Engine 230

[patries]

Frank Bonomo

Michael Carlo

Jeffrey Stark

Eugene Whelan

Edward White

[SeaBreeze]

Fort’s firefighters pay tribute to fallen comrades

by Tom Braumuller

Fort Monmouth Fire & Emergency Services

When the eight off-duty Fort Monmouth firefighters arrived at Engine 230’s house in Brooklyn, they had expected to see the tribute outside that neighborhood families had placed out front. But they didn’t anticipate how it would make each feel when visiting and witnessing firsthand what most of us see on the TV or in the newspaper.

Near the front door was a table with lit candles, wreaths, bundles of flowers, cards, prayers, an Engine 230 tee shirt, and a banner with the names of the six firefighters lost at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

Outside, waiting for their arrival was “chauffeur” John Guarino, commonly called “Johnny G”. Guarino took the Fort Monmouth contingent, along with the home-cooked meals they brought, inside to meet the crew of Engine 230. Sadly, this is not Guarino’s normal crew. His crew never made it out of the towers.

After introductions, Guarino took us all to the roof to tell us about the fateful day and show us from the roof of the firehouse where it all happened.

Guarino and his crew had just returned from another call when someone yelled out to turn on the TV. They saw what everyone in the nation was watching – a tower on fire. They ran to the roof to see how bad it was when the call came in to respond.

Guarino’s crew mounted Engine 230 and headed for the bridges over to Manhattan. They had to take alternate routes because roads were being shut down quickly.

When they finally arrived, the crew of six (Lt. Brian Ahearn, Fire Fighter (FF) Ed White, FF Gene Whelan, FF Jeff Stark, FF Frank Bonomo, and FF Mike Carlo) dismounted and ran into the towers.

Guarino had to stay with the engine. A police officer told Guarino to move his engine up because other crews were arriving. He moved the engine up about two blocks and when he came back his crew was gone. Along with the towers.

The Fort Monmouth firefighters were silent during the story. Many were struck by Guarino’s calmness. His brother firefighters downstairs later told us that this was the first time he opened up and told people what had happened.

This was the reason for the visit, to allow the New York firefighters to talk to other brothers about what had happened.

So we sat and listened – for six hours.

The other firefighters on Engine 230 that day were from various firehouses – filling in crew positions.

Each had a story to tell and we listened. We learned of events that were not broadcast on TV and the feelings of how everyone felt on Ground Zero when the U.S. flag was hoisted by three now famous firefighters.

They told us that things were getting back to normal. For weeks, people had been bringing cakes, cookies and meals. But a few days ago, “We had to chip in and send out for Chinese food and that felt good,” Guarino said.

The locker nametags are still there from the fallen and won’t come down until each man is recovered. Saturday, Oct. 27, Ahearn’s name came down. The firefighters from Fort Monmouth attended his funeral.

The good news is that the younger brother of White was recently sworn in as a New York firefighter, upholding a proud tradition.

As we left the Bedford-Stuyvesant firehouse that night, we promised to stay in touch, knowing that each day we work at Fort Monmouth, the firefighters of Engine 230 and the other lost firefighters will always be in our prayers and thoughts.


http://www.monmouth.army.mil/monmess...1/m47fight.htm

[SeaBreeze]

Gilmanton firefighters give NYFD a hand
Deliver donation to Brooklyn

By MARK WILLETT
Staff Writer

GILMANTON — Two firefighters traveled to New York City recently to hand-deliver a donation to help the families of fallen firefighters, and using a historic connection with a New York department, the men were able to find a deserving home for the funds.

Dana Middleton, president of the Gilmanton Firefighters’ Association, and Brian Boyajian, vice president of the association, made the trip down to the Big Apple with a $2,000 check in hand, but didn’t quite know where to give the money.

With no definite leads to a specific engine company that needed help, Boyajian and Middleton went straight to Engine 9 located in Chinatown in Manhattan.

"We actually, have a little history with New York because our 9 Engine 3 served the city of New York as Engine 9 in Chinatown in 1982," said Gilmanton Acting Fire Chief Joe Hempel. The engine entered service in 1981 as Engine 163 — Staten Island, eventually ending up as Engine 9 — Chinatown in 1992 before it was brought to Gilmanton in 1994.

Because of the engine connection, the two firefighters went to Engine 9 as a starting point to determine where they might find a company in need.

"When they arrived, the New York firefighters were real happy to see them," said Hempel. They discussed the history of their truck, and asked how the money might be used.

"The guys in New York said they received donations all the time and were in good shape, but told our boys to head over to Brooklyn because they could use the help," he said.

Engine 9 provided Boyajian and Middleton with a map and the number of Engine Company 230. They were told that despite community support, they didn’t have the financial resources many other companies have.

A single engine house on Park Avenue in Brooklyn, Engine Company 230 was grateful to accept the money for their fallen brothers, and welcomed the men from Gilmanton with open arms.

In a letter, Boyajian and Middleton explain that the firefighters in New York were terrific, and were grateful to the residents of Gilmanton, as well as the folks at Engine 9 that had brought them together.

Engine 230 lost its entire crew on Sept. 11 — five firefighters and one lieutenant. Their names were Lt. Brian Ahearn, and Firefighters Frank Bonomo, Michael Carlo, Eugene Whelan, Edward White, and Jeffrey Stark.

The money will be part of the Engine 230 Family Fund, which is used for special events such as birthdays and holidays for the family members of the fallen firefighters. It is their way of keeping connected with the families of their brothers, the letter said.

Boyajian and Middleton stayed for lunch with Engine 230, and during the meal many of the New York firefighters recalled their experiences on and following Sept. 11, and talked of the searching, funerals, grieving, and rebuilding.

Following their visit, the two men from Gilmanton were taken by police escort to Ground Zero and allowed to see the devastation first-hand. Both regarded the experience as humbling.

The money was raised during a spaghetti dinner in late September. Hempel said about 400 people turned out that night to donate money and enjoy the meal.

"Gilmanton really came together to support the cause, and we want to let the folks know that their money is appreciated and well spent," he said.


http://www.citizen.com/news2001/Dec/31/gilm1231i.htm

[Neil]

FALLEN HEROES