Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department
1982-Ever Present. Fire Co. 1, Prince Georges County (MD).

Teamwork. For me, the appeal and essence of the emergency services is teamwork. In high school, I lettered in wrestling and "played" football (in which case, I can't remember whether I was ever actually IN a game), But, those were never really TEAM experiences. In wrestling, you go through a season with blinders on-- YOU have to make weight, YOU have to work on your moves, YOU win or loose-- nobody else exists. In football,...well, how would I really know? But, in firefighting, you win or loose BIG; and, you win or loose as a team. Although HVFD was the second department with which I worked, it was my classroom for the advanced study of teamwork. My instructors were the best in the world: Andy Levy (former Assistant Chief), Doc Moltrup (Chief), Al Sondej ("Monster Man") and, to a significant extent everybody I met and worked with there. They shaped my whole outlook on life.