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Quote: Originally posted by Pye@Sep 5 2005, 08:37 PM
I've been following this guy's postings in a yahoo group-- he's a firefighter in NO and he's down there risking his life to help others. Each writing there is something that he mentions that really amazes me about some of the heros out there and it can also amaze me about the ugly side of human nature:
ricky <surfinstroking@yahoo.com>
Hello guys. I want, No, I guess I need to tell ya'all about someone I met today. Well, maybe it was yesterday. I really don't know. In this surreal environment, the images, the fire calls, the rescues, the recoveries, the faces...they are all merging and blurring for me now.
First I need you to remember that New Orleans is not flooded with water. We are flooded with sewage. Rotting raw waste, oil, gas, rotted food, dead bodies, chemicals God only knows what methyl Ethyl bad stuff is here.
I was working with a couple of guys a few blocks from the Superdome in a residential neighborhood. We were going from house to house looking for living people, but finding many more dead than alive. We were wading through about three foot of whatever this stuff is that is several feet deep and all through town. A couple of guys in civilian clothes came by with a small fishing boat. We exchanged nods and they started doing the same thing we were. A while later and a few doors down, I noticed one of the guys was escorting a frail elderly man across a yard toward the boat. The mas started to fall and this guy swept him up with so much tenderness it touched my heart. I was pleased to see a volunteer civilian there, and doing that. A few minutes later, the same civilian was escorting a very frail looking women across the same yard. I started that direction to see if there might be more in need. The women slipped and disappeared. This civilian didn't blink, he dove, yes he dove head first into the sewage/slop whatever and surfaced with a lady in his arms. He tenderly wiped the sludge from her face as he carried her toward the boat. He sat this lady in the boat like you would imagine a new groom setting down his bride. At that point I was along this civilian and reached out to shake his hand, when I recognized him as being Sean Penn. He confirmed his identity and asked me if he was doing alright and asked me to let him know if we needed his help. He said he was going to take this couple to the hospital and would be back soon.
I looked around to see where the TV cameras were, and there were none. I have read the bad boy negative press about Sean Penn for years, and I guess I had believed it. Almost an hour later Sean was back. In and out of the boat, in and out of yards, in and out of homes,back and forth to the hospital, and I never did see any reporters or cameras. Sean came here, probably without any ones permission from wherever it is that he usually is, and with a determined look upon his face and an even more determined attitude, risking the deadly water snakes infesting this wet stuff all over, wading sometimes neck deep, and doing as much or more than anyone else could do.
Guys, ya'all have TVs and probably know more about the whole picture here than I do. My guess is that bunches of celebrities have called press conferences and have donated bunches of money to this cause like they always do. Sean Penn, whom I have never had positive feelings for has earned my respect. From my short exchange with him, and from the way he carried himself, I will be floored to hear of him doing any of this for publicity. It was too hands on, tender and determined for that.
I have just heard that we are to refuse to give anyone else who refuses to leave New Orleans any food or water. I hope this is not an official command. I would rather pick someone up with force and cause them to leave than to starve them into wanting to leave. This place is becoming more unhealthy/deadly by the minute. I'm not sure who's running this part of the world now, be it the local, State or Federal authorities. I for one will continue to do whatever I can to help the local people as long as I have access to any food or water.
We have abandoned any regular type schedule here. Being a firefighter/medic, my main concern is fire calls, backed up by medical assistance and as possible rescue/recovery work. Sleep is hard to come by, there is such a sense of urgency. As I drop off my mind spins with concerns about who I may be able to help if I just could stay awake for a bit longer. Guys, don't worry, I am smart enough, and have been drilled and drilled in training to take at least basic care of myself so-as not to become a part of the problem, instead of help in solving the problem. While I haven't much appetite, and find it hard to sleep, I am getting an adequate supply of both.
For those of you who haven't looked at my profile picture. I am a scrawny little dude. The guys in the department have always kidded me about being handy in getting into small places to fight fires. This has been real usefull this week. I prefer tp slip through small openings in attics and crawl spaces instead of having to axe and chainsaw big openings in peoples homes. We try in inflict as little damage as possible, just in case the homeowners are still alive and want to return home.
Well guys, I have dried off, eaten and rested abit. There are a couple of hours of daylight yet, I'm headed back out to see what help I can be or trouble I can get into
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That's a pretty amazing story. I will admit that although I often do not agree with Penn on a lot of political issue (and find the films he's in to be a mixed bag), he has always seemed like a celebrity who is actually committed to the causes he supports. I never got that camera chaser air from him, and this story proves it. I'm glad you shared. |