{"id":4727,"date":"2021-07-20T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-20T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/?p=4727"},"modified":"2021-10-04T11:10:27","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T15:10:27","slug":"92-walking-through-fire-literally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azadkinsiii.com\/blog\/92-walking-through-fire-literally\/","title":{"rendered":"#92\u2014Walking through Fire\u2026 Literally"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Who said, \u201cWe do not remember days, we remember moments.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>
  2. In what movie (and who said it), did we hear, \u201cThe only problem is that in this job is there’s just no place to hide.\u201d<\/em>?<\/li>
  3. In what song (and who sang it) did we hear:
    Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun<\/em>
    I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ comes<\/em>
    Watching the ships roll in<\/em>
    Then I watch ’em roll away again<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n
    <\/div>
    Blog #92 (Audio)<\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>

    Listen to the audio of this blog, read by Andy Adkins. Click the \u201cAudio<\/strong><\/em>\u201d button below.<\/p>\n<\/div>

    Published: <\/span>October 3, 2021<\/span><\/div>
    <\/div>Audio by Andy<\/a><\/div><\/form><\/span>1<\/span> Download<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>
    <\/div>\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n
    \"NAS<\/a>
    NAS Agana, Guam (1974)
    Section Chief & Crash Trucks at the ready<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Who hasn’t been mesmerized by watching a campfire at night, perhaps even poking the coals around with a long stick? Or maybe, after a beer or two, sticking your foot in for a quick moment? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cYou light \u2018em, we fight \u2018em!<\/a>\u201d <\/em>Who says things like this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That\u2019s the motto US Navy<\/strong> aircraft crash firefighters often used back in the 70s. I believe it still is, at least in some circles. And it doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re a land-based firefighter or an aircraft carrier-based firefighter. Our job was simple: wait around until an aircraft crashes, then put out the fire and rescue personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cHurry Up & Wait.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I say that tongue-in-cheek. But that\u2019s pretty much sums up my life in the Navy as an Aviation Boatswain\u2019s Mate-Handler<\/strong> (ABH) Crash firefighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I spent 15 months in paradise on the island of Guam at NAS Agana, Guam<\/strong><\/a> (\u201973-75) and two-and-a-half years aboard an aircraft carrier, USS Kitty Hawk<\/em><\/strong> (CV-63)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Both duty stations were outstanding (I can say that now, 46 years later), though there were those <\/em>times\u2026 you know\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The \u201cDecision\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    I think recruitment & enlistment are basically still the same in today\u2019s military, but back in my day, when I first enlisted in Tallahassee, Florida in July 1973 (I volunteered<\/em> for the Navy, even though we were still fighting the Vietnam War), I chose my rate (i.e., my job) by glancing through a thick book in the Navy recruiter’s office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My attention span wasn\u2019t that great back then (I flunked out of Florida State University <\/strong>after only a year), so I chose a rating that began with the letter, \u201cA.\u201d Either that or I wanted a rating that began with a letter matching my first name and\/or my last name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I actually<\/em> put a little more thought into it than that, but while growing up, I loved airplanes and probably assembled about every model I could purchase from J.M. Fields; most of them hung from my bedroom ceiling. But I digress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cA\u201d School\u2014Where it all Began<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    After graduating Boot Camp (Orlando RTC<\/a><\/strong>, Company #163, July-September 1973), I flew to Lakehurst, New Jersey to attend ABH \u201cA\u201d school<\/strong>. I spent eight weeks learning what an Aviation Boatswain\u2019s Mate-Handler did in the Navy. We had basically two jobs: one, to \u201chandle\u201d aircraft by either towing them or directing them (aircraft director or “Yellow Shirt” on the flight deck), and two, aircraft firefighting (aircraft crash & salvage or “Red Shirt” on the flight deck).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I spent most of my short 4-year Navy career as a Crash firefighter, both on Guam and aboard Kitty Hawk<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I learned the basics of aircraft firefighting in “A” School. We had about 15 ABHs in our class from all walks of life. James Young<\/strong> was there\u2014he & I were in the same boot camp company and would serve again together in both Guam and aboard Kitty Hawk<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We had two instructors, and I liked them both. I was 18 years old and a sponge for learning a new skill. I can\u2019t remember their names, but after boot camp, \u201cA\u201d School was a breeze and these two ABH1s treated us with respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One drank a little more than the other and if memory serves, I believe right before graduation, he had a little too much to drink at the base EM (Enlisted Men’s) club one night. He drove one of the Crash trucks\u2014lights & siren blaring\u2014into downtown Lakehurst. The CO busted him down to a second-class petty officer after that little episode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    During my 4 years in the Navy, he wouldn\u2019t be the only <\/em>petty officer I knew to be demoted for drinking or drugs. But I digress\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Aircraft v. Residential Firefighting<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \"NAS<\/a>
    NAS Agana, Guam (1974)
    MB-1 Crash Truck turrets
    (John O’Mara, Gary Cuzner [R.I.P.])
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    One major difference between aircraft firefighting and residential\/commercial building firefighting is that aircraft use fuel\u2014sometimes thousands of gallons\u2014flammable and quick to ignite. So we used a firefighting \u201cfoam\u201d that mixed with water to help smother the fire. Back then, we used AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) or \u201clight water,\u201d as we\u2019d call it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We\u2019d show the FNGs just how powerful light water was by filling a small bucket half with water, and then a little gasoline which floated on top of the water. We\u2019d then light the gasoline and pour about a tablespoon of the light water on top of the flames. In about two seconds, the light water would spread out over the top of the flames, depriving it of oxygen, and smother the fire. That was some powerful <\/em>stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hot Drills<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cHot Drills\u201d are exactly what you\u2019d think: small, controlled simulated aircraft crashes and fire to train fighting the fires and rescuing personnel. \u201cOscar\u201d was a 150 pound dummy who\u2019d seen better days, but the instructors would often hide him in the wrecked aircraft we practiced our skills to find him, then “gingerly” drag him out and “gently” place him on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hot Drills in Guam were a \u201clittle\u201d different from when I was stationed aboard Kitty Hawk<\/em>. You can\u2019t (nor should you) really start a fire aboard a ship, so we\u2019d offload the Oshkosh MB-5<\/strong> Crash trucks from Kitty Hawk <\/em>and drive over to the local airfield and practice in a burn pit. It wasn\u2019t as elaborate as \u201cA\u201d School or Guam, but it helped us coordinate firefighting tactics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At North Island San Diego (where Kitty Hawk <\/em>docked), the firefighting \u201cpit\u201d I believe was a contained 50-foot square with a short retaining wall. The \u201caircraft\u201d was composed of a couple of 50-gallon drums mounted on a stand. I envisioned something like a bronco buster ride in the 80s bars. But then\u2026 that\u2019s just me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"F-4<\/a>
    F-4 Phantom (VF-114 “Aardvarks”) on Cat #3
    MB-5 Crash Truck in foreground
    Photo credit: Kenneth Gary
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    In Guam, we held Hot Drills at the north end of the airfield, atop a hill overlooking the runways, so any aircraft approaching would see fire & flames and wonder, \u201cWhat the hell is going on<\/em>?\u201d Actually, I believe we coordinated Hot Drills with the Aircraft Control Tower so we wouldn\u2019t interfere with any flights, coming or going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The \u201cwrecked aircraft\u201d was composed of several pieces of old aircraft situated to look like a complete aircraft (fuselage, wings, tail), only they were in pieces\u2026 and burnt\u2026 and old & rusty. But it made for necessary training. And… we trained a lot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Apparently\u2014I didn\u2019t know this until I got to Guam\u2014when an aircraft has to drain its fuel tank, it cannot<\/em> reuse that same fuel\u2026 it\u2019s \u201ccontaminated.\u201d I\u2019m sure someone will correct me if I\u2019m wrong. Squadron personnel would drain the aircraft\u2019s fuel tank into one of their old tankers, then drive up to the Hot Drill site and pump the contaminated fuel into a large 5,000 gallon tanker, permanently parked on the hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That\u2019s the fuel we\u2019d use for training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The firefighting chief(s) and\/or the Crash Division Training Petty Officer (ABH2 Tom Cullen<\/strong>) would spray about 100-200 gallons of the fuel onto the \u201caircraft,\u201d light it (wearing protective gear), then haul butt to get away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Fun Begins: Walking Through Fire<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \"NAS<\/a>
    NAS Agana, Guam (1974)
    “Hot Drills”
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    What can I say? I loved fighting fires. It was challenging and rewarding. I don\u2019t ever recall being afraid, even though I\u2019d had flare-ups and gas cans blow up around me, both during my time in the Navy and while a City of Gainesville firefighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I wore protective gear and in the Navy, we wore asbestos suits which made us look either like real aircraft firefighters or aliens\u2014sometimes it was hard to tell the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That was cool, well not \u201ctechnically\u201d cool. Yeah, it was hot and sweaty, but the suits protected us and allowed us to literally walk through the fire<\/strong>. That was an awesome feeling\u2014almost like I was invincible. And at 19 years old, we were all <\/em>invincible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I’m sure I’m not the only veteran that had those feelings of invincibleness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Teamwork is the Key<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The Navy Crash firefighter is one of several on a team. There\u2019s the driver (I also drove the trucks); there\u2019s the \u201ccrew chief\u201d or lead hose man; depending on the type of crash truck, there was one or two \u201cturret\u201d men; and there was one other hose man \/ rescue man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The \u201cturret\u201d men stood on a metal seat with their heads poking out of the roof; an MB-1 crash truck had two turrets, each with their own pump engine (see photo above). An MB-5 crash truck had a single turret, also mounted on the roof, but the pump was controlled by the truck\u2019s engine (see photo below). So, it was \u201cinteresting\u201d to shove the transmission gear into neutral and rev up the engine while still rolling toward the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We Work Together<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Let me give you an example of how this team would work in the event of an actual fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s also a difference between working on a land-based Crash Barn and an aircraft carrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    First, we\u2019d get the initial alarm\u2014a Claxon alarm to be precise. Most of the time in Guam, we didn\u2019t know if it was just an emergency or an actual crash until we got to the truck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On the carrier flight deck, we always manned the crash truck during flight operations with the crew members suited up. On a land-based station, there are usually several trucks and several crews and if you\u2019re not out on the \u201chot spot\u201d (a designated parking area on the airfield), you\u2019d usually be in the Crash barn, but not suited up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Andy<\/a>
    NAS Agana, Guam (1974)
    “Hot Drills” MB-5 Crash truck
    Andy Adkins, Driver
    (Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    If an aircraft crashed on the runway, all trucks would roll with everyone fully suited up. As the driver approaches the fire, he signals the turret men to begin spraying down the fire, trying to knock down as much of the fire quickly as possible. No doubt, \u201ctime is of the essence.\u201d This may only take a few seconds (AFFF was powerful stuff) to make a pathway to the aircraft door for the rescue men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Next, the two hose men\/rescue men jump out, grab the hand lines off a hose reel, engage their AFFF and begin making their way toward the aircraft. Their job is to rescue personnel from the crash site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In Guam, we had six Crash trucks (the Navy shared the same parallel runways with the civilian airport), so we were prepared in the event a large Boeing 747 with 450 people aboard \u201cneeded help.\u201d Fortunately, that never happened during my time in Guam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It sounds simple, but obviously it’s more complicated. You simply can’t train for every <\/em>possible situation, but with continuous training you are prepared for any <\/em>situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Even though we trained almost every shift for varying types of emergencies, you never know how you\u2019re going to react or how your team members will react. There\u2019s a level of trust that comes through when you live and train with these dedicated firefighters. It\u2019s a comradery that I also experienced as a City of Gainesville<\/strong> firefighter<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That\u2019s something I\u2019ll never forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Winding Down<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    While those days of firefighting are long ago and far behind me, the lessons I learned (teamwork, training, challenges, routines) continue with me during my retirement. My wife is a retired R.N. and while it doesn\u2019t happen very often (thank the good Lord), when there\u2019s an emergency or a need, we both respond as best we can. Sometimes we\u2019re successful and able to save a life, other times\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019m just happy that we\u2019re still willing and able to help; we\u2019re healthy, we\u2019re happy, and this morning (as I write this on a Saturday afternoon), we completed an 18\u00bd mile bike ride. Hot & humid, but very rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Until we meet again,
    Andy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Previous Posts Mentioned in this Blog:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n