Personal Narrative: My First Responder Family

In 2012 I joined the Harlan Fire Department continuing my long standing commitment to my community as a volunteer firefighter EMT.  As a member of the fire department I respond to many different types of calls.  Some of these calls include but are not limited to wildland fires, structure fires, car accidents, and medical calls.  As an active member I was qualified as a Firefighter/EMT, confined space rescue technician, and technical rope rescue technician.   We have a wide range of equipment ranging from type one to type six engines, a heavy rescue truck, UTV, and a 75' ladder truck. With the equipment and training I was a part of a successful grain bin rescue saving the life of one local farmer and part of a successful rescue of a trapped

Fourteen years ago, my father ran towards chaos as everyone ran away in fear. He believed he was just doing his duty to his country. He loaded up his gear got into the truck and began the long drive into lower Manhattan. Even at 5 years old I can still remember my mother sobbing, begging my dad not to go, not to get on the truck, to let the younger guys go. I remember sitting in front of the television watching the horrible terror that my dad was willingly walking into. My father was one of the hundreds of volunteer firemen that responded on that fateful September day. What didn’t cross our minds was that this heroic act could have negatively impact the rest our lives.

As a child of a Vietnam Veteran, I have witnessed my father and go through many things to receive adequate support. My father suffers from progressive prostate cancer, Post-traumatic stress disorder, and a depraved back. These chronic illnesses have forced him to retire early and seek help from the government for financial support. He has repeatedly seek help for the Veteran Affairs applying for unemployment disability and have been turn down several times because his illnesses are considered to be common for Vietnam Vets. This has been hard on my family caring for him and finding an extra source of income to sustain living. Living in a rural area there are no Veteran Affair offices, therefore, we have to travel two and a half hours and

It was the morning of September 11, 2001 in New York City. I woke up at 6:00 am to put my uniform on and say goodbye to my wife and children as I head off to work. The morning started off just fine, the sun was shining the skies were blue, and traffic was heavy as businessmen and women were headed to work. I work with Brooklyn’s Ladder Company No. 157 as a firefighter. I went into work and greeted my friend George johnson who is also a firefighter. It was around 8:47 when I got the call that they were dispatching us and telling us to head to the north tower because there was an attack. When I heard the news I was in shock and couldn't believe it, but I knew what had to be done. I remember running into that building and all I could think about was am i going to make it out to see my family again, my main goal was to stay safe, and help as many people as

The day of 9/11, I remember waking up to hearing the news on television that the Twin Towers were purposefully struck by jetliners. Then, I remember the news anchors on the television being dead silent as the towers crumbled to what is now known as, Ground Zero. I continued to watch in disbelief holding my mom’s hand asking what was exactly going on. She then walked me to elementary school down our block and it was the most eerie feeling of silence I have ever heard to this day. Wanting to be a Firefighter/Paramedic since the age of four years old, this event in history has impacted me in a drastic way. Three hundred forty three firefighters were killed by trying to answer the 9-1-1 call from hell. Each and every one of them did not question what they were up against. They knew that their duty was to respond and resolve the situation. In the video World Trade Center Dispatch 9/11/01, from the one minute mark of the dispatcher saying, “send every available unit you got to the World Trade Center” to the forty six minute mark of the dispatcher giving response to every company that was at the scene with none of them responding back; the audio was surreal and unnatural the entire time. This point is vital to include because it shows the extent of what was taking place. The New York City Fire Department needed an army of firefighters to be at the scene and

I’m a military child. Change was instilled in me since my birth in Spain. My childhood was spent briefly in Europe, the east coast of the U.S, and eventually the Midwest. This change of scenery, schools, friends, and just about everything else in my life led me to be the person I am today. Travelling was amusing and I enjoyed change of pace every couple of years, but it wasn’t easy. I learned early on that getting attached to people wasn’t a good idea and should be avoided in preparation for the next move. This led me to being an incredibly shy child who couldn’t open up to people. The world I come from is an adventurous but problematic one. When I concluded making friends would assist with each transition I found myself too terrified to attempt

Growing up as the son of a career Naval Officer, I have experienced a background that varies greatly from that of an applicant who has grown up in a strictly civilian family. The constant relocation, the exciting places I have lived, and the countless great, unique people I have met, have all contributed that that he unique childhood I have enjoyed. While at times my identity as a military child has made life challenging and difficult, I strongly believe that it has made me a stronger, more adaptable person because I have been molded by past experiences and I don't think that my application would be complete without this information.

Growing up as a military brat wasn't easy, there were many places we had to go to and we didn't have a choice. One of those places was here ,Illinois, and I was ten when we made the move here.This move was probably the hardest thing I have ever physically gone through considering all of my mom and I's stuff was lost in the ocean because the place we moved from was Hawaii.So, when we got here me and mom both didn't have our stuff but the rest of my family did.To make matters worse my dad was being shipped out to South Korea and we didn't have a house. For a whole year we were homeless,we put what was left of our stuff into storage and moved in with grandma. As terrible as that year was, it taught me a lot about what some people actually live

A Veteran Woman On December 7, 2000, I raised my right hand pledging to serve and protect the American people. At the age of 20, I had entered a 240 year-old organization, not really knowing what to expect from it. I was scared, excited, and ready for the new challenges joining this Armed Forces organization would bring. My basic training was at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. This old country girl from Mississippi had to get on an airplane for the first time. My adrenaline was pumping so fast that I felt my heart could easily jump out my chest at any time. Despite all the insecure reservations I had and the negative comments I received from family and friends back home, I made it through basic training and spent a long, vigorous, and uplifting

how I approach situations. My father is a retired US Air Force Security Forces member

When one car broke down, my dad would be right there that day to find out what was wrong. Around 6 PM every night, dinner was made and ready. Now, we have to find our own way to fix the cars, or wait for my dad to come home, which is rare now. Dinner is now whatever you can find because neither my mom nor I have time to run to the store or to cook a meal. I will say, having my dad around was taken for granted.

I joined the Marine Corps looking for a challenge. I wanted to open doors for a new career and longed to have a positive impact on the world around me. Looking back five years later, I realize I found all that I originally sought, but I’ve also found something profoundly satisfying and meaningful that I never knew I was missing.

     Due to the fact that my father was now on his own and trying to raise three children (my older brother from my father’s first marriage), he had to take a different position at his work. Although he was getting a raise it wasn’t necessarily a good thing. He had to start working the night shift so he could get the raise. He didn’t really have a choice in the matter and because of this new change, I began to lose valuable time with him as well. It was now up to my brother to watch over us at night and make sure we got to bed on time. If there was any trouble or and problems in general, my brother would call my grandmother. For three years my dad worked that job and every night he would stay up after he got home to see us. He would make my sister and I breakfast and make we were off to school on time. This meant the world to me because no matter what he always made time for us.

If there was anything more terrifying to a shy, introverted, teenage girl than the idea of being a in crowded room full of strangers, it would to be actually in one. Yet, there I was, surrounded by a numerous amount of impatient, jet-black cars that illuminated the dark streets, rows of musicians rehearsing their piece by playing a dissonance of sounds, and the expectant, motley crowd of people lining up on the sidewalk for the veteran’s parade.

The loss of my younger brother changed my life in ways that I couldn't have imagined at the time of his death, but I was bombarded with so many emotions and undertakings that deeply impaired my thought process.