Palantir
23 Sep 03, 21:57
It's time for another CM player interview!
Who to quiz next but our own new CM Tournament Coordinator “Gonzo!”
Due to the consequences of having already depleted the WHQ Travel Budget for the year (Pete, Don you need to increase that :( ) I was forced to take a bus to NYC for the interview. So what happens by taking the slooowww way there? They have a blackout just as the bus is nearing the city! Of all the hindrances!
So there I was stuck in unmoving traffic due to some squirrel in Ohio or Canada crawling in a transformer. How was I ever going to get to my penthouse level suite at the Waldorf Astoria? (Just because I couldn’t travel first class didn’t mean I wasn’t going to sleep first class, besides there was still money in the "Unallocated Funds Budget," it was buried deep but I found it!!! :D )
Have you ever traveled cross-country on a bus with 70 other people? Have you ever been stuck in traffic on a sweltering day on a bus for hours on end with 70 smelly people? Me neither, and I wasn’t about to find out what it was like so I hopped right off then and there determined to walk to the hotel. Unfortunately the police were turning back all non-NYC residence at the bridge so that killed the face to face interview. I would just have to send it to Gonzo via pigeon power; there were tons of them all squating around so I grabbed a particularly big fat one and tied my list of questions to its leg. The little bugger struggled to take off but as a cat came charging towards it boy did it fly high! I’m sure he knew Gonzo's window ledge since I know he’s quiet a “bird” watcher. :love:
So now what to do? With the city closed I had to find alternative transportation back home, (I was just happy that the Waldorf eventually credited my “personal” account! ;) ) As luck had it a small bus just happened to be creeping by heading westward and I saw an open seat. So I ran over told my story and they said, "sure hop on," so I did and found myself with another group of hot & sweaty bodies. As the traffic continued to crawl along it got hotter and hotter inside and the other passengers began taking off clothing left & right trying to stay cool. Boy that was a fun time, ah the sweet memories!
Did I mention the bus was from an Ivy League College or that the passengers were all coeds on the women’s soccer team? I’d say the name of the college but I don’t want the girls at Yale to get jealous! It was a two day trip after all! :whist:
:banana:
Ahum,
It’s now time for the third WHQ CM Player Interview!
We are extremely honored this month to be interviewing Robert “Gonzo” Wakie CM Tournament Coordinator.
Thanks for being obligated as a staffer for taking our questions Gonzo.
No problem, I enjoy being forced to make a fool of myself for the enjoyment of others. I guess we should not tell the reading public that I was threatened with expulsion from “Warfare HQ” if I did not agree to this inquisition.
Hopefully building that rack down at the office was some motivation.
How did you get the moniker “Gonzo?”
I thought it was a cool name so I stole it from “Michael Gonzo Gonzalez”. In reality I picked it up from work in reference to a lost Dept. badge. When asked what had happen to the badge the reply of “gonzo” stuck.
And no Avatar- what’s the deal with that?
In actuality when I first joined “Warfare HQ” I did have an Avatar, but that choice was lost with the original Forum software. When the HQ switched over to the current setup I never bothered to pick a new Avatar. I really don’t remember why not. I must have been a little lazy that day.
If you HAD to pick an avatar (and you will as a staffer I’m sure) what type would it be?
The Fire Fighters Maltese Cross.
How long have you been playing CM?
I first read about CMBO in one of the computer gaming magazines some time in early 2001. It was a great write up, extolling the virtues of at that time, a little known game by a small company. The article described the unique manner in which the game was played and I was beginning to think this might be a great game. I decided to order the game and I received it sometime in the early spring of 2001. I believe that this was about 5 or 6 months after it’s initial release and I have been playing since then, except for about 7 months after 9/11.
Do you still play CMBO?
Every once in a while I will start it up and play a scenario against the AI, although I have not played a game against a human opponent since CMBB has been released. Before CMBB came out I predicted that most of Combat Mission game play would migrate over to the new platform. I don’t know if my prediction came true. That might be a good poll question for the forum. I did go out and purchase the deluxe version of the CMBO for my collection and will do the same when the CMBB version is released.
On average how many games do you have going at one time? Most at one time?
I try to keep my self confined to about 8-10 games. This is mostly to keep the wife happy. She can get pretty POed if I put to much time on the computer “playing those games”.
The most PBEM games I ever had going was 18 back in the days of CMBO. I was just starting out PBEM and was like the preverbal kid in a candy store grabbing opponents here and there. All of a sudden I was spending 3 hours plus on one round of moves. That was a rude wake up call in how much time this game could eat out of your day. Angela was not very happy and by association neither was I.
Do you play any other PC games?
I guess you could call me a PC game junky. I have been playing computer games since the mid 80’s going all the way back to a little DOS game called “Starflight” by EA. I must have a couple of hundred games in my collection and keep two old PC’s around to be able to play some of the older DOS titles. I have dabbled in all genres of gaming but come back mostly to games that are based on Strategy and Tactics.
Concerning the other “Strategy” games, which ones would those be? And what are your favorites?
Steel Panthers WAW, Civilization 2 and 3 and Panzer General, Close Combat and CMBO. All of these are still on my hard drive although I haven’t played Panzer General or Close Combat in a long time. Playing through the Lost Victories Mega campaign right now.
Do your wife or kids play any PC games?
About the only PC game my wife, Angela, plays is Diamond Mine. She tolerates my habit and I try and keep her happy by not spending to much time on the PC. No kids at home anymore, finally kicked them out to fend for themselves. Best thing I ever did, more room at home and a heck of a lot more money in my pocket now that they are gone. I even plan on spending their inheritance before I pass.
Concerning the “debate” surrounding the first “King of the Steppe” map did you see that as a positive thing as far as member interest?
Any input positive or negative in a community is good and I have noticed that a little controversy always brings the boys out of the woodwork. As a point of interest I played that 1st map against a Vet player and neither one of us took any roadblocks. As the Russians I blew the bridges and mined the fords and he mined everything. I managed to eke out a win playing both sides. Getting back to “debate” on the forum I was thinking about maybe a series of tactical problems thrown out to the members asking for input and their solutions. You know, do a map with a given force selection and a defined problem and see how different members would attack and defend against the problem. It might be good as an instructional tool for less experienced players and even the Vets may pick up a few pointers. Anyway it’s just a thought, might be good for scenario developers to.
Do you think the members will appreciate how quick your attention to this was and your making “adjustments” for their concerns?
In general the feed back from the membership was extremely supportive. I do not think I received one major complaint from anyone and that was very much appreciated.
Besides the above how is being the Tournament Coordinator going so far?
I have never done this before and did not realize the amount of work involved. I gladly tip my hat to the members who have done this job before me. My biggest problem right now is trying to replace players who have dropped out. I have learned one important lesson; if I do another tournament I will publish the opponents list about a week before the round begins and ask the players to contact each other so we can work out any communication problems before the round starts.
Any future tournaments in the pipeline?
As you know I took this position on a trial bases and continuing in this position would be up to Scipio and any other site administrators. If asked to stay on I am looking forward towards CMAK and maybe another tournament after the first patch comes out for that game. If interest continues for CMBB we could have another Tournament based on the interests of the membership.
Are you a big CM scenario/map designer?
Not really. I enjoy playing a good scenario, but the amount of work involved to get a balanced outcome when designing one is unbelievable. It takes a pretty good group of committed play testers to burp out a good scenario. That is why I have expressed an interest in the group that Attacking Gonzo is putting together.
Do you have a favorite CM type scenario or map?
I enjoy doing maps and most of mine usually center around a small village or town. This feature usually is the object of contention regardless of the type of game play. ME, Attack/Defend , Assault can all be worked around this target. I just feel that this is a more realistic setting compared to a couple of victory flags stuck in the middle of a map for no apparent reason.
Now you guys playing in the tournament don’t be to sure you know what the future tournament maps will look like.
Is there a particular game setting you prefer?
Not really, but if pushed for answer I would say unrestricted in everything. I have played in a few night scenarios and contrary to public opinion I find them very interesting. They can really teach you the worth of infantry and support weapons such as Machine Guns in coordinated advance using suppressive fire. You also get to sneak reinforcements round in the open without being seen.
What is your personal preference as far as automatic vs. manual selection of units?
I would have to say that for ladder play, I would still have to take manual selection. In automatic selection I have seen to many instances where the AI will give one side an unbeatable weapons platform and the other side will receive in balance, 15 units that have no chance of taking it out. That statement may be an exaggeration, but I think most members would understand the point.
If you are playing for the enjoyment of the game and looking for a new game experience by all means go with the automatic selection. It definitely puts a different twist on the game.
What are you most interested in seeing in the new CMAK, besides girls laying on Mediterranean beaches?
The thing I am looking forward to the most will be the ability to play as the allies under the rule set used in CMBB. I think the CMBB rule set was a significant step forward in creating a more realistic game. There is no doubt that game play is quite different between the two games and I want to see what this brings to the allied side. Secondly BF stated that they upped the polygon count on the vehicles, which should improve the looks of the game even more. Good old “Eye Candy” imagine how good those girls are going to look on the beach.
When is the last time you’ve used a Flamethrower tank? Or a Russian Ampulomet? (Or ever?) Were they helpful or successfully used? {I told you this was a 3 alarm interview!}
Flamethrower tanks definitely have their uses and I like to use them in an urban setting. Nothing like pulling up to a building with enemy units in it and lighting it up, watch it burn and seeing the boys head for the hills. Only thing I wish you could do is dictate which main weapon you wanted to fire and when, not leave it up to the game AI.
I have received Russian Ampulomets in a scenario and used them against open vehicles with very minor success. Personally, I have never purchased them in a Quick Battle.
What’s you beverage & music of choice while playing?
If its vodka and we ever play TCP drink up!!
A good cup of coffee is nice. Sorry no Vodka, never developed a taste for liquor, but I will have a beer once in a while. No music while playing. I always try to pick up audio clues from my cyber soldiers they like to talk a lot while being shot at and that goes for both sides in a battle. You rookies out there pay attention to what your opponent’s men are saying.
And as always:
Do you have a favorite vehicle in CM?
From a playing stand point I would have to say no. From an aesthetic point I would have to say I’m partial to the German Panther. I just love the side profile with that long 75mm gun sticking out. Must be “Freudian.”
Is there a must have unit for you?
Once again I would have to say no. I use what the situation dictates, as all players should.
Do you use any mods?
The only mod I have used in CMBB is grid overlay for terrain. I find that it allows you to pick up the terrain nuances a lot easier.
What one word would most opponents say about your CM playing style?
Maybe that I have no style? The only thing else might be is that I’m too cautions on Attack. I always seem to run out of time and have to rush the endgame.
And if you could sit down with any historical figure for a chat whom would that be and why?
A very good question and one I had to think about for a bit. Unlike my wife I am not a big fan of history, I have enough trouble living in the here and now. I would have to pick Leonardo da Vinci, although communication would be a little difficult as my Italian is none existent. I have always been amazed by the diversity of his interests, writings and accomplishments. He has always struck me as a man far in advance of his time.
Anything else you care to share with our members besides money? (You have my address!)
I would just like to thank them once again for there support in the tournament process and say that I think we have a great bunch of members here at Warfare HQ. I only wish that more of them participated on the Forum expressing their opinions, ideas and asking questions. Guys, there is a great body of knowledge out there pertaining to this game in the form of member experience, but unless you ask a question or post a statement none of it will ever see print.
And lastly on a more serious note: (posted with permission)
I know you’re a NYC Firefighter and involved at the WTC, would you be interested in sharing your involvement with our members or some thoughts concerning your experiences.
What do I say to them; that if it happened on Monday, 9/10 instead of Tuesday, 9/11 I would be the one dead instead of Mike, or that if I choose to work the second half of the mutual on Tuesday, instead of the first half on Monday, I would have died. Talk about fate playing a hand.
How do you convey what it was like during later recovery efforts, were it felt like you were working in a giant cemetery exhuming bodies by hand? Seeing Fire Fighters lined up, looking through piles of debris as it was being spread out by heavy equipment, searching for any human remains. What about the smell of rotting flesh that would not go away; it clung to your body until you took a shower.
Or carrying out the remains of Mike and Joe a week apart. Attending the initial autopsy of both where the biggest whole peace left of Mike was half his pelvic bone. Strangely Joe was mostly intact when they cut off the remains of his turn out gear, at least his bones were.
Or about having to choose what Line of duty funerals you were going to attend because on some days there were 3 in different parts of the city.
Or looking at the families of the fallen, the parents, wives, and children as they grieved watching there loved ones remains pass by for one last ride on the hose bed of a converted Mack Pumper.
Or asking when it will happen again, not if it will, but when and how bad will it be the next time. Every member of the Department subconsciously knows it will happen again and we all work with that fear at the back of our minds.
Do you think the members would understand?
I do indeed hope they would and our prayers and admiration goes out to you and all firefighters. :flag:
Thanks for a fascinating and moving interview Rob.
See you again soon on the Battlefield!
Palantir
Who to quiz next but our own new CM Tournament Coordinator “Gonzo!”
Due to the consequences of having already depleted the WHQ Travel Budget for the year (Pete, Don you need to increase that :( ) I was forced to take a bus to NYC for the interview. So what happens by taking the slooowww way there? They have a blackout just as the bus is nearing the city! Of all the hindrances!
So there I was stuck in unmoving traffic due to some squirrel in Ohio or Canada crawling in a transformer. How was I ever going to get to my penthouse level suite at the Waldorf Astoria? (Just because I couldn’t travel first class didn’t mean I wasn’t going to sleep first class, besides there was still money in the "Unallocated Funds Budget," it was buried deep but I found it!!! :D )
Have you ever traveled cross-country on a bus with 70 other people? Have you ever been stuck in traffic on a sweltering day on a bus for hours on end with 70 smelly people? Me neither, and I wasn’t about to find out what it was like so I hopped right off then and there determined to walk to the hotel. Unfortunately the police were turning back all non-NYC residence at the bridge so that killed the face to face interview. I would just have to send it to Gonzo via pigeon power; there were tons of them all squating around so I grabbed a particularly big fat one and tied my list of questions to its leg. The little bugger struggled to take off but as a cat came charging towards it boy did it fly high! I’m sure he knew Gonzo's window ledge since I know he’s quiet a “bird” watcher. :love:
So now what to do? With the city closed I had to find alternative transportation back home, (I was just happy that the Waldorf eventually credited my “personal” account! ;) ) As luck had it a small bus just happened to be creeping by heading westward and I saw an open seat. So I ran over told my story and they said, "sure hop on," so I did and found myself with another group of hot & sweaty bodies. As the traffic continued to crawl along it got hotter and hotter inside and the other passengers began taking off clothing left & right trying to stay cool. Boy that was a fun time, ah the sweet memories!
Did I mention the bus was from an Ivy League College or that the passengers were all coeds on the women’s soccer team? I’d say the name of the college but I don’t want the girls at Yale to get jealous! It was a two day trip after all! :whist:
:banana:
Ahum,
It’s now time for the third WHQ CM Player Interview!
We are extremely honored this month to be interviewing Robert “Gonzo” Wakie CM Tournament Coordinator.
Thanks for being obligated as a staffer for taking our questions Gonzo.
No problem, I enjoy being forced to make a fool of myself for the enjoyment of others. I guess we should not tell the reading public that I was threatened with expulsion from “Warfare HQ” if I did not agree to this inquisition.
Hopefully building that rack down at the office was some motivation.
How did you get the moniker “Gonzo?”
I thought it was a cool name so I stole it from “Michael Gonzo Gonzalez”. In reality I picked it up from work in reference to a lost Dept. badge. When asked what had happen to the badge the reply of “gonzo” stuck.
And no Avatar- what’s the deal with that?
In actuality when I first joined “Warfare HQ” I did have an Avatar, but that choice was lost with the original Forum software. When the HQ switched over to the current setup I never bothered to pick a new Avatar. I really don’t remember why not. I must have been a little lazy that day.
If you HAD to pick an avatar (and you will as a staffer I’m sure) what type would it be?
The Fire Fighters Maltese Cross.
How long have you been playing CM?
I first read about CMBO in one of the computer gaming magazines some time in early 2001. It was a great write up, extolling the virtues of at that time, a little known game by a small company. The article described the unique manner in which the game was played and I was beginning to think this might be a great game. I decided to order the game and I received it sometime in the early spring of 2001. I believe that this was about 5 or 6 months after it’s initial release and I have been playing since then, except for about 7 months after 9/11.
Do you still play CMBO?
Every once in a while I will start it up and play a scenario against the AI, although I have not played a game against a human opponent since CMBB has been released. Before CMBB came out I predicted that most of Combat Mission game play would migrate over to the new platform. I don’t know if my prediction came true. That might be a good poll question for the forum. I did go out and purchase the deluxe version of the CMBO for my collection and will do the same when the CMBB version is released.
On average how many games do you have going at one time? Most at one time?
I try to keep my self confined to about 8-10 games. This is mostly to keep the wife happy. She can get pretty POed if I put to much time on the computer “playing those games”.
The most PBEM games I ever had going was 18 back in the days of CMBO. I was just starting out PBEM and was like the preverbal kid in a candy store grabbing opponents here and there. All of a sudden I was spending 3 hours plus on one round of moves. That was a rude wake up call in how much time this game could eat out of your day. Angela was not very happy and by association neither was I.
Do you play any other PC games?
I guess you could call me a PC game junky. I have been playing computer games since the mid 80’s going all the way back to a little DOS game called “Starflight” by EA. I must have a couple of hundred games in my collection and keep two old PC’s around to be able to play some of the older DOS titles. I have dabbled in all genres of gaming but come back mostly to games that are based on Strategy and Tactics.
Concerning the other “Strategy” games, which ones would those be? And what are your favorites?
Steel Panthers WAW, Civilization 2 and 3 and Panzer General, Close Combat and CMBO. All of these are still on my hard drive although I haven’t played Panzer General or Close Combat in a long time. Playing through the Lost Victories Mega campaign right now.
Do your wife or kids play any PC games?
About the only PC game my wife, Angela, plays is Diamond Mine. She tolerates my habit and I try and keep her happy by not spending to much time on the PC. No kids at home anymore, finally kicked them out to fend for themselves. Best thing I ever did, more room at home and a heck of a lot more money in my pocket now that they are gone. I even plan on spending their inheritance before I pass.
Concerning the “debate” surrounding the first “King of the Steppe” map did you see that as a positive thing as far as member interest?
Any input positive or negative in a community is good and I have noticed that a little controversy always brings the boys out of the woodwork. As a point of interest I played that 1st map against a Vet player and neither one of us took any roadblocks. As the Russians I blew the bridges and mined the fords and he mined everything. I managed to eke out a win playing both sides. Getting back to “debate” on the forum I was thinking about maybe a series of tactical problems thrown out to the members asking for input and their solutions. You know, do a map with a given force selection and a defined problem and see how different members would attack and defend against the problem. It might be good as an instructional tool for less experienced players and even the Vets may pick up a few pointers. Anyway it’s just a thought, might be good for scenario developers to.
Do you think the members will appreciate how quick your attention to this was and your making “adjustments” for their concerns?
In general the feed back from the membership was extremely supportive. I do not think I received one major complaint from anyone and that was very much appreciated.
Besides the above how is being the Tournament Coordinator going so far?
I have never done this before and did not realize the amount of work involved. I gladly tip my hat to the members who have done this job before me. My biggest problem right now is trying to replace players who have dropped out. I have learned one important lesson; if I do another tournament I will publish the opponents list about a week before the round begins and ask the players to contact each other so we can work out any communication problems before the round starts.
Any future tournaments in the pipeline?
As you know I took this position on a trial bases and continuing in this position would be up to Scipio and any other site administrators. If asked to stay on I am looking forward towards CMAK and maybe another tournament after the first patch comes out for that game. If interest continues for CMBB we could have another Tournament based on the interests of the membership.
Are you a big CM scenario/map designer?
Not really. I enjoy playing a good scenario, but the amount of work involved to get a balanced outcome when designing one is unbelievable. It takes a pretty good group of committed play testers to burp out a good scenario. That is why I have expressed an interest in the group that Attacking Gonzo is putting together.
Do you have a favorite CM type scenario or map?
I enjoy doing maps and most of mine usually center around a small village or town. This feature usually is the object of contention regardless of the type of game play. ME, Attack/Defend , Assault can all be worked around this target. I just feel that this is a more realistic setting compared to a couple of victory flags stuck in the middle of a map for no apparent reason.
Now you guys playing in the tournament don’t be to sure you know what the future tournament maps will look like.
Is there a particular game setting you prefer?
Not really, but if pushed for answer I would say unrestricted in everything. I have played in a few night scenarios and contrary to public opinion I find them very interesting. They can really teach you the worth of infantry and support weapons such as Machine Guns in coordinated advance using suppressive fire. You also get to sneak reinforcements round in the open without being seen.
What is your personal preference as far as automatic vs. manual selection of units?
I would have to say that for ladder play, I would still have to take manual selection. In automatic selection I have seen to many instances where the AI will give one side an unbeatable weapons platform and the other side will receive in balance, 15 units that have no chance of taking it out. That statement may be an exaggeration, but I think most members would understand the point.
If you are playing for the enjoyment of the game and looking for a new game experience by all means go with the automatic selection. It definitely puts a different twist on the game.
What are you most interested in seeing in the new CMAK, besides girls laying on Mediterranean beaches?
The thing I am looking forward to the most will be the ability to play as the allies under the rule set used in CMBB. I think the CMBB rule set was a significant step forward in creating a more realistic game. There is no doubt that game play is quite different between the two games and I want to see what this brings to the allied side. Secondly BF stated that they upped the polygon count on the vehicles, which should improve the looks of the game even more. Good old “Eye Candy” imagine how good those girls are going to look on the beach.
When is the last time you’ve used a Flamethrower tank? Or a Russian Ampulomet? (Or ever?) Were they helpful or successfully used? {I told you this was a 3 alarm interview!}
Flamethrower tanks definitely have their uses and I like to use them in an urban setting. Nothing like pulling up to a building with enemy units in it and lighting it up, watch it burn and seeing the boys head for the hills. Only thing I wish you could do is dictate which main weapon you wanted to fire and when, not leave it up to the game AI.
I have received Russian Ampulomets in a scenario and used them against open vehicles with very minor success. Personally, I have never purchased them in a Quick Battle.
What’s you beverage & music of choice while playing?
If its vodka and we ever play TCP drink up!!
A good cup of coffee is nice. Sorry no Vodka, never developed a taste for liquor, but I will have a beer once in a while. No music while playing. I always try to pick up audio clues from my cyber soldiers they like to talk a lot while being shot at and that goes for both sides in a battle. You rookies out there pay attention to what your opponent’s men are saying.
And as always:
Do you have a favorite vehicle in CM?
From a playing stand point I would have to say no. From an aesthetic point I would have to say I’m partial to the German Panther. I just love the side profile with that long 75mm gun sticking out. Must be “Freudian.”
Is there a must have unit for you?
Once again I would have to say no. I use what the situation dictates, as all players should.
Do you use any mods?
The only mod I have used in CMBB is grid overlay for terrain. I find that it allows you to pick up the terrain nuances a lot easier.
What one word would most opponents say about your CM playing style?
Maybe that I have no style? The only thing else might be is that I’m too cautions on Attack. I always seem to run out of time and have to rush the endgame.
And if you could sit down with any historical figure for a chat whom would that be and why?
A very good question and one I had to think about for a bit. Unlike my wife I am not a big fan of history, I have enough trouble living in the here and now. I would have to pick Leonardo da Vinci, although communication would be a little difficult as my Italian is none existent. I have always been amazed by the diversity of his interests, writings and accomplishments. He has always struck me as a man far in advance of his time.
Anything else you care to share with our members besides money? (You have my address!)
I would just like to thank them once again for there support in the tournament process and say that I think we have a great bunch of members here at Warfare HQ. I only wish that more of them participated on the Forum expressing their opinions, ideas and asking questions. Guys, there is a great body of knowledge out there pertaining to this game in the form of member experience, but unless you ask a question or post a statement none of it will ever see print.
And lastly on a more serious note: (posted with permission)
I know you’re a NYC Firefighter and involved at the WTC, would you be interested in sharing your involvement with our members or some thoughts concerning your experiences.
What do I say to them; that if it happened on Monday, 9/10 instead of Tuesday, 9/11 I would be the one dead instead of Mike, or that if I choose to work the second half of the mutual on Tuesday, instead of the first half on Monday, I would have died. Talk about fate playing a hand.
How do you convey what it was like during later recovery efforts, were it felt like you were working in a giant cemetery exhuming bodies by hand? Seeing Fire Fighters lined up, looking through piles of debris as it was being spread out by heavy equipment, searching for any human remains. What about the smell of rotting flesh that would not go away; it clung to your body until you took a shower.
Or carrying out the remains of Mike and Joe a week apart. Attending the initial autopsy of both where the biggest whole peace left of Mike was half his pelvic bone. Strangely Joe was mostly intact when they cut off the remains of his turn out gear, at least his bones were.
Or about having to choose what Line of duty funerals you were going to attend because on some days there were 3 in different parts of the city.
Or looking at the families of the fallen, the parents, wives, and children as they grieved watching there loved ones remains pass by for one last ride on the hose bed of a converted Mack Pumper.
Or asking when it will happen again, not if it will, but when and how bad will it be the next time. Every member of the Department subconsciously knows it will happen again and we all work with that fear at the back of our minds.
Do you think the members would understand?
I do indeed hope they would and our prayers and admiration goes out to you and all firefighters. :flag:
Thanks for a fascinating and moving interview Rob.
See you again soon on the Battlefield!
Palantir