A South Boston firefighter and the child he saved are reunited four decades later

[thatcrazycajun]

This came from my "friends of my friends" list, and I thank celticmom1967 for posting a link to it. Most of my regular readers will know by now that my father, younger brother and godson (little bro's oldest) are all firefighters (or will be, once Godson gets through the academy this spring). Everybody knows that firefighters save lots of lives...but this particular story shows that the instinct to help, the courage to risk death or injury, and the compassion and professionalism that mark a true firefighter can win out over even the worst of human prejudices.

In 1968, at the height of the civil-rights struggles the African-American community was waging and the racial tensions that roiled US society from Selma to Watts, a white South Boston firefighter rescued a black baby from a fire in a housing project. If you know anything about Southie, you know what it means for someone from that neighborhood, in that time, to do something like this for a dark-skinned family. It got his picture in the local paper, which you can see here.

The firefighter went on to serve three more decades in the department and retire, and the child grew up to become a mother herself. And in all that time, the two still had had no further contact...until yesterday, when the woman finally found her savior to say an extremely belated "thank you."

As part of a family of smoke-eaters and as a son of the deep South, it does my heart more good than I can express to read a story like this...and it makes me even more proud of Daddy, Doug and Dayne.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

I got a sneaking suspicion that his reaction was the same as Sully's. "I was just doing my job."

If so? Gorram right.

Fire Fighter Found His Purpose

[pixelene.livejournal.com]

I got this email from my awesome uncle Roger tonight, so I thought it would be appropriate:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Neighbors, Friends, Family,

Eight years ago we brought a beautiful brand new baby home. Jillian was only three days old when she was out of the blue panicked and without air. Tried as I must I couldn’t get her to breath as Hali called 911. It seemed like forever for the fire department to arrive. She would pass out relax get a few breaths and wake back up and struggle then pass out again over and over. I finally pulled something gross out of her nose and she was getting some air. The fire department took forever and there was no way they could have arrived in time to save her if her airway was completely occluded. I learned that they were volunteer fire fighters and nobody lived in the Township. Rather than be the problem I became the solution, got the bug and been there ever since.

Last night I got the page at 12:12a.m to a pediatric code blue. It means what you think. As quickly as I could I got dressed, ran outside the home, got in the truck, and took off. I know the township better than any fireman in the township and went straight to the address without consulting the map book or missing a trick. At 12:16a.m. I arrived to the address. The squad after taking time to consult the map and getting the door open left station at 12:15a.m. so at four minutes arrival time I did good. Arrived and found a 2 week boy an ugly shade of blue. He was getting air but not much. Immediately grabbed the ball syringe and pulled the nose clear of boogers that would make me proud. He slowly regained color as he began crying. To say the least the family was happy to see me arrive. We checked his oxygen levels watched him come up from poor to excellent. Distraught he fell asleep and as I watched him got all choked up. Tough guys cry on the inside.

Now that I did what I came to do it made the 8 years of crap all worthwhile. Duty Officers and Chiefs act as if we get paid hundreds to do this and have us do things I never want to talk about or visualize again. Cleaned tens of thousands of feet of hose, checked a hundred hydrants, spent many days tired at work, and the worst miss my girls. I seen things TV can’t ever represent. Smelled things you can’t or would ever want to imagine. This good feeling of accomplishment was needed as I was seriously considering quitting as there seems to be a push to get me out of there. Lucky I am not doing it for them; I am doing it for my neighbors.

I know is sounds like I am tooting my own horn, a you know me you shouldn’t be surprised, but there is something in my life that brings meaning. Find something in yours that gives you that and a light comes on. Time flies by and things roll off me. It doesn’t have to be a being a fireman but as simple as loving someone. The world needs you and while you can give something back. I have no doubt God put us here for a purpose. Find it and I hope you feel like I do. In this I want your company.

God Bless,

Rescue Roger

Re: Fire Fighter Found His Purpose

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Your uncle is indeed made of pure raw hammered awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[shaddyr]

This was very touching - tt brought tears to my eyes.

Man, I get sentimental about stuff like this, but it just breaks my hears (in a good way) to hear about these things.

Thank you for sharing this.