Tales of the 7th Battalion 5
The Fonz
Howard belonged to Engine 33. His home was nearby so it was easy for him to hang out at the fire hall. He was no match for the flamboyant character who hung out at Engine 37. They called him the Fonz. This kid patterned himself after the popular TV actor, Henry Winkler, who played the roll of a hip teenage greaser called the Fonz. Men detailed in, for the day, to work at Engine 37 were amazed at the accuracy of the kid’s portrayal of the legendary TV character. The uniform of the day for the Fonz was Levis and a black leather jacket. He had his hair styled into a DA and was constantly combing it. When he talked he used the same manner of conversation he learned from the television. There were the familiar yeahs and nahs along with the turning of the head. He had the Mr. Cool attitude down to a science.
The kid was entertaining but sometimes we wondered if he was a little unbalanced. Then the day came when the Fonz disappeared. In his place was Steve Austin the Six Million Dollar man. Apparently this kid had multiple personalities. He had morphed into a new TV character. He was now a super hero with amazing abilities. This character always wanted to arm wrestle. Of course the Firefighters always let him win. Again his portrayal was accurate to a high degree of proficiency. There was a time when the Fonz thought he was Elvis Presley. He would stand for hours in front of the engine house with a guitar flexing and wiggling his hips. He also knew the words to all the songs. This phase didn’t last long before he became the Fonz again. We were all glad to see his main character return. There was some rivalry between Howard and the Fonz. They both attended a school for slow learners and were in the same class room. One of the Firefighters from Engine 37 was a substitute teacher at the school on his days off. The Fonz and Howard could never figure out how the teacher was also a Firefighter.
The Firefighters soon defused the rivalry situation between the two kids by telling The Fonz that Howard was studying Karate. This seemed to put enough doubt in the Six Million Dollar man’s mind so he never bothered Howard. Howard left the area eventually and with the closing of Engine 37 the contact with The Fonz was lost. They have both faded into the folk lore and legends of the 7th battalion. It was fun to know those kids.
Any of you old 7th Battalion guys out there with a story please contact me at .
"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