Better Angels

Month: April 2014

  • Lt. Michael Warchola

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    The last tour of duty for Lt. Michael Warchola was to have been September 13, 2001, when he was scheduled to retire after 24 years in the FDNY.  When the Slovakian Prime Minister came a year later to run the NYC Marathon, he sought out Warchola’s brother, also retired FDNY. Although their European heritage had faded into ancient history for the family, their name remained a clear indicator of their roots. Asking for and receiving a picture of Warchola, the Prime Minister held it in his hand to show during a television interview on his return, emphasizing the international reach of the tragedy.

  • Lt. Vincent Giammona

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    September 11, 2001 was the 40th birthday of Lieutenant Vincent Giammona. Just four days earlier, Giammona was on Coney Island with his wife and two youngest daughters. Having taken in the aquarium, they were headed back home when he turned the car around. He just couldn’t leave without a ride on The Cyclone, Coney Island’s big roller coaster. Trouble is, it didn’t start its runs until 6pm, four hours away. He cajoled, flashed his badge, played up his imminent birthday, and otherwise charmed his way into a solo ride. Soon enough, there he was, the only one on board for a private ride on the coaster. This is why his nickname around Ladder 5 was “Lieutenant Fun.”

    Posthumously promoted to Captain, Giammona left behind four young daughters.

  • Firefighter Faustino Apostol, Jr.

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    Faustino Apostol (“Faust”), was a firefighter with 28 years on the force. On the morning of 9/11, he was on duty with Engine 24/Ladder 5 in SoHo.  He was the chief aide for Battalion Two.

    His first two grandsons were born six days apart not two years earlier. Faust was so tenacious he was able to talk his way into the delivery room at 2AM to greet the first of them. He and his wife, stepping gladly into their babysitting roles, converted a bedroom into a nursery, complete with fire engine sheets, fire hats and trucks.

  • B. C. Richard Prunty

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    Battalion Chief Richard Prunty, 57, had been a firefighter for 33 years. His daughter writes in the NFFF Fallen Heroes listing that her father can be seen in the lobby of 1 WTC in the footage shot by Jules Naudet in what became their documentary “9/11.” The filmmaker zooms in on him and remarks: “There’s Chief Prunty. Great guy – white hair, mustache. The perfect kind of grandfather that you would like to have.”

  • B. C. William McGovern

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    Battalion Chief William McGovern, 49, will begin the listings for the men of Battalion Two. In total, B2 lost 23 members on 9/11. In 1988, McGovern and another firefighters crawled low through smoke to find and rescue two young siblings. The 7-year-old boy had already stopped breathing but was resuscitated by the firefighters. McGovern was quoted as saying, “I’m thankful I could give him a second chance. I saw him come back to life. It’s the greatest experience I ever had.”

    On 9/11, McGovern was last seen alive around the 30th floor of Tower One.

    He left behind a beloved 11-year-old daughter and a grown son.

  • Firefighter Sean Tallon

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    Sean Tallon of Ladder 10 was a USMC reservist and a 26-year-old probationary firefighter, just a few weeks away from the end of his training. He was ready for the next challenge of his life, which was to fall in love and marry. With red hair that gave away his Irish ancestry, Tallon was also a devout Catholic with a “sacred belief” in God, Country and the Corps. Four months after 9/11, Tallon’s Marine reserve unit was called to duty for the war in Afghanistan.

  • Lt. Stephen Harrell

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    Lt. Stephen Harrell, 44, liked to sing.  One dream he nurtured was to have one of the songs he wrote professionally recorded. He was a natural musician who could play half-a-dozen instruments.

    Along with this brother Harvey, Lt. Harrell was one of the two sets of FDNY brothers who died at the Trade Center. His painting lists him in Battalion 7. He was covering in Ladder 10 on 9/11 and was one of the very first to respond. Accounts place Harrell in the center staircase of Tower One, somewhere between the 30th and 40th floors. He left behind a 7-year-old daughter.

  • Firefighter Paul Pansini

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    Paul Pansini had spent his entire 11-year FDNY career at Engine Co. 10.  Although only 34, this longevity made him one of the senior men at the house. That morning he had volunteered to fill in with Engine Co 26 in Midtown and he responded to the WTC with them.  Pansini came to the FDNY after a few years with the NYPD. His younger brother was following the same path and they had both looked forward to working together as firefighters. A huge Springsteen fan, Pansini was also a black belt in judo who won medals at the World Firefighter Games more than once.

    Posthumously promoted to Lieutenant after 9/11, Pansini left behind a young son and even younger twin daughters.

  • Firefighter Jeffrey Olsen

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    Jeffrey Olsen, 31, took the FDNY entrance test when he was 18 and then had to wait nearly ten years for an opening. It was the job he wanted most, so he waited.  Just a couple months before 9/11, Olsen had been decorated for helping rescue five children from an apartment fire.  He was also one of several firefighters among the 343 who had donated bone marrow to save the life of a young boy he didn’t know. A member of Engine Co, 10, Olsen was detailed to Ladder Co. 10 on 9/11. He was last heard from on the 45th floor of the North Tower.

    Olsen was devoted to his three children, the youngest just 19-months-old.

  • Lt. Gregg Atlas

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    Lt. Gregg Atlas, 44, had three brothers who were firefighters. He had joined the FDNY 20 years earlier and was assigned to Engine Co. 10 after making Lieutenant in 1994. He wasn’t ready to retire because “he’d miss all the guys.”

    Back home, Atlas had a quarter acre garden and grew enough food on the plot to feed his whole family at harvest time.

    Gregory Warnock worked on the 39th floor of the north tower and met Atlas around the 18th floor as he was evacuating. “There was an older fireman (who)… gave me a smile. He was huffing and puffing, laughing to himself, making a joke about his age.” Warnock offered to help him carry his gear, and joined him for about 25 flights up. Atlas jokingly asked if Warnock was a firefighter. When told he was a broker trainee, Atlas advised, “you stay doing that, it’s better money.” People evacuating were saying others were trapped on the 72nd floor. Atlas told Warnock to “Go down, you did a great job.” He asked the firefighter’s name.  “Gregg Atlas,” he said, memorably flexing to show the Atlas pose.