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September 11, 2006
Magnificent Fire Chief's Last Call to Duty
This post will
stay at the top until after midnight of
September 11th
I joined the 2996 Call For Bloggers- to honor a victim of the September 11 attacks. I would like to share with you about a wonderful man and Hero.
Raymond Downey Deputy Chief Special Operations Command Laid to rest on May 20, 2002
After serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Middle East, Chief Downey was appointed to the FDNY on April 7, 1962.
Raymond M. Downey, as Deputy Chief for the Fire Department of the City of New York will always be the person recognized as the "Father" of modern Urban Search and Rescue techniques.
In March 1998, Chief Downey testified before Congress about the first attack on the World Trade Center. Requesting additional funding for Urban Search and Rescue, at that hearing he said:
…"We, the fire service, are no better prepared then we were back in 1995. Why? The training that has been given with federal funding is not being directed to the "first responder," and the lack of providing funding for the necessary equipment for these responders is directly related to the lack of our preparedness.…The first responders, the firefighters...performed heroic actions only because they were able to be on the scene within minutes and were properly trained and equipped. "
In August of 2001, he was placed in charge of all SOC (Special Operations Command) operations - Rescue, Squad, Haz Mat and Marine - and promoted to Deputy Chief.
Chief Downey's phenomenal 39-year career with the FDNY was built upon success after success and rescue after rescue. Downey became one of the city's most decorated firefighters and achieved almost mythical status among them for his steely resolve in the face of disaster. Chief Downey received five individual medals for valor and 16 unit citations. Additionally, he was awarded the Administration Medal in 1995 for his efforts on the Bunker Gear Program and interim quartermaster system.
Among the elite rescue firefighters who served under him, Ray Downey was held in awe for his uncanny ability to arrive at a major disaster and size up the mayhem with little more than a glance. In a quiet voice, with no discussion, he would start doling out instructions and assignments and call for equipment no one had thought of. Somehow, miraculously, the chaos would transform itself into a smooth and orderly rescue operation.
That’s why his fellow New York City firefighters called him “God.”
Downey was sitting in his office at the Special Operation Division on Randalls Island, surrounded by photos and mementos of the World Trade Center and Oklahoman City bombings and a long ago blast at a plumbing supply store in Brooklyn.
He harkened back to a blaze he had fought when he was a new member of that big family. A woman had cried out as he and his comrades dashed into the flame and smoke.
"She said, 'You firemen are crazy. You're running in when we're all running out,'" Downey remembered.
He since had become the world's leading expert in responding to terrorist attacks. He spoke of his work as a member of the Gilmore Commission, a congressional advisory panel that last year issued a report called "Toward a National Strategy for Combating Terrorism." The group had briefed Vice President Cheney in May, recommending a greater priority on intelligence and preventing terrorist attacks before they occur.
Downey helped pioneer a national network of eight search and rescue teams under the federal Emergency Management Agency. Many of the members of the eight FEMA teams that searched for him were his trainees. And in his spare time, he traveled across the country preaching the need to prepare for terrorism.
Downey also helped teach some of his techniques to senior commanders of the Marine Corps and the Navy, running combat scenarios in high-rise buildings and sewers, some of them in the trade center neighborhood, in 1997.
"Unfortunately, it's not a question of if, but when the next one comes," he said.
“The general consensus in the current atmosphere is that the next war we fight will be in an urban area,” Downey told Newsday in 1997.
The commission was meeting as Downey sat in his office. He called them to explain he was occupied with the aftermath of an explosion triggered when two kids spilled some gasoline whose fumes were then ignited by the pilot light of a water heater in the basement of a hardware store.
Downey said he had arrived at the scene to find two firefighters dead in the street and a third one trapped. He had employed the same strategy as at Oklahoma City.
"Basically what I do is size it up," he said. "I find out where he was last seen and picture in my mind the force of the explosion."
The rescuers had reached the firefighter too late, and now there would be three funerals. The third found Downey wearing and hurting, but unshaken in his resolve.
"Everybody will just go back to work," he said. "They are aware of the dangers we get involved in, but they will go out the door again. It's just not going to stop them."
Even so, three funerals in two days seemed almost too much for even him to bear.
"We always say, hopefully, that's the end of it," Downey said.
"He approached a fire straight on," said Lee Ielpi, a recently retired firefighter from Rescue 2. "The easy thing to do would be to unscrew your head at a major incident. But he knew exactly what had to be done."
Downey also made frequent trips to Washington, serving on a congressional advisory panel on domestic terrorism and lobbying politicians to give local firefighters more money. In an interview with Newsday in 1997, Downey warned that the next war would be fought in an urban setting.
His knowledge of how buildings fall apart was so legendary that at national firefighting conferences, whole rooms would go quiet when he walked in.
"He was kind of like a rock star. He was idolized," said Hal Bruno, chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
In New York at 8:48 A.M., a Boeing 767 jetliner crashed into the North Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. A mission that was planned and carried out by followers of Islam.
The first plane had no sooner struck the World Trade Center on Tuesday morning, September 11th, 2001, than Downey was on his way. Then, the second tower. Flames and smoke erupt from # 2 World Trade Center. As the second Boeing 767 jetliner crashes from left to right into the 110- story tower, heavy smoke was visible venting from several floors of #1 World Trade Center.
That morning there was more action than anyone could have foreseen or wanted. Downey's unit was among the first to be called in when the World Trade Center Towers were attacked. Downey went to lead his men. When the towers fell, he was leading the evacuation.
"He had been warning everyone of this for years," said Joe Allbaugh, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. For Downey, "it wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of when."
Exactly what transpired is still not clear, but according to one version, Hatton and Brown were inside the first tower when it collapsed. This account has Downey moving up the tower and toward where he hoped some of those trapped could be rescued.
An Air Force F-16 banked overhead, the engine's roar echoing off the surviving buildings, a sound of power and impotence as the rescuers searched for life in the smoking ruins they call the pile.
Firefighters, cops, paramedics and construction workers labored together as they had after the first World Trade Center attack and the bombing at Oklahoma City, only the horror was magnified a thousand fold and the magnificent Fire Chief Ray Downey was not in command.
This time, Downey was himself one of the victims. He had, as always, been right there with his men, once again trying to will away the mortal danger.
"You say to yourself, 'Not me,'" he said three months earlier. "But, when the unexpected happens there's nothing you can do about it."
He paused.
"I guess that's the fate we all live with."
Chief Downey's body has not been found.
On Friday, October 22nd, 2004, the United States Marine Corps Chemical Biological Incident Response Force Command (CBIRF) dedicated their Training Facility in memory of Deputy Chief Raymond M. Downey. The dedication was at the CBIRF Training Facility in Stumpneck, Maryland.
Congress unanimously approved to name the Deer Park, Long Island, post office after New York Fire Chief Raymond Downey.
John Barbagallo worked in Rescue 2 with Downey…."He was the best fire officer I've ever known," Barbagallo said. "And when you have a good leader, you'd follow him into hell."
"He approached a fire straight on," said Lee Ielpi, a recently retired firefighter from Rescue 2. "The easy thing to do would be to unscrew your head at a major incident. But he knew exactly what had to be done."
To his five children - fire Lt. Chuck Downey of Commack, fire Capt. Joseph Downey of West Islip, Ray Downey Jr. of Babylon, Marie Tortorici of Deer Park and Kathy Ugalde of Deer Park….. Downey was a strict yet loving father who kept his work separate from his family life and encouraged them to channel their energy into sports. When they were growing up, Downey would sometimes work longer shifts just so he could make it to a son's wrestling match or a daughter's soccer game.
"He always had that Marine attitude - that tough exterior," said his son Ray, a physical-education teacher. "But once you got behind that, he really was a softie."
It may seem darkly ironic that a man who achieved international acclaim for his familiarity with rubbled disasters would himself die in one.
To his family and friends, it makes perfect sense. When a situation turned deadly, Downey would often order his men out just as he was running in.
Some things you learn about people only after they've gone. For the family of Raymond Downey, the manila folder was like that.
He never boasted about his accomplishments to his family, never reveled in the praise that seemed to follow him wherever he went.
Except for the manila folder he carried in his briefcase, that is. It was the only indulgence Downey allowed himself; He stuffed it with letters and accolades from a 39-year career and gave it a label in a small, tidy script: "That A Boys."
His wife, Rosalie, found the folder after Downey, 63, was lost in the World Trade Center attack. "He never complimented himself," she said. "He always just did what he had to do."
Sometimes, Rosalie Downey says, she still talks to her husband, a man she met more than 40 years ago when they flirted through a glass partition in a Manhattan bank. She asks him why he didn't stay out when he led other firefighters to safety that day.
But, she says, she knows better than that. "Then I tell myself, Ray would have never lived with himself."
OUR ANGEL By Kathy Downey UgaldeOn that dreadful day
We huddled in prayer
Hearts joined in sorrow
Pain difficult to bearOur angels climbed up
As they helped others down
The towers may have fallen
But our BRAVEST
Never touched the groundThey kept soaring up
To that heavenly cloud
Shining strength down on us
We are grateful & proudSo please say a prayer
As a tribute to those
Whose love never faltered
And eternally grows
Wild Thing's additional comment.............
One of my nephews is a firefighter in New York. He was there that morning, as all of them were. He lost 11 of his fellow firefighters including 2 Chiefs. I was honored to meet 4 of his friends that lost their lives on September 11th, 2001. They were in our home and they will never be forgotten, just as Chief Raymond M. Downey will never be forgotten.
And this is my tribute at my website, to all the lives lost that day when Islam rode into our world on planes destined to destroy us, but Islam did not know what Americans are about. They never will, but they do know our response to their evil....and that part I can smile about.
You can read Chief Raymond M. Downey's speech to the Federal Response to Domestic Terrorism Involving WMD Training for First Responders Witness Statement ...........
Federal Response to Domestic Terrorism Involving WMD Training for First Responders Witness Statement
By Chief Raymond M. Downey, SOC, FDNY
FAS.org, (New York, NY), 03/21/98
Good morning Mr. Chairman and committee members. My name is Ray Downey and I'm the Chief of Rescue Operations for the Fire Department in the City of New York. First I would like to thank you for holding this hearing today. The Fire Service greatly appreciates the fact that your committee has concerns regarding WMD. The fire service is greatly concerned being first responders that will eventually have to deal with the issues of WMD.
My intent today is to speak not only as a member of the FDNY, but for the entire Fire Service. I have had the unique experience to respond to incidents of WMD both as a first responder and as a federal asset that arrived on the scene some twelve hours after the incident. This is one of many concerns that the fire service has about the training and expectations of both the fire service and federal support that is being promised in the event of an incident involving WMD.
During the World Trade Center bombing I was on the scene immediately after the bombing had taken place. Unless you have been their; you cannot fully appreciate what firefighters face during an incident of WMD terrorism. The fire service has always been respected by the public for their immediate response capability to the calls of those in danger. With that response comes the dedication and fearless courage displayed by these firefighters. It wasn't any different at the World Trade Center. As a result of this terrorism incident, firefighters that operated at this incident still question what would have happened had that bomb been a "dirty" bomb. Would we take the same actions today, if a major bombilic, were to occur in our response district? Five years later, we are better prepared, have more knowledge about WMD, but still see many short falls in the area of First Responder capabilities for dealing with and mitigating incidents of WMD. The fear of Chemical or Biological terrorism is foremost in the minds of every firefigther. What we read and hear about regarding the nations preparations and training for these incidents does not go far enough.
During the World Trade Center bombing firefighters not only faced a difficult fire operation, but had to evacuate almost 50,000 occupants from the Trade Center complex. More than 500 victims were treated for various injuries, while another 600 responded to hospitals on their own. What would have happened if they had been contaminated by a chemical agent? In 1993 not a fire department in the United States could have handled an incident involving a chemical agent affecting this many victims. Can the fire service handle the same potential incident in 1998 after five years of additional preparation and training? The answer in most cases is a "NO". Why? Lack of sufficient funding and training for WMD.
Two years after the Oklahoma City bombing 9 Chief Gary Marrs of the Oklahoma Fire Department providing witness testimony stated that we, the fire service, are no better prepared than we were back in 1995. Why? The training that has been given with federal funding is not being directed to the "First responder", and the lack of providing funding for the necessary equipment for these responders is directly related to the lack of our preparedness, My experience of working for sixteen (16) days as the Operations Chief for the Urban Search and Rescue Teams in Oklahoma City only reinforces my feelings about the needs of the first responders. The Oklahoma City Fire Department has not received the real credit they deserve for the heroic actions they took during those first few hours before any help or support arrived from outside their jurisdiction. As was the case in the rescue effort during the World Trade Center bombing, the same results occurred during the Oklahoma City bombing. Not one victim in either incident died as a result of awaiting rescue by the firefighters after the bombing. The first responders, AKA, the firefighters in both cases performed these heroic actions only because they were able to-be on the scene within minutes and were properly trained and equipped. But, what if that bomb had an additional chemical agent dispersed with the explosion. Would the success rate been the same" Not likely. What would happen if it occurred today? Would we be prepared? Some fire departments have increased their capabilities, but the majority of the country is still not prepared for these type incidents.
In Atlanta the experience gained by the fire service after the bombing of the Family Planning Center, undoubtedly saved lives of firefighters and other emergency personnel that responded to the bombing of the Gay and Lesbian Nite Club. They had learned their lessons from the previous incidents. We have not had this opportunity when dealing with chemical, biological or nuclear terrorist incidents. What is it that the fire service needs to be prepared for these type incidents'? The preparation, training and equipment requirements should be approached from a bottom up planning process. Permit the first responders to get involved with the many various agencies at the Federal level that are preparing terrorism training programs that will ultimately affect them. This can be accomplished by reaching out to the first responder and finding out exactly what the needs of the fire service are. The federal government needs to provide assistance and funding, for training, detection equipment, personal protective equipment and mass decontamination capabilities. The realization by the federal government that the resources that they will supply to local jurisdictions during a WMD incident will be of support role and work under the direction of the local incident commander. If these goals can be reached the fire service will be much more capable of dealing with WMD incidents.
I want to thank you again for this opportunity to appear as a witness before you today and express to you on behalf of the entire fire service our sincere gratitude for the all the work and accomplishments that have benefited the fire service through your efforts. It is the first responder that will be facing the challenges that WMD presents, they are the ones that need the funding and assistance that the Federal Government can provide.
Posted by Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 12:55 AM
Comments
Al salam alaikum! This calls for a Celebration! I wish America more sufferings and Death!
Posted by: Lord Djibril at September 10, 2006 09:25 AM
Lord Djibril , Lord? That is a new one for me. What kind of thing is that to be named Lord.
OK I am going to allow your post and you know why? Because people like you are why 9-11 happened. And it feels good to be able to tell you that Allah was a moon god, you know kind of like astrology and nothing more. Nothing more at all. Allah had no more power then the king of Burger King. Because neither one of them are real.
Your ip address:
125.212.81.246
and located at
Baguio, Philippines
Your death cult, Islam will fail and you will all be returned to Hell where all of you came from. Where you can meet up with your Muhammed.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 10:26 AM
Come Get Me You Son of a bitch
Posted by: sierrahome at September 10, 2006 10:58 AM
Well now, looks like you got the attention of one of them there moderate muslims, Wild Thing.
Know thy enemy, it is Islam.
Posted by: LindaSoG at September 10, 2006 11:00 AM
Thats a beautiful post. Thanks for explaining who we lost that day and that Chief Downey was a hero and a patriot his whole life. Seeing his face and hearing his own words makes him alive again for a minute and I'll never forget him.
Posted by: Jane at September 10, 2006 11:36 AM
Lord,
Baguio, Philippines is the only place I've
been that makes Tijuana,Mexico look clean...
Posted by: Tincan Sailor at September 10, 2006 12:39 PM
WT, that was amazing. I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face. And that pic, with the angel!
Love you, Sister!
RG
Posted by: RightGirl at September 10, 2006 12:55 PM
Oh my, one of those "moderate" moslems.
Hey, Lord Jihadi? Maybe if you didn't beat and rape your wives so often your brain might be able to grasp the concept of morality.
Posted by: Darleen at September 10, 2006 01:07 PM
Apparently some people missed etiquette 101. If you don't have anything nice to say - don't say anything. Bravo to you Chrissie for letting Lord Farquat make a fool of himself!
Posted by: Greta (Hooah Wife) at September 10, 2006 01:08 PM
This is a beautiful tribute to a great man, Chrissie. You obviously put a lot of work and research into this and did a wonderful job of honoring him.
The little troll is of no consequence. It's just unfortuate that he chose to soil this beautiful tribute to a real hero. They celebrated and clicked their tongues on 9/11. They hid in caves and pissed themselves a month or so later. Their over confidence is unfortunate for them because in the end, it won't matter how 'politically correct' our media is. We will destroy them.
Posted by: beth at September 10, 2006 01:44 PM
Hey just calling it as I see it,a spade a spade
its a hell of a lot less than I could have said,
I guess I'M just a nice guy!!!
Posted by: Tincan Sailor at September 10, 2006 01:46 PM
Chrissie, what a beautiful job you have done on your 9/11 tribute. I can tell you did a lot of work putting this together. It is a great read about Chief Downey, an American hero. Thanks for presenting us with this biography of an amazing New Yorker.
Greta(Hooah Wife) has another very well done 9/11 tribute on her blog. The Conservative blogosphere will shine with tributes, and remind me that the core of America is good, and gets the job done. Mostly it is some of the very top strata and some of the lowest strata that let America down.
Poor Djibril hates Americans because they always rejected his momma for being the ugliest whore in the Philippines. I bet most Phillipinos, a good people, have little respect for "Lord D" either.
Posted by: TomR at September 10, 2006 01:53 PM
Sierrahome, I think people like that lord person live under rocks.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 01:56 PM
Linda, yes, so much for moderate Muslims. ugh!
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 01:56 PM
Jane, thank you. This afternoon and tomorrow too I plan on reading all of the tributes that I can, and for sure all of our Cotillion ones. I am so glad we all did this.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 01:59 PM
Tincan Sailor, good one!!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 01:59 PM
RG, thank you. Love you too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 02:00 PM
Darleen, good one, they sure love to show what they are made of or not made of.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 02:02 PM
Greta, I wasn't going to allow his comment then I changed my mind. The world needs to see what awful people they are. Hard to believe some still will not open their eyes to the evil of these people.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 02:03 PM
Beth, thank you, I agree with you, we sure will destroy them.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 02:05 PM
Tom I like how you put this..."The Conservative blogosphere will shine with tributes"......it sure will. Thank you Tom!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 02:07 PM
WT,
I will Honor Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith on
9-11 God speed Sgt Smith...
Posted by: Tincan Sailor at September 10, 2006 02:58 PM
Thank you so much WT, such a beautiful tribute.
Djibril, we'll just consider the source.
Posted by: Jack at September 10, 2006 03:23 PM
Chrissie, this was truly outstanding.
I am so proud to be a member of a group of women who can write like this.
Well done, lady.
Posted by: Cassandra at September 10, 2006 03:42 PM
Chrissie, excellent post you did a great job. Thank You
Posted by: John 5 at September 10, 2006 04:48 PM
God, Chrissie, that man is a rock star! One of America's very best. I'm so glad you were the one to write his tribute!
May God bless him and his family. And God bless your nephew and his fellow firefighters!
Posted by: Beth C. at September 10, 2006 06:22 PM
Lord Djibril,
You cocksucking little eunuch. Worthless little roach droppings like you are why your "culture" (or lack of it) are still mired in the 7th century; backwards, ignorant, perpetual failures, never offering anything of any value whatsoever to the world. You fucking moron, if "Allah" were a real diety, there would be some value placed on serving someone other than himself. "Allah" is a moon-god figure created by Satan (Shaitan) himself.
May you drown in burning vats of feces in hell.
Until then, go fuck yourself.
Posted by: Beth C. at September 10, 2006 06:30 PM
Tincan Sailor, thank you for telling me about the person you will be honoring tomorrow. Sgt.1st Class Paul R. Smith, I am so glad to know you Tincan Sailor.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 06:33 PM
Jack thank you, I agree with you about that Djibril. Consider the source, Nick says that a lot to me...."Chrissie just consider the source". He always says this when I am furious at some leftie on TV. It is funny because then when he is ticked off at the lefties, I say ditto and we laugh.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 06:37 PM
Cassandra, thank you. I feel so honored to be a part of the Cotillion.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 06:38 PM
Beth C. thank you, and I will pass along to my nephew your God bless too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 06:40 PM
Beth C., .....I love it ((hug))
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 10, 2006 06:42 PM
Beautiful Memorial. Thank you for sharing. It's a pitty that there are those who feel they need to spread more hate and dicontent by degrading such a wonderful act. I too am honoring a man...John A. Hofer
Posted by: Tammy at September 10, 2006 08:22 PM
What a wonderful tribute to this man. This was all such a tragedy. I'm reading all these tributes and can't keep from crying. Thanks for sharing this.
Posted by: Rachel at September 10, 2006 09:26 PM
Beth C., ...I love it too.
Posted by: sierrahome at September 10, 2006 10:50 PM
A wonderful tribute. You did a beautiful job.
Posted by: seawitch at September 11, 2006 12:18 AM
John 5, thank you and thank you for all you have done to keep us safe.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 12:57 AM
Hi Tammy, I loved your tribute, and thank you.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 12:58 AM
Hi Rachel thank you so much, I appreciate it. It means a lot to do this but it was very emotional.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 01:03 AM
HI seawitch, thank you so much.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 01:04 AM
Chrissie - such a tender, loving tribute. My heart aches deeply when I read about the wonderful people who were murdered that day. I think that sadness will be with me until the day I die. The world has lost so much with the loss of those innocent souls.
Posted by: Diva at September 11, 2006 01:19 AM
a beautiful tribute to a remarkable man. thank you for introducing him to us.
it is such a shame however that anyone uses this opportunity to put down or blame any religion when we should simply be honouring the poor people we lost due to sick minded war mongers who only use religion and god as an excuse, and hide behind something that in its basis should be about love and peace.
we should be looking at uniting across religions in the quest for peace and freedom, not using these wonderful people as flags to continue in hatred.
more will continue to die innocently unless all of us stop using bile and generalizations.
i will be remembering the innocents today. and praying for an end. not for more hatred.
Posted by: keda at September 11, 2006 08:30 AM
Chrissie,
That's a beautiful memorial. God bless you.
Posted by: raz0r at September 11, 2006 09:05 AM
Remarkable tribute and outstanding forebearance in the face of utter ugliness. Well done.
I'm honoring Colin Arthur Bonnett (WTC) and my shipmates from N513 and N3N5 who were serving with me on the Navy staff that day of infamy.
- SJS
Posted by: Steeljaw Scribe at September 11, 2006 10:03 AM
Beautiful ~ just beautiful.
Thank you, WT
Posted by: yankeemom at September 11, 2006 11:57 AM
As I continue to read these tributes, the same thing is happening to me as it did on 9/11.
I woke up that morning, turned on the t.v. and just about f-ing vomited all over my cheap yet stylish throw rug. I felt sick, I went to work briefly, they sent us all home.
I proceeded to stop by the liquor store and purchase a load of booze, turned the t.v. back on and stared at it for hours. I cried, I hyperventilated. Cried some more....
Somewhere after the 6th or 7th beer, the pity, and deep sadness began changing, by this time, this crazy Russian neighbor of mine had dropped by to join my watch. He was drinking vodka, a lot of it. He started muttering, and then getting louder, and he kept saying, "War, this is War!!!!!"
At first I told him to shut up, you know, I wanted quietness for my misery, but then I too got angry. And angrier, and then I moved to severely pissed. And on and on, until I was filled with a rage so great it's a frickin' wonder I didn't pop a vein.
I'm starting to feel that way today, as I always do when people talk about 9/11. When people whine about how many chicken dinners and hours spent playing pool and checkers the Gitmo a-holes get a day. When someone says anything about affording these f-ing bleeping bleep bleepers "Geneva Conventions".
I'm sure this anger isn't good for me. But the sick complacency I see out there today isn't any better.
Nice tribute.
I honor Paul Ortiz today, seemed like a really, really good guy.
Posted by: JennoftheJungle at September 11, 2006 04:20 PM
Diva I know what you mean so much. There will always be a place in my heart that will never heal and will always hurt for those we lost that day and the shock of being attacked like this.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 05:11 PM
keda............
"it is such a shame however that anyone uses this opportunity to put down or blame any religion when we should simply be honouring the poor people we lost due to sick minded war mongers who only use religion and god as an excuse, and hide behind something that in its basis should be about love and peace."
I am not going to get into this with you as I do not know you. I do think you need to read more about the so called religion of Islam.
There was no need to say what you did in a tribute to one that we lost in this horrific attack on our country.
The enemy made themselves the enemy we did not seek them out to blame, they did it themselves.
Nuff said
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 05:14 PM
Hi razOr thank you so much.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 05:15 PM
Steeljaw Scribe thank you so much. Thank you too for including with your comment a link to your blog so I can go there and read your tribute as well.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 05:16 PM
Hi Yankeemom, thank you so much.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 05:17 PM
JennoftheJungle wow love your comment it says how so many of us felt. Thank you so much and thank you too for the link to your blog, I want to read the tribute you wrote as well.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 05:19 PM
WT, this is a great post, really heartfelt and it brought tears to my eyes (dag gone you). I really appreciate the post. I am sorry but I feel compelled to write what comes next after thanking you.
As for that Jackass who wishes death and destruction. Bring your sorry little ass over here and try to reign your BS on the Dog. I will hang you with that towel you wear on your head and then I will shove a pig up your ass so you can rot in hell. If you want to mess with Wild Thing you have to go through me and that is something you and Allah are just not prepared to do. Any questions Islamic turd?
Posted by: Big Dog at September 11, 2006 06:24 PM
Simply beautiful.
Posted by: Vinnie at September 11, 2006 06:44 PM
Thank you for this tribute. It shows so much of his life. It's almost as if I had the chance to meet him.
We can't forget. People like Raymond Downey are what makes America great.
I remembered Laura Gilly.
Posted by: Suzi at September 11, 2006 08:50 PM
WT,
You know ive done this post before but it seems
I need to do it again these 2 Sgt smith and in a
war long past have given it "ALL" and I think folks like us need to show these guys it wasn't
a waste....FROM WW-2
*VIALE, ROBERT M.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company K, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division. Place and date: Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 5 February 1945. Entered service at: Ukiah, Calif. Birth: Bayside, Calif. G.O. No.: 92, 25 October 1945. Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. Forced by the enemy's detonation of prepared demolitions to shift the course of his advance through the city, he led the 1st platoon toward a small bridge, where heavy fire from 3 enemy pillboxes halted the unit. With 2 men he crossed the bridge behind screening grenade smoke to attack the pillboxes. The first he knocked out himself while covered by his men's protecting fire; the other 2 were silenced by 1 of his companions and a bazooka team which he had called up. He suffered a painful wound in the right arm during the action. After his entire platoon had joined him, he pushed ahead through mortar fire and encircling flames. Blocked from the only escape route by an enemy machinegun placed at a street corner, he entered a nearby building with his men to explore possible means of reducing the emplacement. In 1 room he found civilians huddled together, in another, a small window placed high in the wall and reached by a ladder. Because of the relative positions of the window, ladder, and enemy emplacement, he decided that he, being left-handed, could better hurl a grenade than 1 of his men who had made an unsuccessful attempt. Grasping an armed grenade, he started up the ladder. His wounded right arm weakened, and, as he tried to steady himself, the grenade fell to the floor. In the 5 seconds before the grenade would explode, he dropped down, recovered the grenade and looked for a place to dispose of it safely. Finding no way to get rid of the grenade without exposing his own men or the civilians to injury or death, he turned to the wall, held it close to his body and bent over it as it exploded. 2d Lt. Viale died in a few minutes, but his heroic act saved the lives of others.
"Some Gave Some Gave All"
Posted by: Tincan Sailor at September 11, 2006 09:24 PM
What amazing men, heroes we have in America. Beautiful tribute.
I linked your tribute at 2996 tribute to victims of 9/11 - Terrence E Adderley
Posted by: bernie at September 11, 2006 10:55 PM
Big Dog, I love you my friend!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 11:15 PM
Vinnie thank you my wonderful Blog Uncle.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 11:16 PM
Suzi, thank you so much. And thank you too for the link to your blog. It means a lot to me to have a glimpse into the lives of those we lost. Thank you.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 11:20 PM
Tincan Sailor, these are so special. Thank you for this tribute you put in your commment about Robert Viale. And also the one in the other post, thank you!!
I am so proud and so honored to learn about them both.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 11:23 PM
Hi Berni, this is great, thank you so much for the link so I can go right to it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 11, 2006 11:24 PM
What an incredible story...thank you for sharing it.
Posted by: RC of strangeculture at September 12, 2006 01:05 AM
HI RC, thank you so much.
Thank you too for the link to your blog and the tribute you did.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 12, 2006 01:51 AM
Lord Djibril is an idiot! SO RUDE. He should check out this site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Djibril
maybe the last sentence is his future.
Posted by: PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN at October 4, 2006 08:35 PM
