| One of Ridge VFD's own has been serving his country over in Iraq. LCPL Robert Simmons, USMC is a Firefighter with the Fightin' Four, but for the past 6 months, he's been on deployment with the 3rd Battalion 7th Marines, H/S Company MT "somewhere" in Western Iraq. Robert is responsible for driving USMC vehicles, mostly 7-ton trucks and humvees, in convoys to other camps. When he's not on a 4+ hour convoy, he also stands Iraqi prisoner watch. Robert and his patrol were attacked and came under hostile fire a few months ago. As he puts it... "all hell broke loose over here!" Robert and others in his vehicle were shot when they began taking fire from all around. They all tried to take cover but there were snipers shooting at them too. A bullet ricocheted off the armor plating on Robert's truck and hit him in his lower back. According to Robert, "it stung alot at first because the metal was so hot, but the docs pulled it out and patched it up." It wasn't long before he was back in action.
Robert will be heading state-side mid-to-late Sept 2004 when he completes his 7 month deployment. Needless to say, he's looking forward to coming home! Drop him a line at pimpon_626@yahoo.com |
