23 Dec 04 - Last Alarm - Chief Harold "Fred" Belt
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 Receiving an award at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. |
Fred Belt’s daughter Tracey provides the following information about her father who passed away on 23 Dec 04 at the age of 70; He passed away peacefully, with all of his family at his side. Fred entered the Air Force in Aug 1951 as a Fire Fighter. Was stationed at Walker AFB, NM; Saragosa AFB, Spain; Offutt AFB, NE; Wheeler AFB, HI; Hanscom AFB, MA; Thailand; Offutt AFB, NE; Korea; Ellsworth AFB, SD; and retired from Offutt AFB, NE in Aug 1977. He was hired by Wackenhut Services, Inc. in 1984 and took on the title of Fire Chief at the Kansas City International Airport. He worked there for 2 years until Wackenhut assigned him to the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, in Independence, MO, where he spent the rest of his career. While he was at Lake City, he won The Army Material Command's GOCO Fire Department of the Year Award, numerous times. He retired in 1997 and came home to Bellevue Nebraska. He is survived by wife, Lola M Belt; 4 Children; 6 Grandchildren; and 1 Great Grandchild. |
 Investigating a fire at Hanscom AFB |
Form: Kevin Elmore, kelmore@baai.com
Can you please post a message to help the ARFF Working Group in their Annual Run Survey. To do this, merely go to www.arffwg.org and complete the survey. The data is used to support the ARFF Working Group in their efforts to improve fire protection at airports. Thanks
18 Dec 04 - Last Alarm - Chief Curtis Dunn
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Chief Curtis Dunn, USAF (Ret) answered his Final Alarm at age 75. Curtis, a widower, was preceded in death by his loving wife “Dorothy” on October 28, 2004. He died of heart failure at the USAF Medical Center-Wilford Hall, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas, on December 18, 2004.
Chief Dunn retired from Lackland AFB Fire Department and lived with his family in San Antonio. He began his Air Force Firefighting career by enlisting on June 28, 1948, and received an honorable discharge in 1974. He served at numerous Air Base Fire Departments including Yokota AB, Japan, Chanute, and Lowry AFBs. Upon retiring he was selected as the Leon Valley Fire Chief, a suburb of San Antonio, where he served for the next 20 years. I had the pleasure of meeting Curtis and his son Curtis, Jr. at the Fire Pioneer Day Gathering at Dallas, Texas, August 2000.
His son, Curtis is making funeral arrangements with the Castle Ridge Mortuary, 8008 W. Military Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78227. Viewing and a Rosary at The Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church, 7990 W. Military Drive will be 6 to 8 PM, Tuesday, December 21, 2004. Viewing and a Mass will be at the Church Wednesday morning starting at 8:30. Burial will be at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 at 1115 hours. The cemetery # 210 820-3891 or 3894.
For more information on Mortuary service times check website: www.castleridgemortuary.com or phone: (210) 645-6000.
The Retired Air Force Fire Chiefs extends condolences to the family.
-Chief Bob Barrow
His son, Fire Lt. Curtis L. Dunn Jr. has an email address: CLDUNFIRLT@aol.com for anyone that knew his father and would like to make a comment. A copy to chief.one@cox.net for the Retired Air Force Fire Chiefs Newsletter would be appreciated, also.
OBITUARY:
Fire
Chief Curtis
L. Dunn, Sr., age 75, went to be with the Lord on December 18, 2004. Curtis was
born on February 8, 1929, in
23 Nov 04 - Travis Firefighters win at Combat Challenge World Championship - Read about it here!
13 Nov 04 - Last Alarm - Chief William Walter Thomas, SMSgt USAF (Retired)...A Pioneer
Chief Thomas succumbed to a heart attach. More details here.
9 Oct 04 - Quarterly Network Newsletter (QNN) Delayed
Quarterly Network Newsletter (QNN) Readers: Hurricane Ivan delayed the Editor from getting out the QNN Oct-Dec 04 issue by October 1st. Check the Retirees/Pioneer section after October 10, 2004 - the new edition should be available then. Past issues are also available in this section. ---Chief Bob Barrow, USAF Retired.
2 Oct 04 - Last Alarm - Fred Elkins
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Mrs. Helga Elkins reported that her husband and my good friend Chief Fred Elkins answered his final alarm about 10:40 P.M. Thursday, September 30, 2004 Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in following surgery for a double hernia repair. The family has requested cremation with a plan to intern his ashes in the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Visitation will be at the McMillan-Small Funeral Home, (843) 449-3396 or www,msfh,net in Myrtle Beach, SC, time/date to be announced. A Memorial Service is scheduled for Monday, October 4, 2004. Look for a full obituary in the local paper, the Sun News, Sunday, October 3, 2004, or on their web site http://legacy.com/myrtlebeachonline/LegacyHome.asp. Chief Elkins was Fire Chief of Myrtle Beach AFB at the time of his retirement in 1985. He served as my Military Deputy Fire Chief at Pope Air Force Base in the 60s and accumulated a total of 40 + years of dedicated service to his nation, community and others….
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24 Sep 04
Release
of Ladder 49 may help raise
awareness for your department
Tips provided for use of Ladder 49
Fairfax, Va., September 24, 2004…The release of Ladder 49, the new John Travolta movie about the Baltimore Fire Department that opens on October 1, provides an excellent opportunity for local fire departments to increase visibility in their community. The movie is receiving rave reviews among the fire service and there is no doubt the film will raise public awareness of every community’s fire service and the tremendous courage and commitment of their local firefighters.
The excitement this movie generates in the public should be leveraged to support key issues in your department, whether it’s to improve recruitment efforts or expand fire safety awareness.
Additionally, it is an opportunity to recognize our fallen firefighters. If you participate in some form of activity around Ladder 49, the IAFC encourages you to also draw attention toward the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
The IAFC has created tips for developing simple but effective public education opportunities around this movie. It may be used as a recruitment tool, a fire prevention education tool and a public relations instrument. For detailed tips, go to: http://www.iafc.org/news/article.asp?id=147#tips. If you choose to use this opportunity or wish to discuss the possibilities, please write our corporate marketing director Susan Kalish and tell us about your efforts. She may be reached at skalish@iafc.org.
-end-
22 Sep 04
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2004 - A collaborative effort between the Department of
Defense, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Social Security
Administration could prove beneficial to certain Medicare-eligible uniformed
services beneficiaries.
The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 provides a chance for
Medicare-eligible
uniformed services beneficiaries to enroll in Medicare Part B without having to
pay higher premiums due to late enrollment. Beneficiaries who enrolled in Part
B in 2001 through 2004 will get a refund of surcharges they have paid in 2004.
By law, uniformed services beneficiaries who are entitled to Medicare Part A,
by reason of disability, end-stage renal disease or age, must also enroll in
Medicare Part B in order to maintain their Tricare eligibility. Tricare, the
military health benefit program, is secondary payer following Medicare for
beneficiaries entitled to Medicare Parts A and B.
The Part B premium is $66.60 per month for 2004. The Part B premium will
increase to $78.20 per month for 2005. Beneficiaries are encouraged to take
advantage of this limited, one-time opportunity. If beneficiaries decline
enrollment in Part B, they will have to pay a premium surcharge of 10 percent
for each 12-month period in which they were eligible to enroll but didn't.
"This is an important announcement for uniformed services retirees who
are
entitled to Medicare Part A and don't have Part B," said Dr. Mark B.
McClellan,
CMS administrator, "also, (for) those who enrolled in Medicare Part B
between
Jan. 1, 2001, through 2004."
Nearly 35,000 retirees have been identified as eligible for the special
enrollment in Medicare Part B. SSA is mailing notification to eligible
beneficiaries to inform them that they have been enrolled in Medicare Part B
effective Sept. 1.
Those who are eligible for a refund will get a letter and a separate refund
check. McClellan and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr.
William Winkenwerder Jr. estimated that a total of 60,000 beneficiaries would
be affected by the changes. This legislation does not provide relief for all
categories of beneficiaries.
"The new Medicare law protects thousands of military retirees from
having to
make higher payments to enroll in Medicare Part B," said McClellan.
"This will
allow eligible military retirees to use their Tricare benefits as a Medicare
supplement."
"We welcome these new provisions and the assistance they provide for
many of
our military beneficiaries to retain their Tricare benefits as a supplement to
Medicare coverage," Winkenwerder stated.
Biographies:
Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Health Affairs Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr. [http://www.ha.osd.mil/ha/winkenwerder-bio.cfm]
Dr. Mark B.
McClellan, Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service [http://www.cms.hhs.gov/about/leadership/mcclellan.asp]
<spacer type=vertical size=5>
Related Sites:
DoD Health Affairs [http://www.ha.osd.mil/]
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Service [http://www.cms.hhs.gov/]
Tricare [http://www.tricare.osd.mil/]
21 Sep 04
The 2004 Emergency Response Guide (ERG) can be downloaded at http://hazmat.dot.gov/gydebook.htm
28 Aug 04
Fire Captain Floyd Kemp Retired Eglin Fire Department,
46-75
Born, April 15, 1922 – Died, August 26, 2004
Mrs. Barbara Kemp of
Crestview, Florida reported that her husband answered his final alarm while in
the North Okaloosa Medical Center, Crestview, Florida, August 26, 2004.
He had been in and out of the hospital with lung and heart problems.
He is survived by his wife, 6 sons and 2 daughters.
Also surviving, 21 Grandchildren and 31 Great Grandchildren.
The family has made arrangements with Joe Evans Funeral Home, Florala,
Alabama to handle the funeral arrangements.
This Saturday, from 6 to 8 PM will be visitation.
Sunday at 2 PM will be a Memorial service, conducted at the Funeral Home,
followed by graveside service at the Paxton Cemetery.
Retired Eglin Fire Fighters that worked with Floyd have been asked to be
Honorary Pall Bearers at the Sunday services.
Please call Chief Bob Barrow at (850) 243-1274 if you will perform this
service for a Fallen FireFighter.
Fire Captain Kemp
served with the Eglin Air Force Base Fire Department from 1946 to 1975, upon
returning from an U.S. Navy volunteer tour during World War II.
He served with distinction, his Country and the U.S. Military services.
While at Eglin, Headquarters, Ben’s Lake and Site C-6 Fire Stations he
supervised and trained many of our future Air Force Fire Protection Leaders.
Condolences on behalf of the Retired Air Force Fire Chiefs and
FireFighters have been offered to Mrs. Kemp and the Family.
The family has requested any donations be made to the Baptist
Children’s Home in care of the Baptist Medical Center, Pensacola, Florida.
List of Honorary Pall
Bearers, to date: Fire Chief Bob
Barrow, Assistant Chief Carlos Jones, Assistant Chief Joe Bundrick, Assistant
Chief Otis Rainey, Battalion Chief Dave Bush, Battalion Chief Nelson Hill,
Battalion Chief Gene Stanton, Battalion Chief Grady Early, Battalion Chief
Winfred Berry, Battalion Chief Roy
Wooten, Battalion Chief Bill Kerns, Fire Captain Ray Cawthon, Fire Lieutenant
Jennifer Watson (C-6 Fire Station)
25 Aug 04
Here are the winners of the DoD Firefighter Awards for 2003
24 Aug 04
ALCON,
It is with great sadness that I pass on that LeRoy DeWitt died this week of cancer. He was the TDB Chief of Fire Training at Chanute for over 20 years until the base closed in 1993. His family requests no flowers, rather cash donations to off set the very high cost of LeRoy's health care (what insurance would not cover). Please send any donations to Dolly DeWitt, 1524 Marsha Dr, Rantoul Ill, 61866.
TERRY G. FORD, CMSgt, USAF
Superintendent, DoD Fire Academy
20 Aug 04
Marine
Firefighter Collapses at South Carolina Base
USMC Corporal Robert (Bobby) M. Weber, Jr., 23, collapsed for an unknown reason
while riding the rescue man position on the Crash Truck, August 16, at Marine
Corps Air Station, Beaufort, SC.
To view the entire article go to http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=39&id=34314
31 Jul 04
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Fire Chief Glen Cocherell, SMS USAF Retired (74) Died July 31, 2004
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Mrs. Esther Cocherell reported that her husband and my good friend Chief Glen Cocherell has answered his final alarm at 2:30 P.M. Saturday, July 31, 2004 at his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He had battled cancer since November 1999 with success, however, this past year the cancer spread throughout his body. The family has requested cremation with a plan to bury his ashes in Glen’s hometown of Bonaparte, Iowa.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road NE, Fort Walton Beach (850) 864-3361 will have visitation to be announced. A Memorial Service at the Fort Walton Beach 1st Presbyterian Church will be announced later. Look for a full obituary in Local Paper Monday or Tuesday. Chief Cocherell was Fire Chief of Hurlburt AFB at the time of his retirement in 1987. He served as my Military Deputy Fire Chief at Pope and Eglin Air Force Bases in the 60s & 70s and accumulated a total of 36 + years of dedicated service to his nation, community and others….
- Chief Bob Barrow
25 Jul 04
Chief Bill Goodwin
Click Here for an Update Memorial Service
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Bill passed away Thursday night. He had been hospitalized for over 3 weeks for other problems but he died from a massive heart attack which was totally unexpected. I just wanted to let you know. - Lue Goodwin |
Dear Lue,
Thank you very much for informing the Retired Air Force Fire Chiefs of Bill's untimely death. With your permission I will message the other Chiefs of this lost. On behalf of the Chiefs, please except our condolences to you and the family. I've known Bill since the 70s and had the pleasure of working closely with him in the 80s on a variety of Fire Research and Development Project for the US Air Force. He will be missed by the Air Force Fire Protection community. Please send an obituary notice and photo of Bill in uniform when you can.
Respectively yours,
Chief Bob Barrow
17 Jul 04
Chief Valton "Val" Allen Jr. - January 1921 – July 2004
Dates of Service: He enter Active-Duty service October 13, 1939 and retired at Bergstrom AFB TX on January 7, 1972.
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It
is my sad task to report the loss of another early AF fire pioneer. -Chief Bob Barrow (Ret). |
Chief Valton “Val” Allen Jr., Chief Warrant Officer-3
USAF (Ret) answered his Final Alarm at age 83.
Val, a widower, was found dead inside his locked ranch home in Buda,
Texas on July 15, 2004.
A close friend, Mrs. Esther Stover, suspected something when there was no
answer at his door.
She called the Hays County Sheriff’s Department to conduct a search of
the property.
Upon forced entry into the home they found Val dead.
He had a nasty concussion to his head from an apparent fall to the floor
and appeared to have died there in the earlier part of the week. Chief Joseph
Jarrell USAF (Ret) might have been the last to talk to Val on the phone, Monday,
July 12th.
Val had said that “he was feeling well and had just mowed the yard
(ranch size) and was resting”.
Val had open-heart surgery in October 13, 2003 at the USAF Wilford Hall
Medical Center-.
He had been hospitalized several times in 2004, not heart related.
His
son, Robert is making funeral arrangements with the Harrell Funeral Home, 4455
Frontier Trail, Austin, Texas.
Harrell’s phone # 512 443-1366.
Burial will be at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry
Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday, July 20, 2004.
The cemetery # 210 820-3891 or 3894.
Robert
Allen was given the Retired Air Force Fire Chiefs condolences to Val’s family.
Surviving, in addition to Robert, is son, Frank, daughter, Sue and their
children and grandchildren.
Val’s wives, Marie and Inez are deceased.
Heartfelt condolences go out to Val’s many friends not previously
mentioned:
Mrs. Diane Fowler, Chief Clarence Vogel, Deputy Sheriff Bob Tiner all of
Buda, Chief Glenn Cloud, Chief Victor Robinson and Chief Douglas Courchene to
name a few.
Chief Doug Courchene’s book “Pioneers With Intent” has some good stories about Val’s earlier service live. Two recent QNN publications have feature stories on Val: QNN Jan-Mar 2003 and QNN Apr-Jun 2002. These stories and others may be viewed on DoDFire Retirees/Pioneers link http://www.dodfire.com/Retirees/pioneers.htm. Expect more details in the next QNN.
17 Jun 04
My name is Brian Murray, a hydro geologist, working for Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) in Oak Ridge, TN. We have been tasked to aid the US Army Corp of Engineers in the remediation of the Greenville AFB (MS).
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has requested that we investigate areas of the GAFB that were used in the past for firefighter training to check for residual contamination. I have historic aerial photos that show one potential area with charred aircraft visible, but I assume there may be others.
A search of the Internet using the key words "Greenville" and "firefighter training" led to your newsletter for retired fire chiefs. I am asking if you are aware of a person(s) I may speak with who could describe the areas used for training, particularly areas in which flammable liquids were used. As with many of these older sites, we find talking with former site workers provides the most reliable information. Any assistance would be appreciated.
I would be glad to correspond via email or phone. Thanks.
Brian S. Murray
SAIC
Office (865) 481-4748
Cell (865) 386-4876
It is with regret that the Ocean City - Wright Fire Department announces the death of active duty Fire Chief Guy J. Wills, Jr. after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Chief Wills passed peacefully at rest about 0800, May 3, 2004 at his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He was 70 years old on his last birthday March 12, 2004. He had served in Air Force Fire Protection for 33 years and continued on in the Ocean City-Wright FD for a total of 57+ years of dedicated service to his nation, community and others... He is survived by his wife, Kim Wills and their two sons, Guy and Steve both active duty Colonels in the USAF and their families. Chief Wills obituary will appear in the local newspaper 5-6 May for more details.
Hours of 1700 to 1900 on May 6, 2004: The family will be receiving friends at the:
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N. E., Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, 32547 (850) 864-3361
May 7th, 2004 at 1000 A.M.: Services will be held at: Shalimar Baptist Church, 17 4th Ave, Shalimar, Florida 32579 (located 3 blocks from North Eglin Parkway in Shalimar)
A Fire Department Procession will follow the service to the Beal Memorial Cemetery. Those wishing to participate in the procession should arrive no later than 45 minutes before the services. An Ocean City - Wright Fire Department member will greet each fire department and provide a list of instructions and directions. Look for the two 100' Ariel Ladders holding an American Flag, with a 1250 GPM Pumper that will carry Chief Wills to the cemetery resting under the Stars and Stripes.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to OC-W Firefighters, in memo area write: Guy Wills Memorial, address is 224D N. Eglin Pkwy, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. 32547, phone: 850-862-7353
Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Air Force Base and Ft. Walton Beach Fire Departments will be providing coverage during the services.
If you have any questions or need information, please contact the North Bay Fire Department at 850-897-3689.
Retirees please contact Chief Bob Barrow of the Retired Air Force Fire Chiefs Group at 850 243-1274 concerning attendance at the funeral service on 7 May or the viewing on 6 May. A memorial prayer-in will be conducted at the next Fire Chiefs Breakfast, May 8, 2004, for Chief Wills and his family. Hope to see you at the Golden Corral this Saturday 0800 to 1030. Bob
25 Apr 04
A TIME FOR FRIEND-SHIPPING AND NOW A TIME FOR PRAYERS:
Last Call
From: Norman McPherson
Email: firenorma@yahoo.com
Don, maybe you could let the folks know that Lewis J Libby, former Fire Chief, Loring AFB, passed away 4/7/04, after a short bout with cancer. Lewis was very active in DOD Fire Protection, & will be sadly missed. His son & two grandsons are also a part of the DOD system. I am not sure yet, but the funeral will be Saturday, 4/10/04.
Feb 23, 2004
Dover AFB Fire & Emergency Services Flight is looking for Fire Dept personnel, who have worked at Dover Air Force Base Fire Dept., or anyone that can provide pictures and or history and personnel of the fire department from its beginning. This information could be used in the development of a book in connection with the grand opening of a new Fire Station at Dover Air Force Base later this year. Please contact Captain Kim Moore at 302-677-4401 or DSN 445-4401 or email kim.moore@dover.af.mil for further information.
Donald N. Striejewske, Fire Chief
From:
Killen, William D CIV (NAVFACHQ) [mailto:william.killen@navy.mil]
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004
11:36 AM
To: Jim Manser (E-mail); CWO5 Mike
Cernoch (E-mail); Kevin King (E-mail); LtCol Art Kaminski (E-mail); Mr. Bruce
Park (E-mail); Mr. Curtis Bowling; Mr. Don Warner; Mr. Navin Mehta
Cc: Bill Hennessey (E-mail);
Brockman, Ricky N CIV (NAVFACHQ); Carl Glover; Cox, Stephan D. CIV (NAVFACHQ)
Subject: FW: Tom Troutner
Last
night, the Department of Defense fire and emergency services family, both past
and present members, lost a Quality leader and a Marine. He was not
replaced when he completed his career with the Corps, nor when he completed his
Presidency of the NAVMARFPA and he will not be replaced as he now at peace
an no longer suffering. For all of us who knew Tom, know that he is now with his
Creator, in a place far better than this earthly world. Sue and his sons will
feel the loss and pain far greater than we will, but we will feel the loss and remember
what he did for the Navy and Marine Corps fire service.
A
scholarship has been donated in Tom's name to the International Association of
Fire Chiefs Foundation and will be awarded annually as The CWO4 William T.
Troutner, USMC Scholarship.
William
D. Killen, CFO
Navy
Fire & Emergency Services
-----Original
Message-----
From: James R Casey [mailto:jrcasey@flymcaa.org]
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004
10:55 AM
Subject: Tom Troutner
All,
CWO-4 William “Tommy T.” Troutner, USMC, Retired, passed away last
night. He had been battling cancer.
Besides
being a well known and highly regarded 7002, Tom was the driving force behind
the Navy/Marine Fire Protection Association’s Allen G. Ogden Awards program.
The Marine Firefighter of the Year Award was named in his honor.
Tom was also the first active duty Marine to serve as President of
NavMarFPA where he set the pace for his successors.
Tom was an energetic person who led the way in true Marine style in
everything in which he was involved. He
will be sorely missed.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to his wife Sue at 23110 S.E. 249th
Court, Maple Valley, WA 98038.
More info to follow as it becomes available.
Semper
Fi,
Jim
James
R. Casey
Deputy
Executive Director
Marine
Corps Aviation Association
Web
Site: www.flymcaa.org
-----Original
Message-----
From: Dan Farster [mailto:dfarster@sssnet.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004
9:59 AM
To: jrcasey@flymcaa.org
Subject: Tom Troutner
Jim:
I
just got the word that Tom Troutner passed away last night at home.
Funeral services are incomplete at this time.
Thought you would like to know since he was also a former 7002.
Regards,
Dan
Dan
Farster, Regional Manager, Kochek Company Inc.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD POST ON YOUR SITE THAT ONE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS WAS INJURED IN A OFF DUTY MOTORCYCLE CRASH LAST WEEKEND IN LA MESA NM. HIS NAME
IS BRANDON CHAVEZ FROM THE WSMR FIRE DEPT STA # 1 (B) SHIFT. HE HAD TO HAVE SURGERY IN EL PASO FROM INJURIES HE RECIEVED FROM THE CRASH.THANKS
