“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.” – Amelia Earhart LODD: 2009 Career fire fighter seriously injured […]

“In order to be a winner, you have to look for ways of getting things done and not for reasons why things can’t be done. People who live with excuses have things that can’t be done hovering around them all the time.” – Mike Krzyzewski LODD: 2013 Career Fire Fighter Killed by Structure Collapse While […]

“The chief condition on which, life, health and vigor depend on, is action. It is by action that an organism develops its faculties, increases its energy, and attains the fulfillment of its destiny.” – Colin Powell LODD: 2007 A career captain dies and a fire fighter/driver is seriously injured when two fire trucks collide at […]

“Leadership is understanding people and involving them to help you do a job. That takes all of the good characteristics, like integrity, dedication of purpose, selflessness, knowledge, skill, implacability, as well as determination not to accept failure.” – Admiral Arleigh Burke LODD: 1896 Five Washington, DC firefighters are killed in two collapses at a building […]

Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations is Admiral William H. McRaven’s memoir of his 37 years as a Navy SEAL.  If you heard about a U.S. special forces mission, odds are that McRaven was either “boots on the ground” or a major part of the planning process.  Definitely worth the read, as there are […]

My wife and I visited the Napa Valley several years ago and had a wonderful dinner at Mustards Grill.  I still make their Braised Red Cabbage quite often. LODD: 2001 Fire fighter dies during the night at fire station – Missouri. 1964 A Grass Valley, CA firefighter dies in the line of duty Major Incidents: […]

Dad Joke Friday:  What’s Forrest Gump’s password? 1forrest1 LODD: 1981 Three Montreal, Canada firefighters were killed at a fire in a 7 story building when the top 3 floors collapsed  Major Incidents: 2011 A mobile home fire in Conroe, TX kills a 24 year old mother and three small children 2011 The Richardson Backcountry Fire […]

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” – William James LODD: 2014 Firefighter suffers fatal heart attack while providing emergency medical services – Washington. 2007 Captain suffers a fatal heart attack while participating in fire department physical fitness training program – California. 2006 Career Lieutenant dies in residential structure fire – […]

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”  –  John Quincy Adams LODD: 2004 Fire chief suffers sudden death during training – Alabama. 2004 Volunteer fire fighter suffers cardiac arrest while battling a structure fire – New York. 1985 Firefighter electrocuted while rappelling down […]

Remember, your favorite restaurants are struggling.  If you have a few bucks to spare, consider buying a “Thank You!” meal or gift card for a hospital worker, police officer, dispatcher, sanitation worker, grocery clerk, postal worker, delivery driver or anyone else you can think of that works hard everyday, especially thorough these tough times. LODD: […]