Thought you might find this story interesting. The story came from the center I am working out of. The Dennis mentioned in the article is my boss. There are around 110 fire fighters here from around the country, pretty amazing individuals, especially the gentleman they picked to lead them, who they just call "Chief"; he is the dictionary definition of a leader. He's head of a firehouse up in Philadelphia and truly a class act.
He is a Marine in every sense of the word, with all the confidence and authority you'd expect plus some. However, he has a remarkable sense of humility you’d be surprised to see in a Marine, or any man of authority. He has a grasp on the power of respecting those around him, making the success of his authorities the top priority and attacking the task in front of you with the tenacity of a starved hyena. No detail is unnoticed, uncatalogued or uncalculated, yet he’s effective because he delegates without second thought to people he trusts.
He has astonishingly transformed some pretty disgruntled fire fighters who expected to be in New Orleans flying helicopters and saving lives into a cohesive and energized group of administrative operatives. “Chief” gave a Patton-type speech which would do any commanding officer proud... he had the room on their feet, inspired by what they have become, despite themselves.
They are doing outreach to hurricane victims, not exactly a fire fighter's dream, but they have effectively registered hundreds of individuals over the course of three days through the thoughtful organization of a military type command structure and a lot of 14 hour days. They are truly committed and selfless, and not just in the heroic, burning building type way, but the methodical, tedious, unglorious way that doesn't have the dramatic glint cameras and culture defines as true heroism. But it's more gripping I think, if you have the eyes to see, because it is no momentary choice of adrenaline, it's the hourly, daily, weekly decision to put aside self for the well being of others. It's real, it's day-to-day, and it's life. Anyways, all that to say, they ended up saving some lives despite their less then glamorous posting in Fort Worth. Sorry for the soliloquy. I’m sure it sounds corny from the hazy view of distance.
He is a Marine in every sense of the word, with all the confidence and authority you'd expect plus some. However, he has a remarkable sense of humility you’d be surprised to see in a Marine, or any man of authority. He has a grasp on the power of respecting those around him, making the success of his authorities the top priority and attacking the task in front of you with the tenacity of a starved hyena. No detail is unnoticed, uncatalogued or uncalculated, yet he’s effective because he delegates without second thought to people he trusts.
He has astonishingly transformed some pretty disgruntled fire fighters who expected to be in New Orleans flying helicopters and saving lives into a cohesive and energized group of administrative operatives. “Chief” gave a Patton-type speech which would do any commanding officer proud... he had the room on their feet, inspired by what they have become, despite themselves.
They are doing outreach to hurricane victims, not exactly a fire fighter's dream, but they have effectively registered hundreds of individuals over the course of three days through the thoughtful organization of a military type command structure and a lot of 14 hour days. They are truly committed and selfless, and not just in the heroic, burning building type way, but the methodical, tedious, unglorious way that doesn't have the dramatic glint cameras and culture defines as true heroism. But it's more gripping I think, if you have the eyes to see, because it is no momentary choice of adrenaline, it's the hourly, daily, weekly decision to put aside self for the well being of others. It's real, it's day-to-day, and it's life. Anyways, all that to say, they ended up saving some lives despite their less then glamorous posting in Fort Worth. Sorry for the soliloquy. I’m sure it sounds corny from the hazy view of distance.
posted by Michael | 1:12 PM
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