IAFF MEMBERS ON THE FRONTLINES   

Connecticut Fire Fighter Fights War on Terror for Third Tour
May 7, 2008 – As the War on Terror continues, more and more IAFF members find themselves leaving their turnout gear, families and friends behind to serve military tours of duty. West Hartford, CT Local 1241 James “Hooch” Matthews, a respected fire fighter and United States Army Reservist, is now on his third tour, serving as Battalion Command Search Major of the 443rd Civil Affairs Battalion, 1st Armored Division in Tikrit, Iraq. Read more...
 

Connecticut Union Officer Returns From Afghanistan

Joe Duval, secretary-treasurer of Tolland, CT Local 3954, has returned stateside after a year in Sharana, Afghanistan. He served with the Connecticut Army National Guard 1-102 infantry as a Humvee driver and gunner working to secure and protect the provincial reconstruction team. His unit completed hundreds of missions in the Pitika province, including humanitarian aid drops, medical assistance and assessing reconstruction progress. Duval expects to go back to being a fire fighter in July 2007.

Oklahoma Fire Fighter Recognized for Service in Iraq

Brent Judd, a member of Miami, OK Local 1969, has received the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq from November 17, 2003-January 1, 2005. Judd was deployed with the 319th Core Support Battalion in the U.S. Army Reserves. He later was assigned to the 82nd Airborne out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. While serving with the 82nd Airborne, the unit came under fire multiple times at the Bagdad International Airport – sometimes for as long as five consecutive hours. The members of the 82nd Airborne submitted Judd for a Bronze Star, which he received during a ceremony at the end of his tour.

IAFF Members Serve in Kuwait

IAFF members from across the United States serving in Kuwait at Ali Al Salem Air Base include (back row, from left): MSGT Stacy Thomas, Miami Dade, FL Local 1403; MSGT Mark Adwell (CFD #2) , South Johnson County, KS Local 3683; MSGT Gene Berkley, Bloomington, IL Local 49; MSGT Gary Luke, Minneapolis International Airport Local S-6; TSGT Tom Fritz, Martin State Airport, MD Local 3971; (center row, from left): SSGT Stacey Bernier, Portland, ME Local 740; SSGT James Weglein,Baltimore, MD Local 734; SSGT Chris Pieper, Fargo, ND Local 642; SMSGT Chuck Rodway, Bangor, ME Local 772; (front row, from left): TSGT James Cannon, Martin State Airport, MD Local 3971; MSGT Christine Fisk, Des Moines, IA Local 4; and TSGT Bradley Herron, Kansas City, KS Local 64. Nine of the 12 are serving in the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron Fire Department. The other three are serving in other capacities at Ali Al Salem Air Base.

Upstate New York IAFF Members Serve in Middle East

New York local IAFF members currently working a 123-day deployment as crash fire fighters with the 380th Fire Department in the Middle East include: (top row) Bill Burley, Rochester, NY Local 1071; Ken Eason, Buffalo, NY Local 282; Paul Eason, Buffalo, NY Local 282; E Zupkov, Buffalo, NY Local 282; Captain Ken Gippe, Rochester, NY Local 1071; Rodney Wilkinson, Buffalo, NY Local 282; (bottom row) Jerry Aderhold, Niagara Falls, NY Local 714; Dave Beahen, Niagara Falls, NY Local 714 ); Tony Nunez, Rochester, NY Local 1071; and Lieutenant Jim Twist, Buffalo, NY Local 282. All are members of the Air Force Reserve with the 914th Civil Engineering Fire Department out of Niagara Falls International Airport.

Dedicated Indiana Fire Fighter Serves Overseas

  Duane Reddick, a six-year veteran fire fighter and member of Hamilton County, IN Local 4416 is serving on the frontlines Northern Bagdad, Iraq. Deployed with the U.S. Marine Corps B-Company 6th ESB, one of Reddick’s duties is to repair roads damaged by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and travels with military personnel who deactivate IEDs.

IAFF Fire Fighters in Iraq Honor 9/11

From left: SFC Patrick Rocco of Saratoga Springs, NY Local 343; SRA Mitch Dryer of Oneida, NY Local 2692; TSGT Paul Cowdrey of Bowling Green, OH Local 2379; MSG Kristian Andersen of Chesterfield County, VA Local 2083; MSG Vincent Martinez of Salt Lake City, UT Local 1645; and TSGT Justin Kay of Richmond, VA Local 995. Engine 343 is in the background and was numbered in remembrance of the 343 FDNY fire fighters who perished on 9/11.

IAFF Fire Fighters Show Unity in Iraq

Bottom from left: Sgt. Sean Italiane of Otis Air Force Base Local F-264, Sgt. Christopher McGowan of Saginaw, MI Local 102, Marco Castro of Boston, MA Local 718, and Sgt. Patrick Peterson of Virginia, MN Local 390. Second row from left: Sgt. Stephen Jefferes of Cambridge, MA Local 30, Sgt. George Roig of Elyria, OH Local 474, Brian Campbell of Rock Hill, SC Local 2106, Sgt. Tom McDonough of St. Paul, MN Local 21, and Chris Klaveter of St. Paul, MN Local 21. Top row from left: Sgt. Chris Adams of Dekalb County, GA Local 1492, Sgt. Dan McBennet of Lorain, OH Local 267 and Sgt. Christien Savard of Hanscom Air Force Base Local F-78. Standing on the top row: Sgt. Paul Jacques of Attleboro, MA Local 848.

Illinois Member Proudly Shows IAFF Colors

Streamwood, IL Local 3022 member Gary Jacobs (pictured on the left) is serving his second tour in Iraq as a Gunnery Sergeant. When his fellow Local 3022 members sent him a local t-shirt, he got one of his fellow soldiers to take this picture. He is expected to return at the end of this year.

IAFF Members Fly MEDEVAC Missions in Iraq

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ron Ryczek, a fire fighter/paramedic with Amherst, MA Local 1764 and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Phil Reeves, a pumper engineer with Bridgeport, CT Local 834 are stationed in southern Iraq, where both are assigned to C Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation of the Massachusetts National Guard. The two IAFF members fly MEDEVAC missions for the 101st Airborne Division in a Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk in the Air Ambulance configuration.

Spring Hill Fire Fighter Makes IAFF Proud In Iraq

Spring Hill, FL Local 2794 member Steven Terry (right) proudly displays the IAFF banner in front of an Iraqi fire and rescue vehicle. Terry has been in Iraq with his unit since November 2005.

Tacoma Fire Fighters Supporting Troops in Iraq
September 30, 2005 - Tacoma, WA Local 31 fire fighters are participating in the “Hero to Hero” program to support troops deployed overseas. As part of the program, fire fighters and police personal literally take “the shirts off their backs,” sign them with messages of support and send them to men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Read more...
 

Proud IAFF Union Members in Iraq

Pictured from left are Sergeant and Bangor, ME Local 772 member Phillip Hamm, Knoxville, TN Local 65 member Robby Copas and Topeka, KS Local 83 member Anthony Standifer proudly displaying their union T-shirts in front of a fire station in Iraq.

Norwich Local Member Promotes IAFF in Iraq

Norwich, CT Local 892 fire fighter Len Burgmyer proudly displays IAFF stickers on his company’s ambulance in Iraq. more

IAFF on the Frontline at Home and Overseas - July 5, 2005 - more

Great Falls Members Return from Iraq - more

Fire Fighters Deployed Overseas - Feb. 7, 2005 - more

IAFF Members Help Secure a Free Iraq - Jan. 31, 2005 -  more

Fire Fighter Heroes In Iraq - Dec. 6, 2004 - more