Evening star., 1942-08-21
D. c. Auxiliary Firemen, Loyal and Willing,
Set Example of Democracy at Its Best
One Is q japanese,
But He's Accepted as
A Good American
Last OF a Series.)
BY NORMAN A. KAHL.

The kind OF men you find In the
Auxiliary Fire Service is just about
what you'd expect In democratic
country. There is not the slightest
semblance of caste. Age, economic
position, social standing are given
no weight. Nationality and religion
are never questioned.
Only three things matter: Loyalty,
willingness to serve and the ability
to do the jobs required after the
training period is over.
For example, one Of the auxilia-
ries at Engine Co. No. 8, at 1924 U
street NV. is K. j. Murata, who
lives at 2138 California street NV.
Mr.. Murata is a Japanese, born In
this country. He is a chemist with
the Interior Departments geological
survey. At No. 8, he is accepted for
what he is-an American who wants
to do something to help beat our
enemies, the japanese and the
Nazis.
There is no question of his loyalty.
His colleagues know that, like them,
Mr.. Murata was investigated be-
fore he had completed his training.
Anyway, he is doing important war
work for Uncle Sam, and If he's
good enough for the Government,
he's good enough to be an auxiliary
fireman.
Every One Must Do Something.
At the station that houses Engine
Co. No. 10 and Truck Co. No. 13,
one OF the most Jealous of the aux
iliaries is Frank Dix, 1241 Raum
street NE. an insurance salesman.
Mr.. Dix's British accent is still evil
dent, although he left England in
1928 and became a full-fedged
American citizen 10 years later. His
brother is member of the auxiliary
fire force in Essex County in Eng
land
"Over there" he pointed out,
everyone must do something. It's
not matter of heroism. It's SIM
pley a question OF survival. We
Americans should feel the same way
about it. All of us ought to be
doing something to help win the
war"
You'll find people like Jack Sic
mon of 3005 Tenth street NE, who
is 10 years old and who might rea-
sonably be expected to spend good
many OF his nights in the company
Of young ladies or hanging around
with his youthful cronies. Instead,
he is on hand at the firehouse at 1910
Brentwood road NE. nearly every
night from 6 o'clock to midnight.
He is used to spending at least 80
hours week on duty as an auxil-
iary. He is training during the day
for Job at the telephone company
but his real ambition is to be a fire.
man. He's not worried about being
able to pass the tests when he be-
comes 81.
Salesman Is PopuIar.
The nights when ]. G.aIcyelace
Is on duty as an auxiliary at the
Brentwood road station are hilar-
ious occasions. Mr.. Lovelace, who
lives at 1854 Monroe street NE, is
a portly, good-natured chap who
makes his living selling paint. He
is commonly conceded to be a
clown, and he keeps the regulars
and auxiliaries alike in stitches
whenever he shows up, which is
every fifth night. He has a special
way of making weird noises come
out of his throat that panics the
boys at the Brentwood road house.
But Mr.. Lovelace is also a good
fireman. When this country was
drawn into the war, he wanted to
do something. He didn't know ex-
actly where he would fit. He thought
perhaps he might be useful driving
a'truck. He didn't know why he
thought OF doing a thing like that
it just seemed to be something
he was sure he could do.
Then he got a letter from S. T
Porter, chief engineer OF the Fire
Department and in charge of
auxiliary f1remen. He remembered
he had checked the auxiliary fire
service when he filled out his ci-
william defense questionable a year
ago last June, but he hadn't thought
seriously about it since then. But
Chief Porter's letter impelled him
to 60 into the matter further and
before long he was taking his train
ing. He is glad he selected the fire
service. 1t was happy choice all
around.
Representative Group.
Sidney Spector, 1887 Lang place
NE, is an attorney who began
training as an auxiliary the day
after Pearl Harbor. Patrick j
Sullivan, 26l0 Hamlin street NE.
is a baker. p A. Ziemer, 1904 Sara
toga avenue NE, is an accountant
in the Commerce Department. c
E. Leininger, 1909 Seventeenth street
NV, is stationary engineer at
the Shoreham Hotel. J. E. Schwab
4707 Fulton street NV, is a real
estate man. John P. Breen, "a X
street NV, is a clerk in the supply
department at the Navy Yard. B
F. White. 625 Seventh street NE.
Is a carpenter. C. F. Middleford
GIL K street NE, drives a taxicab
Paul B. Crane, 2517 X street NV.
is on the staff of the Weather
Bureau.
Whatever they are during the day
doesn't make any difference when
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