Frank’s note:
It has been 19 years since the attack on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and United Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. I write this article for the September Grapevine so that we will remember what happened on the fateful day and not forget the sacrifice so many made.
Many current members of the LAFD were not on the job yet when the U.S. was attacked by terrorists on 9-11-2001. We must not forget the loss of more than 3,000 people and those 343 members of the FDNY who sacrificed their lives for others. On a personal note I lost a very good friend at the incident. Battalion Chief Ray Downey was killed at the command post in the tower collapse. He was a national expert in Urban Search & Rescue and a true friend. We taught US&R together and worked on developing the National Response system with FEMA to get the program started.In this story is a list of CATF 1 LAFD members who responded to New York. Most have retired and some have passed on. An experience that each of them will never forget.
The Islamic extremist attack on the United States and the brutal murder of three thousand and fifty six men, women and children was an unprecedented event in American history. Equally unprecedented in American history was the unbelievable heroism of hundreds of New York Firemen, Policemen, Port Authority personnel and numerous other heroes, now know only to God, who charged into the burning World Trade Center for the sole purpose of rescuing other people’s lives.
Equally unprecedented again has been the response of people from all around the world. Immediately after the attack thousands of people, many of them rescue workers themselves, descended upon the disaster site in New York to help with the rescue. Thousands more came to attend funerals and memorials and just to show support. Millions of people from around the world raised money for the families of the victims. This event has become a world event. The Los Angeles Fire Department, like so many other departments across the land responded to the disaster in New York. The incident has become part of our history.
September 11, 2001 reinvigorated America’s gratitude for all firefighters’ efforts. In response to the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center, FEMA activated and deployed the Los Angeles City Fire Department CA-TF 1 (California Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 1) with 70 members and a Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM). The military aircraft transporting our US&R team was the first aircraft in the sky after the attack. Their mission included search and rescue, body extrication, and assistance in the use of canine search teams. In addition, many LAFD members responded on their own to assist their FDNY brothers. The CISM mission evolved into a completely unprecedented Firefighter Assistance Program, which was delivered at and near ground zero as well as at various FDNY Fire Stations and other sites. Working with many other agencies for the first-time, FEMA honored the combined efforts by making the teams the first FEMA sponsored program in the history of CISM. Several LAFD Officers were also sent as a part of the Incident Support Team for the Task forces sent to the disaster.
An edited portion of the LAFD teletype message sent out on 9/19/01:
MESSAGE FROM FIRE ADMINISTRATION |
SPECIAL NOTICE |
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON MEMBERS DEPLOYED TO NEW YORK CITY |
LAST WEEK, THE LAFD FEMA USAR CA-TF1, A LAFD CISM TEAM AND FEMA IST MEMBERS WERE DEPLOYED TO NEW YORK CITY. THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS UNIT HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS CONTACT WITH THE MEMBERS’ FAMILIES AND HAVE PROVIDED THEM AN EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE. MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOLUNTEER TO ASSIST ANY FAMILIES IN YOUR AREA BY CALLING THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS UNIT DURING OFFICE HOURS (0700 TO 1730 HOURS) AT (818) 756-9674. LAST WEEK, THE LAFD FEMA USAR CA-TF1, A LAFD CISM TEAM AND FEMA IST MEMBERS WERE DEPLOYED TO NEW YORK CITY. THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS UNIT HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS CONTACT WITH THE MEMBERS’ FAMILIES AND HAVE PROVIDED THEM AN EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE. MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO VOLUNTEER TO ASSIST ANY FAMILIES IN YOUR AREA BY CALLING THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS UNIT DURING OFFICE HOURS (0700 TO 1730 HOURS) AT (818) 756-9674. HOWEVER, MEMBERS ARE DISCOURAGED FORM CALLING THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS UNIT AT THIS TIME TO OBTAIN A PERSONAL UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THESE TEAMS. ATTACHED, IS A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE USAR, CISM AND IST TEAMS’ DEPLOYMENT HISTORY AND A LIST OF THE MEMBERS THAT WERE DEPLOYED. BRIEF OVERVIEW: LAFD RESOURCES DISPATCHED TO NEW YORK CITY SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 – 1300 HOURS USAR CA-TF1 AND IST, CONSISTING OF 70 MEMBERS, WAS DISPATCHED TO MARCH AIR FORCE BASE FOR DEPLOYMENT TO NEW YORK CITY. A HOME SUPPORT TEAM UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN JACALONE WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE LIAISON WITH THE DEPLOYED USAR TEAM AND UPDATE THE USAR TEAM’S FAMILY MEMBERS. IST MEMBERS WERE DEPLOYED SEPARATELY TO NEW YORK CITY AND PLACED ON AN INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM. 2130 HOURS USAR CA-TF1, DEPARTED FROM MARCH AIR FORCE BASE TO MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE IN NEW JERSEY. NOTE: FOUR TEAM MEMBERS WERE UNABLE TO DEPLOY DUE TO THE WEIGHT AND DISTANCE OF FLIGHT. ONLY 66 MEMBERS WERE DISPATCHED ON MILITARY AIRCRAFT. UPON ARRIVAL, CA-TF1 WAS SHUTTLED TO FORT DIX AND AWAITED DEPLOYMENT ORDERS. SEPTEMBER 12, 2001 – 0400 HOURS USAR CA-TF1 DISPATCHED TO THE JACOB JAVITZ CONVENTION CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY AND ESTABLISHED BASE OF OPERATIONS (BOO). 0700 HOURS MEMBERS WERE BRIEFED, FED AND COMMENCED RESCUE OPERATIONS. SINCE THAT TIME, THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN RESCUE AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS. RESCUE AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS: * CA-TF1 WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO TEAMS UNDER THE COMMAND OF DEPUTY CHIEF RUEDA AND ASSISTANT CHIEF DEFEO, RESPECTIVELY. * OPERATIONAL PERIODS ARE 12-HOUR INCREMENTS. * TEAMS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH NUMEROUS BODY EXTRICATIONS. * REPORTEDLY, THE TEAM IS FATIGUED, BUT MAINTAINING HIGH SPIRITS. * CA-TF1 IS PROJECTED TO BE DEMOBILIZED ON SEPTEMBER 20TH. * PROJECTED RETURN DATE IS SEPTEMBER 21ST AND ARRIVAL TIME TBA. SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 – 1400 HOURS LAFD CISM TEAM, CONSISTING OF 25 MEMBERS, ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE LAX TO NEW YORK – ABORTED WHEN LAX SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS IN WAKE OF ARRESTS MADE IN NEW YORK. SEPTEMBER 14, 2001 – 1300 HOURS FIRST WAVE OF CISM TEAM, CONSISTING OF SEVEN MEMBERS, DEPLOYED TO NEW YORK FROM LAX. SEPTEMBER 15, 2001 – 0630 HOURS SECOND WAVE OF CISM TEAM, CONSISTING OF 15 MEMBERS, DEPLOYED TO NEW YORK FROM LAX. NEW YORK CITY FROM LAX (TOTAL OF 22 MEMBERS). CISM TEAMS WERE DEPLOYED AND ARE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE LAFD USAR TEAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CISM TEAM’S RETURN IS TBA. MEMBERS DEPLOYED FOR USAR CA-TF1: URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM NEW YORK CITY INCIDENT NEW YORK CITY FROM LAX (TOTAL OF 22 MEMBERS). CISM TEAMS WERE DEPLOYED AND ARE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE LAFD USAR TEAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CISM TEAM’S RETURN IS TBA. MEMBERS DEPLOYED FOR USAR CA-TF1: |
URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM NEW YORK CITY INCIDENT |
NAME | ASSIGNMENT |
ARNOLD, DANIEL W. | FS 90B |
AVERY, GREGG M. | FS 66A |
BERKERY, STEVEN J. | FS 39C |
BOWIE, GARY R. | BATT 4A |
BULLOCK, HOLLYN D. | FS 88B |
BURAU, THOMAS M. | DISASTER PREPAREDNESS UNIT |
CARBAJAL, JESUS P. | FS 26B |
CARRERA, OMAR F. | FS 90C |
CASAS, LOUIS JR. | FS 75B |
CORDOBES, ROBERT S. | FS 88A |
COOPER CHRISTOPHER, A. | RECRUIT TRAINING |
DEFEO, ROBERT J. | DIVISION 1A |
DENNING, RICHARD L. JR. | FS 72B |
ECKSTEIN, MARC | QUALITY IMPROVEMENT |
FREEMAN, DAVID W. | FS 48B |
FRY, CRAIG A. | IN-SERVICE TRAINING |
GOLDSWORTHY, JAMES R. | FS 90C |
GRUBE,CHARLES J. | FS 63A |
HAUS, THOMAS J. | BATT 14C |
HISSONG, STEVE M. | FS 20A |
HORST, STANLEY D. | FS 8C |
JACKSON, DANE M. | FS 56A |
KAWAI, CHRISTOPHER S. | PLANNING SECTION |
KITAHATA, THOMAS D. | FS 3C |
KLAMECKI, RONALD H. | FS 88B |
LABRIE, BRIAN J. | FS 98C |
LESINSKI,JAIME R. | FS 4B |
LIMA, FRANKLIN V. | FS 39C |
LOPEZ, STEPHEN R. | FS 33B |
MANNING, TERRANCE J. | DIVISION 1C |
Manning, TIMOTHY V. | DIVISION 2A |
MESSNER, LANCE S. | AIR OPERATIONS A |
MILLS, HENRY C. | FS 5A |
MITCHELL, SCOTT D. | FS 88A |
NAEOLE, ALAN C. | AIR OPERATIONS B |
OJEDA, ERNESTO | FS 88B |
POIRIER, ALFRED . | BUREAU OF EMERGENCY SERVICES |
OUINLAN, SCOTT | FS 66C |
REX, KEVIN L. | BATT 10A |
REYES, DONALD B. | FS 81A |
RICKEY, JEFFREY K. | FS 39B |
ROSE, COREY G. | EMS DIST. 10A |
RUDDELL, CHARLES B. | FS 88B |
RUEDA, MARIO D. | BUREAU OF HUMAN RESOURCES |
SANDERSON, GREGORY A. | AIR OPERATIONS B |
SANDS, TODD J. | FS 88A |
SAXELBY, MARK J. | FS 88B |
SEARS, BARRY J. | FS 90B |
STIGLICH,JAMES L. | FS 35B |
TELLER, DERESA D. | FS 104B |
TERRILL, GREGORY J. | FS 88C |
TIETZ, KURT | FS 4A |
VALAS, MICHAEL | FS 88A |
VAN DYKE, TRUMAN | FS 71B |
WEST, GREGORY A. | BATT 17A |
WHITE, CRAIG L. | FS 98C |
WHITE, WADE A. | FS 66B |
WILCOX, ROBERT C. | BATT 10C |
WILLIS, JARVIS R. | BATT 13B |
WISE, JACK H. | DRILL TOWER 89 |
The following is an excellent letter written by Fire Chief William Bamattre:
From the office of the Fire Chief . . . . . September 19, 2001 TO ALL MEMBERS SUBJECT: THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM In the wake of the incomprehensible events of last week, we as a nation, a Department, and as individuals find ourselves focusing on the short-and long-term impact of terrorism on American soil. As news commentators have repeated over the last several days, life as we knew it will never be the same and the extent of this change will only be determined over time. The attacks on our nation have left us feeling potentially vulnerable to the evil whims of eccentric extremists and never in our lifetime have we had to deal with such uncertainty. Regular activities such as reporting to work or outings with family members will now be undertaken amidst concerns for safety and security. As a nation, we are now awaiting our government’s response to last week’s terrorist attacks. Most certainly, our lives will be affected regardless of where or how our leaders choose to respond. Not since World War II have Americans been called upon to think of the national interest, but we undoubtedly will be forced to. With approximately one-third of Department members under age 40, our nation’s inevitable military action will be a new phenomenon. Over the past several days, we have witnessed demonstrations of patriotism and pride in unprecedented proportion. We will, however, need to maintain that national loyalty while remaining steadfast in our vigilance. The fury of events on the morning of September 11th thrust our Department into a state of heightened readiness. Our field members, staff members, and civilian members were all impacted by our immediate need to ensure the protection of the City of Los Angeles. While I firmly believe that our preparations were adequate, I believe areas in need of improvement were uncovered. Issues such as the deployment of personnel, the staffing of resources and the transportation of our civilian members to another work site showed that operational plans need to be re-evaluated and updated immediately, not in the near future. I call on our Department’s top managers to lead and respond accordingly. And I expect all members to cooperate fully while remaining focused on the potential problems that may occur within our City. As members of the Los Angeles Fire Department, we are charged with protecting the City of Los Angeles and faltering in this mandate will not be tolerated. Our Department has over a century of rich history where we have responded to the needs of those who called upon us. As always, we shall continue to provide the finest fire, emergency medical, and rescue services available. However, due to the ultimate bravery and supreme sacrifices made by the New York Fire Department – our profession is now in the world’s spotlight and we must respond by showing our strength in unity, calm, and professionalism. Never before has the Fire Service attained such a pedestalled position and we must remain vigilant of that fact and conduct ourselves accordingly. As individuals, these catastrophic events are indeed troubling for everyone. As emergency responders, our families face the added burden of concern for our safety while we perform our duty to the public. At this time, we do not know how our when our nation will respond, only that it will. Therefore, we must prepare ourselves, our families, and our households for the unforeseen which may be lengthy and difficult. Together, we shall face whatever crises are forced upon us. And, as always, we shall remain strong, vigilant, and prepared. WILLIAM R. BAMATTRE Fire Chief |
LAFD 9-11 Memorial
As a tribute to the courage, commitment, and sacrifice of those involved in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the LAFD raised a memorial in 2003. A volunteer team brought in a 3-ton steel column donated by Mr. Jeffery Neu from the base of the World Trade Center. The 20-foot column was originally part of the lobby structure and is the largest remnant of the attacks outside of New York City. It was placed in front of the Frank Hotchkins Memorial Training Center near Dodger Stadium on Stadium Way.
The LAFD and the City of Los Angeles remembers the loss of innocent lives, the sacrifice of 343 FDNY members and the first responders every September 11thand continue the motto “Never Forget”.
Annual 9-11 Remembrance
The LAFD Historical Society has been holding an annual 9-11 remembrance ceremony at the Hollywood Fire Museum and Memorial since the museum opened in 2001 so that we will never forget the more than 3000 people died that day from terrorist attacks and that 343 members of the New York Fire Department were killed at the World Trade Center. We start the ceremony at 0700 hours to coincide with the collapse of the first World Trade Center Tower at approximately 1000 hours Eastern Time. September 11th– “Never Forget”. All are welcome to join us. We do not know as of this writing if we will be able to have the ceremony this year.
Submitted by Frank Borden, LAFD retired