Muster honors firefighters

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Laura R. McFarlane
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
SAN ANGELO, Texas --  The Military Firefighter Heritage Foundation honored firefighters past and present during the Military Firefighter Heritage Foundation's Annual Firefighter Muster at the McNease Convention Center here May 3.

Chief Master Sgt. Scott C. Knupp, Air Force Civil Engineer Center Fire Protection Career Field Manager, was the guest speaker at the muster, which featured a dinner and award ceremony, and spoke about leadership.

"Leadership is getting people inspired and focused," said Knupp. "It's getting people to believe in something even if they can't believe in themselves. It's getting people to do something they didn't think they could. It's getting people to dig deeper inside themselves than they've ever done before. Leadership is what you do each and every day on the fire ground or in the class room leading our firefighters."

Lenna Boggs, Tom Smith Fire Equipment president and CEO, presented the Tom Smith Fire Equipment Department of Defense Fire Academy Fire Instructor of the Year awards to a member of each service. The recipients were:

Army: Sgt. 1st Class Fabian N. Montano, 169th Engineer Battalion
Marine Corps: Gunnery Sgt. Gregory J. Palmer, Marine Corps Detachment Goodfellow
Navy: Petty Officer 2nd Class Angela M. Santana, Center for Information Dominance Detachment Goodfellow
Air Force: Tech. Sgt. David C. Hagenbuch, 312th Training Squadron

For Palmer, receiving the award amongst his peers was a privilege.

"I felt honored to even be nominated for the award," said Palmer. "I didn't even know about the award until I was told I had been selected as the Marine Corps nomination for Instructor of the Year. Knowing the other staff members here and what they all do, receiving this award was a humbling experience."

Palmer credits receiving the award to the opportunities he has been given at Goodfellow.

"Over the past year I became the first Marine to teach in the Fire Officer courses," added Palmer. "The academy has been here for over 20 years now, and being the first Marine to teach in this office is something I don't take lightly. I currently teach Fire Officer II, III, IV and National Incident Management System 300/400 for the academy. Being qualified to teach, and actively teaching, each of those courses would be the biggest thing I can think of that I have done this past year."

The ceremony also honored inductees into the Military Firefighter Heritage Foundation Department of Defense Fire and Emergency Services Hall of Fame and the DOD F&ES Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The inductees were John Robinson, John Arruda and Augustus Bowling from the Navy and Chief William Bennyhoff and Chief Raymond Porter from the Air Force.

Retired Chief Master Sgt. George F. Hall was the DOD F&ES Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The ceremony concluded with a last alarm bell ceremony, a ceremony which honors firefighters who have died in the line of duty, dedicated to Assistant Chief Edward C. Vanner, Jr., Quonset Air National Guard Base Rhode Island 143rd Fire and Emergency Service, Master Sgt. Kevin L. Johnson, Mississippi Air National Guard, and Air Force Sgt. John H. Vincent, March Air Force Base California 22nd Bombardment Wing.