Legends of the 7th Battalion 23
Ankie
He was blessed from the beginning. His dad was a railroad Engineer back in the days of steam locomotives. In those days that was like being an airline pilot. He grew up in a tough exciting part of Detroit in the shadow of the Ambassador Bridge. Little did he know that one day he would become a Firefighter and ride Engine 4 in the 7th Battalion. He was a wild kid who loved speed. In those days speed meant going fast.
He fit in perfectly with the crew of Engine 4. That engine house was only a step above Engine 29 for having a reputation of getting into trouble or pulling off odd ball stunts. He quickly established himself as a good Firefighter. They called him Ankie. He was someone you could rely on when things got tough. He was just the type of person Chief 7 was looking for when he needed a new driver.
Ankie was made for the Chief Driver position. He used to race motorcycles so his judgment when driving at high speeds was flawless. Many times a Chief would come back from a run with Ankie and need a good shot of black coffee.
One time they had a run down Lafayette Avenue. Ankie had it floored and was weaving expertly in and out of traffic. As they approached Clark Park the street does a quick jog around the playground. Ankie was in complete control as he whizzed around the turn with wheels squealing and the siren wailing. Suddenly a little old lady decided to make a left turn. She was oblivious to Chief 7s car bearing down on her. Not ever touching the brake, Ankie turned towards the park, bounced off the curb and became airborne. Witnesses said you could hear Chief 7s scream above the sound of the siren. When they came down Ankie was headed for a big clump of bushes. There was a cloud of dust, twigs, bird feathers and leaves as they hurdled through the foliage and bounced back on to Lafayette Avenue. Ankie used to laugh when telling the story. He said he took a quick glance in his rearview mirror and saw two hobos running wild eyed with a bottle of wine from the bushes that Ankie and the Chief just came through. Ankie had a great career with many episodes like his ride through the park. Amazingly he never had an accident as a Chiefs driver. He told me the only times he was ever frightened on a run was after he became Chief 7 and had to let someone else do the driving. That’s when he started to drink black coffee.
"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