Down Mexico Way
My Firefighter son was telling me about a group of young Firemen who have a condo in Rio. The dollar goes a long way in South America and the senoritas are beautiful and wild. It is party time all the time. It made me smile. I thought of all the different things Firefighters do to have fun. Years ago there was a Detroit Firefighter who used to go to Mexico City every winter. He was a loner who enjoyed being with the ladies. He was the original imposter. I will not tell you his real name to protect the innocent, but I will call him Clarence.
Clarence would fly first class into Mexico. He wore the most expensive clothes he could buy. He stayed only at the finest hotels. When he signed in, he used the fake title of Doctor. When he met someone at a party or by the pool, he introduced himself as Doctor Clarence. His reputation grew and the most gorgeous women in Mexico City flocked to his side. It was a fun time for Clarence. His routine worked like a charm.
One evening he came out of the hotel and was walking down the street to a local nightclub. A beat up van pulled up next to him and out jumped two banditos. They threw Clarence into the van and pulled a burlap bag over his head to muffle his cries for help. Next thing Clarence knows is he is in a shack somewhere out in the desert.
A wild eyed, dark skinned man was sitting across a table from Clarence when his assailants pulled the bag off his head. The man told Clarence he had been kidnapped for ransom. Surely his American family would pay big bucks to get him back. Clarence tried to explain he was only Firefighter trying to have some fun.
"Do not lie to us Senor. We have been tracking you for two years. We know you are a doctor," the bandit chief told him.
Clarence said it took a long time to convince his captors that he was not a doctor. Then he spent a long time begging for them not to kill him. They finally put the bag over his head again.
Clarence said his heart was racing a mile-a-minute as he waited for a gunshot to end his misery. The room grew quiet and Clarence managed to get untied and he found himself alone. It was a long walk back to town. Clarence said he was glad to be a Firefighter once again. It was more fun than being a doctor anyway.
A true story from the 7th Battalion.
Stay safe my brothers and sisters.
"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