FIREMAN


I was a Fireman in the Navy.
My job classification was Engineman and, if I recall correctly,
the job classifications of Engineman and Machinists' Mate, and maybe another one or two
were called Firemen at pay grades e1, e2, and e3.
We worked below decks
WHERE IT WAS TOO HOT (like 120 degrees)
that is, below the Hangar Bay which, in turn, was below the Flight Deck.
We worked with all the heavy equipment and machinery
and we would be the First Responders in case of fire.

Then, at pay grade e4 you were no longer called a Fireman, but rather a Petty Officer.
Petty Officer, on up through e5, e6, e7...up to e9 or so.
I think it was around e9 that you became a Chief (or a Chief Petty Officer).

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Also, when I Honorably Discharged in 1977,
I moved to Knights Landing, CA and joined thier Volunteer Fire Department.
It was nothing formal. I just showed up. It was a small town (no stoplights).
It wasn't a modern, up-to-date Department like Middletown's appears to be,
but they were farmers and they knew how to make the equipment work.

Knights Landing Fire Department