 every time you're like, oh it's Nancy. Oh by Nancy, 204 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:52.080 what can I get? What can I help you with? Right? 205 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:52.840 Yeah? 206 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:56.960 And your your house in particular, I was drawn to. 207 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:59.679 I actually met somebody in the city and I was 208 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:04.000 trying to get some materials for the house, and I 209 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:06.679 came up against this gigantic guy and I thought, oh shit, 210 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:07.559 he's going to get it. 211 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:08.039 For his house. 212 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:10.320 And I have to fight for this because I know 213 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:12.799 has Matt Squad needed And it turned out to be 214 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:16.679 one of your guys, so it was kind of Kingsmith. 215 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:18.200 So I ended up going over to your house. 216 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:21.000 You lost nineteen members combined, and I believe it was 217 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:24.480 forty seven children who were left without their fathers from 218 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:28.000 that one house. So has Matt Squad were important to 219 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:31.960 me to make sure that you had the services you had. 220 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:35.399 Some things happen over the following year that I'd like 221 00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:37.080 to get into a little bit because I think the 222 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:40.039 one thing that's a very sensitive subject and I don't. 223 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:43.440 Want to dive into it right away, but here I go. Suicide. 224 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:46.360 It's a really sensitive subject. Nobody wants to talk about it. 225 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:51.879 It's predominantly Catholic organization, the fire department. It has changed, 226 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:55.519 of course, but it started out, and the stigma attached 227 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:58.320 to mental health, the fear of getting help, and of 228 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:01.720 course the anger and feelings that. 229 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:05.200 Follow suicide a completed suicide or. 230 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:07.440 Are something that we want to avoid. We want to 231 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:09.440 take that off the table as an option. So we're 232 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:12.240 doing everything we can to be here when that firefighter 233 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:15.440 calls for help or their family river right. 234 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:19.080 Really quick, Nancy, do you have a specific website that 235 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.480 they can go to to donate or is it just 236 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:22.759 your firefighters dot org website, Friends of. 237 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.799 Fire Friends of firefighters dot org. 238 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:27.679 Okay, that's somebody was just going to make sure getting 239 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:28.240 that information. 240 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:30.919 Okay, and thank you for that. We also have a 241 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.600 few things coming up, but I'll get into it a 242 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:37.279 little bit later. When keV, when you ask about, uh, 243 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:41.399 you know, how we've come through all of this, it's 244 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:44.039 always been, you know, I'm not a political person, although. 245 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.480 I know Vinnie says, you know, I need to be. 246 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:48.120 I do need to be. And it's been hard to 247 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.440 raise the money without. 248 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:51.039 A dog and pony show, but we won't do the 249 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:52.000 dog and pony show. 250 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:57.120 So some firefighters find now years later that it's important 251 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:59.240 to speak about it. It's important to be publicly. 252 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.559 It's important to share that they went through a tough 253 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.679 time and they come to us and say, you know, 254 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:07.279 we want to express what we went through and how 255 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:09.759 it helped us, and that's how we get other guys 256 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:11.200 to come in. It's really you know, you can do 257 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:14.600 all the advertising in the world, but the firefighters in general, 258 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:20.159 I have found, are very wary of anybody that's touting 259 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:24.360 I've got the cure, and we don't do that. But 260 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:28.399 I think it's due to the firefighters talking to each 261 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:31.240 other and saying how much that brought our numbers through 262 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:31.720 the roof. 263 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:34.200 So our budget was not ready for this explosion. 264 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:37.039 We had a three hundred and seven percent increase since 265 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:42.159 just before COVID in the service requests, and it has 266 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:46.559 exploded this place from two counselors to eleven and so, 267 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:47.720 and we need more. 268 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:50.600 I still have the message on my phone. I kept 269 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:52.919 at the voicemail that you said after our last show, 270 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:56.759 that somebody came in who was contemplating suicide and we 271 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:59.360 were able to get to him before he completed that. 272 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:02.600 I listened to that every now and again. That's what's 273 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.720 a really important about the show, other than passing on 274 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:07.200 all the other stuff, but that one means something to me. 275 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:10.000 I mean because you know, I had a failed at 276 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:13.080 tenth at one point in my life, so that really 277 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:18.799 hits home for me, you know. So let's move off 278 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:22.320 a little bit to Chief Done there, So Chief Done. 279 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:24.879 When you came in the fire department in nineteen fifty seven, 280 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:27.440 one of the men things about you were telling us 281 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:29.799 about about your first day. I don't think if you 282 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:31.919 had gone down there and said that you need to 283 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:33.759 talk to somebody, it would have been too accepted. 284 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.039 Right. 285 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:37.759 Well, let me tell you when I went to fifty 286 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:41.120 nine Engine, it was a secret that I was a 287 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:44.360 proby and that nobody wanted to talk about. But I 288 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:48.120 heard this guy, can't tell you his last name if 289 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:52.320 he was a super fireman, And I found out eventually. 290 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:58.120 The story was was in the fifties, late fifties that 291 00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.960 the guys that were up the middle of the night 292 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:03.879 in a bunk room, they start to smell gas. So 293 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:07.840 now they go downstairs and this firefighter biff as the 294 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:10.440 oven opened and he's got his head in the oven. 295 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:14.519 So he was trying to commit suicide. He's gonna blow 296 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:18.480 the firehouse up too. So that was the first indication 297 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:22.679 I ever heard of suicide. And then as when I 298 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:25.840 was in the third division, I believe there was a 299 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:30.399 firefighter in sixty five engine who hung himself. You know, 300 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:33.679 you know, I can't you recall the guy's name. But 301 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:38.120 they were the two events that I had about suicide 302 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:44.720 until my nephew took his life. So I got you know, 303 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:50.120 the reasons why he that led up to his taking 304 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:52.600 his life. If you want me to go into that, 305 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:53.279 I'll do that. 306 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:57.519 Sure about him and what you know what built. 307 00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:57.639 Up to that? 308 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.320 Okay, well I got it. 309 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.879 I spoke to iknew you would. 310 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:05.240 Yeah, his mother and father. His father was a firefighter, 311 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:09.079 and forty five engines, and his mother was very close. 312 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:13.799 Her son, Yeah, Tom Dunn for forty five engine retired 313 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:16.480 and Nancy done. So I've been on the phone with 314 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:19.880 them finding out. I mean, I know a lot about 315 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:21.599 this kid. I helped him get on the job. 316 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:22.599 Uh. 317 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:26.279 I see this kid comes into the fire out. Now 318 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:29.319 I'm going way back. I'm in a third division at 319 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:32.039 eleven o'clock at night. Chief, you got to visit it 320 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:35.400 down here. Kid's head is shaved, he's got these goofy 321 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:39.599 sneakers on your hair pants. A long short pit runs 322 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:43.039 up to say, hi, Unk, I'm your nephew. Tell me done. 323 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:45.880 I haven't seen the kid in years. He came from 324 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:49.039 the West Coast. He took the cops test out there 325 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:52.880 and failed for an eye exam. So he says, I 326 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:56.960 guess I can't pass the fireman's exam. So I said, well, 327 00:17:57.000 --> 00:18:00.240 maybe we'll get the EMS. I get the paper, we 328 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:04.000 get the EMS. They're looking for, you know, workers back 329 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:08.240 in the nineteen ninety nine's. So he said, okay, we'll 330 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:11.799 start out with the EMS. He leaves the fireouse around midnight. 331 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:15.359 I get a call from Eddie Butler, guy with the tattoos, 332 00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:18.920 on his hands. He's a chief. Now, big headquarters chief. 333 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:21.480 He says, Vin, you know anybody who wants to get on, 334 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:23.279 any kids who want to get on the fire debarm. 335 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:27.720 We're starting a cadet program. We got chief sons and 336 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:30.640 you know, you know, poor kids, and we're going to 337 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:33.680 have cadets that are going to eventually get in a fire. 338 00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:36.279 I said, the kid just left. So he's got to 339 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:40.880 have a driver's license, an American citizen, and he got 340 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:43.359 to be in the headquarters tomorrow morning. It ends tomorrow. 341 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:46.160 If he's not there tomorrow morning and he's got no 342 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:48.599 shot at it, I call the kid up at home. 343 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:53.279 He shows up that morning headquarters with the driver's license, 344 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:57.440 American citizenship, and he gets on a cadet program. Now 345 00:18:57.480 --> 00:19:01.480 he gets on a cadet program. And first day he's 346 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:03.559 up in one hundred and forty eighth Street and eight 347 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:07.240 Avenue were ambulance. And then he passes the fireman's desk 348 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:13.359 and some reason is Tommy. Tommy knew the union delegatement, 349 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:16.920 the Bronx delegate. I knew a couple of people. So 350 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:20.880 we let him take the exam with his eye, with 351 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:24.839 his contact lensing. They passed with flying callers, and he 352 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:27.599 came out the fire about it. So I feel very 353 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:30.279 close to this kid, you know. I said, there's got 354 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:32.559 to be something. He's gonna go up the ranks. So 355 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:35.920 we had a little report going there. So anyway, so 356 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:40.440 Tom Dunn Engine four oh into two forty and into 357 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:48.640 two thirty four, he did those two companies. He committed suicide. Shocking. 358 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:52.119 You know, his family can't talk about it. His mother 359 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:55.720 and father cannot speak then talking to me. So I'm 360 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:58.960 here to tell you what I got from them. How 361 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:05.279 is suicide was brought about? Okay? He joined the fire 362 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:08.839 above and in two thousand he's assigned tot injured two 363 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:13.799 forty Brooklyn Engine Company. Two thousand and one, he responds 364 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:18.480 to the World Trade Center. Now they're alive because on 365 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:22.559 the response in that the officers told stop on the 366 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:25.279 Brooklyn side, you got to have a stage and a 367 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:28.319 third alarm staging it. They're seeing the fires burning and 368 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:31.279 the towers. They're yelling at the officer, what are we doing? 369 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:33.599 Any where are we stopping? He said, we got orders 370 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.759 until we get a third alarm. So now they go 371 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:39.400 through as a third alarm assignment. They're still going a 372 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:43.559 cop stops the engine coming. They slow down. There's bodies 373 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:46.519 in the street. They're jumping out the window. So now 374 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:49.559 they get the hose mass they go report to the 375 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:52.559 command pot Chiefs says, no, hold, bring your hose back. 376 00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:55.640 Just's going to be a search and rescue operator. So 377 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:58.000 they do that. They come back there, signed to the 378 00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:01.519 fifty for the buildings. Doctor come down. That does three 379 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:06.119 delayed not happened? They would not They would have been dead. Okay, 380 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:10.319 So he survived the two talents. The first one comes down. 381 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:13.799 He's running the company's disperses. He winds up into a 382 00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:18.160 doorway of a garage. You know, he's golf that raw. 383 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:21.960 Then the silence and he takes a whiff of the mask. 384 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:25.599 He's filled with dust. He's choking. Now takes him a 385 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:29.279 while to unchoke, and then he's looking for his company. 386 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:32.839 Then all of a sudden, the second tower comes down. 387 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:37.599 He survived the two towers. Now the kid doesn't you know, 388 00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:40.880 he's doing what he has to do. He goes over 389 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:43.160 they're told to go over there, get to stretch a line. 390 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:45.839 There's the water and the hydrants, so they stretching the 391 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:49.480 line from a fireboat. He stays there till five o'clock 392 00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:53.839 at night, working, you know, trying to do rescues, searching 393 00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:57.000 whatever they can't do, stretching a hose line, putting out 394 00:21:57.079 --> 00:22:00.480 car fire. He survives to both collapses and works the 395 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:03.720 un till at five o'clock. Two cops drive him home 396 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:07.079 to Brooklyn where You're lives. It in so so he 397 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:12.720 bade his do. Now he two of his buddies, this 398 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:16.839 guy Coil and Uh and then this guy Jim Henry, 399 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:20.799 Joe Henry from probably school you didn't missing. So now 400 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:23.759 he starts going down there, down every night and down 401 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:25.920