After 32 years as a career Firefighter in Arlington, Texas, I retired as a Battalion Chief and accepted a position as a Field Training Specialist at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland and moved from Texas to Pennsylvania. My last position was as a Training Specialist in the Response Branch at the National Fire Academy, where I oversaw the development and delivery of all of the Academy's Command and Control Programs. I retired from the National Fire Academy October 31, 2016 and returned to my ranch in Texas.
Texas Master Firefighter
Texas Master Instructor
Charter member - Arlington Texas Fire Department Honor Guard
Life Member Delaware State Fire Chiefs Association
Member of American Legion
Life Member 3rd Mar Div Assoc.
Life Member 2/9 Marines Assoc.
Life Member VFW
Life Member of the NCOA
Member Littlestown PA Arie of Eagles
MILITARY EXPERIENCE
1966 - USMC, MCRD San Diego.
1966-67 Security guard; USMC Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, DC (Top secret security clearance held continuously for twenty six years)
1967-68 Infantryman and Radio Operator for the USMC; RVN
1968-69 - MCAS, El Toro, CA.
1969-70 - Drill Instructor "A" Company 1st RTR, MCRD San Diego.
1971-83 - HqBtry 14th Marines
1983-92- MAG 41, MWSS 471 Crash Crew
Feb 1991 - Activated for first Gulf War, deployed to Camp Lejeune, joined an infantry company.
July 1992 Retired after 26 years as a Master Sergeant of Marines.
After my release from active duty, I went to work for the Arlington TX Fire Department. I was assigned to an engine company in S/W Arlington. After a month or so, the other FF there told me a friend of his was coming by to visit. Later that shift a dirty, unkempt long haired individual walked into the engine room and the other FF said this was his friend. He then introduced me to "Rudy Salazar", an undercover police officer who had also served in the USMC in Viet Nam. Of course they almost had to pick me up off the floor. When I explained my reaction, the Rudy in front of me said that his parents had received the "other" Rudy's death certificate since they were both from Ft Worth. Can you imagine the shock and reaction his family must have had? I knew and worked with alongside the "new" Rudy for over 30 years. Once while at the Texas State Fair in Dallas, where they have a Texas "Wall" on display, I was showing my wife Rudy's name when a man and woman spoke to me. It was Rudy's wife and his brother. I visited with them a while, but both were very bitter and never maintained contact. His brother had served in the Corps also.
Other Comments:
After boot camp, I was assigned to Marine Security Guard at HQMC Henderson Hall. We stood guard post in the Pentagon, the Main Navy Building located along Constitution Avenue, the buiding is not there any more, and HQMC. The guard unit was transferred to Vietnam in July 1967. I was assigned to 2nd Plt E/2/9 in July 67 in Dong Ha. I carried the 2nd Plt, 2nd Sqd radio, then the 2nd Plt Radio. In Dec '67, I was assigned as Echo Company radio operator. I was working for Captain Sams when we took Hill 37 from what was "supposed to be RVN soldiers". After Captain Sams and the XO were both WIA in April 68, Lt John Carson took over Echo Company. This was the action where Lt Carson won his Bronze Star. I continued working for Lt Carson until he was KIA on June 5, 1968, along with David Keller in an ambush on Route 9 out close to Khe Shan. Echo Company was holding several bridges on the road to Khe Sanh and Lt Carson, David Keller and the driver were ambushed between two bridges. The driver survived and managed to drive the jeep on to the next bridge. L/Cpl Keller had taken my place on this trip to the other platoon site. Upon my return to CONUS, I was assigned to MCAS El Toro for 7 months before my transfer to DI School. I was assigned to "A" Company 1st RTR until my discharge. After my return to TX, I joined 14th Marines, in Ft Worth with the HqBtry of 14th Marines in Fort Worth, TX. In 1978, all Marine Reserves in the DFW area were relocated to NAS Dallas where I served with HqReg 14th Marines until 1983. I transferred to MAG 41 at NAS Dallas where I helped establish a Crash Fire/Rescue unit. In 1991, I was activated for Desert Storm and I retired in 1992 after my release from active duty. In October 2007, I received all my paperwork including a certificate of retirement showing a total of 41 years, 4 months and 25 days total service. Now they have started paying me my retirement pay for however long the Good Lord decides to let me hang around.
