I'm not quite sure what my inspiration was to write this, but the more I thought about it I thought to myself, as Firefighters we are really good at remembering our countries veterans and we are really passionate about remebering our fallen brothers ans sisters in the Fire Service but, I haven't seen much where we really truly honor those who are our nations True Heros, Those who serve "Double Duty".
The more I thought about this subject I started to realize how many people I know that serve " Double Duty". My friend Sean Baney U.S. Navy Attached to Weapons Comany of the Marine Corps, as a corpsman and is a volunteer with the Rossford Fire Department. On my small volunteer department we have two Men that I know of and I am sure there were many more who are no longer with us, Our Assistant Chief Dan Caris served two tours in Iraq, Dave Otte U. S Navy, and as I write this Firefighter Randy Aspacher is getting ready to spend a year away from his family heading for Iraq, both men with the U.S. Army. Now for my family. My great uncle Marcus "Mike" Schnitker who served in the
U.S. Army and was a member of the Woodville Volunteer Fire Department. My cousin Bob Schnitker who served in the U. S. Air Force and was a member of My Department, Troy Township Volunteer Fire Department. And last but certainly not least of all My Brother. MSgt. Timothy "Tim" Schnitker Who Enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps and did one tour during Operation Desert Storm and now is with the U. S. Air Force and has served in Iraq, When Tim was 18 he joined the Marine Corps. To serve our Counrty and to be one of the Few and the Proud. When he came home from boot camp he got Married and Joined the Woodville Volunteer Fire Dept. which he is still a member of. Eventually Tim wanted to follow his dream of being a career Firefighter so he switched from the Marine Corps to the Air Force and became a full time firefighter with the Ohio Air National Gaurd. Currently he is serving as Fire Chief of the 180th Fighter Wing and is still a volunteer in Woodville. He may be my younger brother but he truly is my hero. All of these which I mentioned are our Heros, and should be recognized as such. Please Please feel free to comment on my blog and ad the names of those who you know serve "Double Duty" and are your heros.
As Always Be Safe, and Everybody Goes Home.
Dave