Tales of the 7th Battalion 23
A Firefighter’s Spring
In Michigan, spring brings, not only flowers and blue birds, but base ball and horse racing. In the 7th Battalion there were many Firefighters who loved the Sport of Kings. We had horse owners, horse bettors, and guys who just enjoyed watching.
Charlie Robinson was one of those guys who loved the track. He was there almost every day when off duty. His betting routine was a bit different from the regular racing enthusiast. Charlie would pick his horse, buy his ticket, then go to the far end of the spectator viewing area at the rail next to the track. If you sat in the grand stand you could always pick up Charlie with a set of field glasses as he shook his arms and legs. He would be loosening up as he waited for his horse at the top of the stretch.
As the horses rounded the turn and headed for home, Charlie would take of running next to them. Charlie was once an all-state fullback at Detroit's Southwestern High School so his speed usually kept him up with his horse over the last two furlongs. Charlie would be sprinting and dodging through the crowd with his betting ticket held on high. He would be yelling at his horse and jumping over chairs and obstacles. Some days Charlie ran a better race than his horse. In his later years, as time started to slow Charlie down, I understand he would only run the last two hundred feet. He also refrained from running on ladies day because he was knocking over too many grandmas. Charlie was a rough tough Firefighter who made a day in the engine house a lot of fun. He didn’t win a lot at the track but Charlie was always a winner with his running mates.
The 7th Battalion also had a wide assortment of civilians who could best be described as Runyonese characters. One of them was John Dooney who was one of Charlie’s bookies. This guy was even more of a character than Charlie. John had a wooden leg. When he came into the Swallow Bar and Grill, a famous 7th Battalion meeting place, he would not allow a Firefighter to buy a drink. John was always loud and boisterous. He loved to go to Firemen’s retirement parties. He would play cards and shoot dice and socialize with his friends. John would always succeed in embarrassing someone with his wooden leg. Because the leg didn’t fit properly it would make a sound like a water buffalo passing gas. John would then stare at the lady or guy sitting next to him and say indignantly, “ I beg your pardon. That was quite unmannerly madam."
John used to enjoy telling the story about the time he rolled his Chrysler over on the I-75 bridge. John was knocked unconscious in his smashed vehicle. Two young hippie looking kids were the first on the scene. The top of the car was smashed down and the only way out was through the rear window. The two long haired kids tugged and pulled on the leg of the bulky unconscious bookie. With a sickening snap Dooney’s leg came off. When 7th Battalion companies arrived at the scene, one kid was throwing up and the other was sitting on the ground next to the leg crying that he pulled the man’s leg off. To the joy of the hippies, Dooney soon woke up, crawled out of the wreckage, and strapped his leg back on.
A colorful character, colorful times, and fond memories of the 7th Battalion in the good old days.
"Fire Talk" Archives
- Benny the Hook
- Got To Love Texas
- The Fog of Retirement
- Two Tough Kids
- On Leaving the Department
- Cop Talk 3, Ceremony
- Putting it on the Line
- A Bond of Love
- God Will Protect Us
- Stealing Fires
- Poo Poo Pants
- Decoy Carver
- Firefighter's Road Trip
- Day Twenty-seven. Road Trip
- Down Mexico Way
- Zoo in the 7th
- A Gentle Landing
- Always a Firefighter
- Christmas at the Firehouse
- Harem Sacrum
- The Crow Who Spoke Polish
- Once a Firefighter always a Firefighter
- A Brotherhood
- Retiring a Hall of Fame Firefighter
- Anatomy of Forcible Entry
- 911
- Old Horses
- The Milk Wagon
- The Howling
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 26, Destructo
- Memories of the 7th Battalion
- Running Mates
- Engine 32
- Last Alarm
- Tiger Stadium Fire
- To Moosenee and Back
- Memorial Day 2009
- Anatomy of a Fire at a Dangerous Building
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 25, A Typical 7th Battalion Fire
- Boris the Talking Dog
- Wear and Tear
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 24, Legends
- Axemen
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 23, Ankie
- Anatomy of a Dwelling Fire
- A Firefighter's Spring
- Input
- My Running Mate
- The Singing Fireman
- The Right Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 22, A Desperate Rescue
- 300 Spartans
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 21, Men Who Fight Bears
- At the End of His Rope
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 20, Wolf Warriors
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 19, Motorcycle Maniac
- Career Ending Injuries
- Detroit Loses One of Its Finest
- On Duty Injuries
- Unpractical Jokes
- Dedication in the Fire Service
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 18, Spare Parts
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 17, Passage to Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 16, Gallant Warrior
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 15, Big Ones
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 14, Chicago Lil
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 13, Bridge Fires
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 12, Hot Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 11, Taco Wars
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 10, Day in Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 9, Engine House Cat
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 8, Finding a Pen
- The Polish Squad
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 7, Wayne Soap
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 6, Junk Yard Goat
- The 1967 Riot in Detroit 3
- Department Legends
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 5, The Fonz
- The 1967 Riot (an entry from Tom Hart)
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 4, Howard
- The Buhl Building Fire
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 3, Engine 27
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 2, Roof Rescue
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 1, Explosion
- The worst 7th Battalion Fire
- Fire Incidents
- Beeler's Fog Monster
- Thoughts of a Retired Firefighter
- Dogs of the Realm
- Going to the Dogs
- Firefighter/Lawyer ?
- Moe Tales
- The Legend of Moe
- A POEM: When Brave Men Cry