Remembering ver in Our Hea Fore rts ® National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend Weekend Memorial Firefighters Fallen National 2015 ® National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Post Office Drawer 498 National Fallen Firefighters Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727 Memorial Weekend 301.447.1365 • 301.447.1645 fax www.firehero.org • [email protected] October 3-4, 2015 matt Ambelas • David Wilbur Anderson • Thomas Araguz III • Samir P. “Sam” Ashmar • matt Ambelas • David Wilbur Anderson • Thomas Araguz III • Samir P. “Sam” Ashmar • Gregory D. Barnas • Jeffery Edward Bayless • Kevin L. Bell • James E. Bethea • Joseph Gregory D. Barnas • Jeffery Edward Bayless • Kevin L. Bell • James E. Bethea • Joseph Edward Bove III • Kevin J. Bristol • Bruce Britt • John M. Burns • Jerry Campbell • Paul S. Edward Bove III • Kevin J. Bristol • Bruce Britt • John M. Burns • Jerry Campbell • Paul S. Cash • Douglas J. Casson • Dennis A. Channell • Richard L. Choate • Joyce M. Craig • Cash • Douglas J. Casson • Dennis A. Channell • Richard L. Choate • Joyce M. Craig • James A. Dickman • Ricky W. Doub • Ted F. Drake • Fred Edwards • Hugh B. Ferguson James A. Dickman • Ricky W. Doub • Ted F. Drake • Fred Edwards • Hugh B. Ferguson III • David P. Fiori • Kellen A. Fleming • Robert William “Bob” Fogle III • Jonathan E. III • David P. Fiori • Kellen A. Fleming • Robert William “Bob” Fogle III • Jonathan E. French • Donovan Artie Garcia Jr. • Michael Dale “Mikey” Garrett • Charles Edward French • Donovan Artie Garcia Jr. • Michael Dale “Mikey” Garrett • Charles Edward Goff • Matthew Goodnature • Daniel David Groover • John Derek Gupton • Ramon Goff • Matthew Goodnature • Daniel David Groover • John Derek Gupton • Ramon Edward “Ray” Hain • Homer W. Harrell Jr. • Jacob T. Harrell • Edward “Ray” Hain • Homer W. Harrell Jr. • Jacob T. Harrell • llen Fi llen Fi Fa re Dwight Reid Hilton • Ross Fa re E. Huffer • Geoffrey Hunt • Dwight Reid Hilton • Ross l f E. Huffer • Geoffrey Hunt l f a ig a ig n h n h • Christopher J. Hunter • JB Hutton Jr. • Wayne Christopher J. Hunter • JB Hutton Jr. • Wayne o t o t i i e e t t r r O’neal Jeffers • Malcolm a W. Jenkins • Eddie J. O’neal Jeffers • Malcolm a W. Jenkins • Eddie J. s s N N ★ ★ ★ Johnson Jr. • Michael- Ryan Robert Crosby Johnson Jr. • Michael- ★ Ryan Robert Crosby M M Kennedy • Steven J. e d Knaus • James Joseph Kennedy • Steven J. Knaus e d • James Joseph Knesek m n m n o e o e Knesek Sr. • Michael C. r k Kucsma Jr. • Thomas Sr. • Michael C. Kucsma r k Jr. • Thomas Gerald Lee • i ee i ee al al W W Gerald Lee • Melvin R. Loder • Gus Losleben • Stephen Melvin R. Loder • Gus Losleben • Stephen A. Machcinski • A. Machcinski • Richard L. Marchman • Donald “Pete” Martin Richard L. Marchman • Donald “Pete” Martin • S. Brad McCoy • S. Brad McCoy • John C. “Mac” McDonald • Robert C. Meyer • James Curtis Middlebrook • John C. “Mac” McDonald • Robert C. Meyer • James Curtis Middlebrook • David W. • David W. Millett • Bobby Mollere • Jeffrey Bruce Newland • Billy G. Norris Sr. • Frank L. Millett • Bobby Mollere • Jeffrey Bruce Newland • Billy G. Norris Sr. • Frank L. Obremski Obremski • Kevin J. Ollier • Cosmo Paris • Darrell D. Parker • Jamie Angelo Peite • Randall • Kevin J. Ollier • Cosmo Paris • Darrell D. Parker • Jamie Angelo Peite • Randall R. R. Pogue • James Thomas “Tom” Rhamey • Christi M. Rodgers • Joseph Sanford Jr. • Pogue • James Thomas “Tom” Rhamey • Christi M. Rodgers • Joseph Sanford Jr. • Fidel G. Serrano Jr. • Bruce A. Stayner • Tom D. Stevens Sr. • Christ K. Swan • W. Scott Fidel G. Serrano Jr. • Bruce A. Stayner • Tom D. Stevens Sr. • Christ K. Swan • W. Scott Tanksley • Robert B. Thomas • Arthur E. Treon • George D. Underwood • Edward J. Tanksley • Robert B. Thomas • Arthur E. Treon • George D. Underwood • Edward J. Walsh Jr • Robert “Bud” Webster • Richard D. Weisse Sr. • E. Jeffrey “Lance” Wentzel • Allen R. Walsh Jr • Robert “Bud” Webster • Richard D. Weisse Sr. • E. Jeffrey “Lance” Wentzel • Allen R. Westby • William “Will” Wiita • James C. Wilber • Ricky L. Winkles Sr. • James J. Woods Westby • William “Will” Wiita • James C. Wilber • Ricky L. Winkles Sr. • James J. Woods The Firefighter’s Pledge I promise concern for others. A willingness to help all those in need. I promise courage—courage to face and conquer my fears. Courage to share and endure the ordeal of those who need me. I promise strength—strength of heart to bear whatever burdens might be placed upon me. Strength of body to deliver to safety all those placed within my care. I promise the wisdom to lead, the compassion to comfort, and the love to serve unselfishly whenever I am called. —Author Unknown For those who have answered their last call . Before the Memorial Weekend, the Foundation asked families to submit information about their fallen firefighters for the Remembrance Book. If no information was received, the best information available to us for each firefighter was used. We regret any inadvertent errors or omissions. Fallen firefighter profiles can be viewed on the Foundation’s Web site at: www.firehero.org . we honor you and your loved ones. Remembering Wayne O’neal Jeffers South Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department – Alabama Volunteer Captain Date of Death: March 16, 2014 Age: 64 f I had to describe Wayne Jeffers in one He was a deacon and a member of the choir I sentence I would say, “Everything at Friendship Baptist Church in Grady, he did, he did wholeheartedly.” There Alabama. was no in between when it came to what he believed in or loved. Wayne wore many hats, but by far his proudest and most treasured He was a former Marine who was the one of “Papa” to his 11 fought in Vietnam. He was grandchildren. As big a man one of the top salesmen in his as Wayne was, his heart was retail sales career. He mar- bigger. If any of his grandkids ried, adopted a daughter, were around, you could see and later became the father what a “softie” he was. They of another little girl. Over all were dear to his heart, the years, Wayne’s hobbies, and you could see the pride loves, and career changed, when he talked about them. but his passion for what he was doing did not change. Wayne meant a lot to many people. Whether he was the Wayne found his best friend man that came when the res- and soul mate, Lisa, and in cue was called to help in the 1998 they were married. He community, deacon, husband, adopted and raised her children or simply Papa, we all suffered as his own. Natasha, Johnathan, a great loss when he passed. We and Christopher are proud to call all have comfort in knowing where him “Dad.” Wayne will spend his eternity. Wayne no doubt loved God and would tell Wayne was captain and safety officer of anyone and everyone about his Lord. You the South Montgomery County Volunteer could see in his actions what God was doing in Fire Department and an EMT at Haynes Ambulance. his life. Wayne passed on March 16, 2014, at work. Remembering Jeffery Edward Bayless Anchorage Fire Department – Alaska Career Senior Captain Date of Death: March 7, 2014 Age: 51 eff Bayless, a fourth generation Alaskan, progressed up the fire service ranks to senior J grew up in Copper Center near the captain. Jeff served a series of stations as small regional hub, Glennallen. From senior captain, pouring his heart into childhood on, he had countless each one. adventures in the wilderness. Over his lifetime he saved As a teenager, Jeff decided that countless lives. As an older what mattered most to him was teenager, Jeff and his buddy helping people. He trained as happened upon a flash flood an EMT and earned a bach- in the Yukon that swept elor’s degree from Alaska vehicles off the road. Using Bible College in Glennallen. their wilderness savvy, they After graduation, he roped up and rescued every attended the Paramedic person. Decades ago, unbe- Training Program at knownst to him, his casual Oregon Health Sciences words of encouragement University, where he kept a young woman from met his wife, Gail. They fulfilling her secret intention were married for almost of suicide, and she went on 26 years. to live a satisfying life. Early one morning as an Anchorage Jeff began his career practic- paramedic, Jeff and his partner ing paramedicine in Tillamook, drove by an unreported apart- Oregon, with a hospital-based ment house arson fire that blocked service. There he was honed into a all the exits. They called it in and, skilled, intuitive, cutting-edge para- using a ladder and blanket, began res- medic. He loved the work. While in cuing the residents. He saved several people Tillamook, he became an RN and then returned from rivers, once as part of AFD’s whitewater to Alaska, working in ICU and volunteering as a para- rescue team in a wild adventure that earned them an medic with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. His next American Red Cross Wilderness Rescue Award. step was EMS training coordinator, after which Jeff finally achieved his dream of being a paramedic with the Jeff collapsed and died suddenly toward the end of a Anchorage Fire Department. strenuous training exercise, closing out a fruitful life that had been enriched by his faith in God. He was 51. He is Eventually, AFD’s EMS and fire services integrated, and survived by his wife, mother, fathers, sisters, brothers, he became a firefighter. Jeff found that he loved firefight- and grandfather. He spent his life simply doing what he ing and turned his hunger for learning in that direction loved, completely engaged, lost in the moment.