Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

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Dave Washington 0:49
day Las Vegas. Good day Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. I'm Dave Washington, your host. I have a few announcements to make, and then we'll bring on Dr Linda vino and Chief Russell step these are two dear friends that we're going to talk about a couple of things shortly. So with that, I'm going to encourage, and I'll always talk about this, and then I don't have the information that I need to to further encourage, but Dr vino and Bill Parker was on in August, and we talked about the retiree deal that both Dr binos, husband, Trustee Bino and Virgin Porter put together, and Bill is helping to run that, and we're going to be in Palm Springs this year. Then I talked about and talked with the Johnson family of the Mound Bayou historical museum down in mountain Bayou, Mississippi. So and then to the Goodmans. I think there was a there was a good interview, and it just talks about some of the things, though they talked about some of the things that they both did. We had the Goodmans as mayors for 24 years, and they did some outstanding work. In fact, things that they put in place are still occurring today. So and then we just had a wonderful lady, a community icon. She just had her 99th day of birth. Yeah, Miss Anna Bailey. She's a tremendous woman from our from our community. She is a blessed woman, and I say that from the standpoint of she's still in control of her faculties in a great way. Okay with that, I'd like to introduce Dr Linda Bino, wonderful person, and we're going to talk about some of the things that that are that have gone on in her life that she's presented in terms of editing a book that was done by her husband, Dudley. We call him trustee by No So, Doc, give us a little bit about your background and who you are, please.

Dr. Linda Bynoe 2:53
Well, thank you, Dave for inviting me to talk about the book. They call me trustee the black firefighters fight for social justice, as you announced, I am Dr Linda Turner, by no Emerita, professor from California State University Monterey Bay. I am trustees Woodrow, life partner of 57 years, collaborator, editor of the book, again the book, they call me trustee a black firefighters fight for social justice, which can be purchased at all bookstores, Amazon, and 50 books about me. I was actually born in the South. I was born in Fort Lee, Virginia, to a southern mother and a father from Chicago. My father retired, retired from the Army in 1960s I don't remember exactly what year and the family decided to stay in Monterey. I had the benefit of living throughout the United States, Japan, Germany, and as a dependent, I also had short stops in France. That's why I, to this day, love traveling. I actually met trustee in Seaside of Monterey County while he was stationed at the army base known as Fort or Fort or California. We actually bravely eloped in 1965

Dave Washington 4:18
wow, you know, Doc, I and I'm sitting here smiling because I took my basic training at Fort Ord, and I used to wow, yeah, and I used to run through seaside a little bit. Yeah. Nice, nice community. Russ chief. Russell step, give us a little bit about your background, please, sir, and then we'll come back to you.

Russell Steppe 4:39
Doc, okay. Russell step I was born in San Diego, been here all my life, had an opportunity to come on with the San Diego Fire Department, and spent 32 years in the fire service. I was a fire investigator and fire captain, so I had an awesome career, and met and got an opportunity to hang out with. Many of the brothers that are, some of them are in the book. Had an opportunity to meet my my brother, Dudley, trusty by no one. So with with meeting him, I had an opportunity to fall in love with his, his family. And so Linda and I, that's my sister. I have so much Mad Love for, and trustee. And so it's an opportunity. It's an awesome opportunity to be here with you guys.

Dave Washington 5:26
So you remember about what year that was you guys met, or how long you you actually were friends you and trust me,

Russell Steppe 5:35
I came on the fire department in 1982 I met trustee in 1983 in his book, there's a spot where I talk about actually coming in a room. We were in Phoenix, Arizona, and we were meeting together to get the heat wave firefighters in Phoenix started. And so came into the room, got a chance to meet trust and trust that I did talk about in depth in the book, excellent, excellent.

Dave Washington 6:03
So, Doc, how long did it take you to get the book completed? And again, give us that title. I think it's a wonderful title. And then plus that, what do they call? The tagline, I love that.

Dr. Linda Bynoe 6:14
Yeah, yeah, the book, again, is called, they call me trustee, a black firefighters fight for social justice. Trustee started writing this book in 2020 at the height of the covid pandemic, we had so many stories. Dave, I you know, I couldn't get them all in the book because I couldn't understand some of them, but I got as many as I could. And you know,

Dave Washington 6:41
Doc, let me say this. I'm sitting here laughing because you know my family, thanks to you all, they started through my son in law. On every Monday, we do a prayer session, a family prayer session. And I was talking about the need for me to to write this book called Oh, my journey with pancreatic cancer and I got I'm laughing because I've listened to you as you talk about the struggle and putting everything together. I got notes everywhere. Some of these notes, I find them like, when did I write that? But now an angel, our middle daughter, who was a prolific writer, she said to me, I said to her last night, Angel, you know how you kind of clown me, because I was and I know you guys were probably recipients as well. Sometimes Doc, I would when I was going through my after I had completed my surgery, and I'm going through my recovery, Russ, I'm in the bed, I might work up at three o'clock in the morning because I feel a little jolt of pain. And I started writing, and she an angel, said, Why did you Why do you send that stuff? All I kept hearing was tick, tick, tick. And the next day at work, I couldn't hardly keep my head up because I was falling asleep. Don't do that anymore, dad. We love you. But can you just let me show you how how to save it. So it's interesting that just just trying to find all this stuff. So I asked her if she would look back on the various texts that I sent out those threads, and she sent a number of to me, so they're going to be a part of my book. I just wanted to say that wonderful Go ahead, Doc.

Dr. Linda Bynoe 8:20
I think it's important for everyone to write our history, because that's the only way it's going to get documented. True? Well, Chelsea had a lot of stories, and he died on December 25 2022 that encouraged me. And several other firefighters encouraged me, even some of my university colleagues encouraged me to compile his writings and his notes with enough information to organize his memoir. And I also knew that trustee wanted his words to outlive him his life, you know, so that's what caused me to persevere. They called me trustee of black firefighters for social justice recounts how over his 25 years of service in the fire department, he confronted institutional racism within the San Jose Fire Department and other surrounding fire departments. He didn't do it with slogans, but through mastery of policy, law and relentless moral pressure, he was also a founding member of the long term and a long term leader of the Santa Clara County black Firefighters Association. He brought an opportunity for hundreds. I was talking to you the other day, Dave, and you said, maybe 1000s of black firefighters and other firefighters of color and women throughout the country.

Dave Washington 9:40
Oh, no doubt, no doubt, no doubt. You know, you know something that I find so interesting. As I begin, like I said, I'm through chapter four, and this is a book that, and I'm saying this for the purpose of the listening audience, when you start on this book, these stories are so deep that it's one of those books. You know, some books, they have to capture me immediately. If they don't, I put them down. And I got a number of books that I've started yet to finish, but this one right here, I'm telling you, once you start, and Linda, let me tell you something, how you put the little, I don't know what you what, what the proper term, you know, literally, is for, for how you gave a little sampling of each chapter. Man, that was powerful. And then when you get into it, trusty man, he, to me, he put out so much, so much depth on who he was and who he is as a person, that is phenomenal. And I'm like, Man, this a lot of folks, black, white, male, female, will get a lot out of this document. Ain't no question in my mind. No question at all.

Dr. Linda Bynoe 10:45
Yeah, a couple of my neighbors actually purchased the book, and they came over, a group of them, like four came over and said they had no idea that black firefighters had to fight so hard for just simple jobs, you know. So it is an important book. Absolutely, actually felt. His strongest feeling was that fire station personnel should represent the community, right, that they stood and that was the only way to ensure that the community got fair treatment, and that everybody would be treated fairly. That's right. I think the last time we talked, I told you, I think that his stories are essential due to his strategies, his sacrifices. And you brought up the fact his by finalism and and the book is crucial for, you know, mentoring new generations. I had a young firefighter just a few weeks ago said that he's going to buy the book and put it in his fire department. Fire Station to read it.

Dave Washington 11:43
Yeah, absolutely. You know another thing, then we're gonna come to you, Russ, another thing that trustee and I had in common, we're both Army veterans. Both did our time and hustle our butts right on up out of there, you know, because I knew I was I would get into a lot of trouble, and it was time for me to hit the door, but Russ, tell us about some of the things that occurred that you had issues with that. Maybe you got some advice from from trust along the way.

Russell Steppe 12:10
You know, because trustee was a warrior, he had a lot of knowledge. He had a lot of experience in dealing with chiefs and dealing with city managers and in dealing with council, council members or or supervisors of the governing boards that are associated with city municipality. And the cool thing about trust is whenever any of us had a problem, we had a resource in him and the black firefighters that we could come to and ask for direction. Trustee would even break himself and come to the city that you were at, sit down and help you if you needed he counsel us and tell us how the best strategy to use to combat some of the things that we were dealing with.

Dave Washington 13:00
Yeah, you know. And I heard many stories to include directly from trust, as well as from Chief Robert OSB, how they would have knocked down, drag out type battles, but yet, they never lost respect from one another. In fact, up until trust is passing, he told me that he would, and that's why now I don't do it as often as trustee did, but I check on on Chief Osby just to see how he's doing. You know, I think it's important for us to take, take into account. It's necessary, particularly as we become elders in this, in this, in this well who served in this organization called Fire Service, that we, that we touch base and and let those, those older gentlemen, know that we care about them and the things that they did to help us to usher our way through this business have not been forgotten for

Russell Steppe 13:51
sure. Absolutely, so important.

Dave Washington 13:56
Absolutely, so doc, tell us, as you did this work and where, and you mentioned it earlier, I want you to repeat where folks can can get the book. We don't talk about price wise, but we can certainly talk about those avenues in which they can purchase the book.

Dr. Linda Bynoe 14:14
Well, actually, the book can be ordered through any bookstore. It's quickly gotten from Amazon and thrifty books probably the fastest way to get them, but I've had people, some of my colleagues, actually go to the Carmel bookstore here and order it. It took them about 10 days to get it, though, so it depends on how soon you

Dave Washington 14:36
want to you know, I ordered mine, I think, through Amazon, and they asked if you want to expedite it. I said, No, do you know I had them books in three days? Oh, it came quick, about five of them, and I gave out two yesterday, because we visited. I don't I know you trust probably remember Larry Moore. Yeah, we went and visited with Larry Moore. My. Myself, Cassie Peters and Bert Washington, went and had lunch with him yesterday, and then I got back on the road, and he came back to Las Vegas. So, Doctor, do you have a website or anything like that? It was just strictly through going through those various bookstores, etc, to purchase the book.

Dr. Linda Bynoe 15:17
Yeah, I actually didn't set up a website, you know. I have it on Facebook and Instagram, and I didn't set up a website. Well, you got, I will be sending out just a little video in the next couple of days on Facebook, I think so. I just didn't, I didn't have the know how to set up a website. I didn't want to,

Dave Washington 15:41
yeah, a lot of folks do. A lot of folks do. And people ask me, why don't I have a website? And I said, just never got around to it. But anyway, I think what you've shared is people are interested. They'll be able to get the book, for sure. So we really appreciate the work that you've done, because I'm telling y'all, I'm going to echo as around this, this country, this world, about this book, because it's just outstanding. And again, he he presented himself in depth, and there's some very personal things that he talks about in his books that in this book that a lot of people won't even think about sharing. That's how strong he was, and how is his conviction to family and to to his community, which is again going to stand the test of time through his book and through us continue to talk about him, because this brother will never be forgotten because of the work that I know he did, and he was always inspiring and kicking me along. And sometimes, you know, he get that big vein in his neck, em and Burgess port, and they be all over me, man, about what I need to be doing. I'm like, come on, fellas, but they were, but you know, it was all in love. You know what I'm saying? Right? Yeah, so Russ, what's going on in terms of your further assistance with us helping, and I say us, and I do want you to be on the next show where we can talk about your transition and and your recovery with with the big old C cancer. So we'll talk about that in the next show, but give us some further thoughts in terms of you and trust in your relationship.

Russell Steppe 17:20
You know what? I have, two biological brothers. They both live in San Diego. I talked with them from time to time. My oldest brother recently passed away, but my brother trust my brother trust badly. He and I talked almost every other morning, every morning, as I was going through my cancer, trust would call me every day and make sure I was doing what I was supposed to do, trying to get an update and seeing what was going on with me. I love my brother, trust. I miss him so, so very, very much. But the things that he taught me, things that He's poured inside so many of us young firefighters at the time, and we've been able to pass that down to the next generation. And so I can, I can think of numerous times, so many times we've traveled across the country together with trust, he and I would meet in different cities within the southwest region, which was California, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado, and on beyond that, with the International Association of Firefighters, while he was on the inside fighting to get things changed, we'd be on the outside, picketing, calling like some of the things that weren't going on, right this brother and I have A friendship, a brothership, that that is amazing. He has brothers too. And he, he and I talked about how close God put us together so that we are tighter with each other than we were with our biological brothers. Some respect,

Dave Washington 18:53
that is really something, how God works things in in certain ways. Because I think that's a that's such great value. And again, he talked about that in this book, about I was a strain in terms of one or two of his brothers, and they were pretty large. Was it six of them, if I remember correctly? And what a family, I mean, and none of no families are perfect. There's always some issue going on that that can cause some strain. But nevertheless, you could tell that this brother had nothing but love for his family in spite of absolute various differences that they had go ahead and

Russell Steppe 19:33
he was a girl dad too, so that gave him an sisters get on the fire department. That's right back in the Dave the stuff that the brothers went through, the sisters went through too, but he was standing in the way, blocking and making sure that they got respect, honor, that they should serve as female firefighters, and being a girl that didn't allow anybody to mess with his fire. Daughters and so gotta love that brother for that too.

Dave Washington 20:02
Oh yeah for sure. In fact, I was laughing. I was, yeah, I was laughing, Doc, when he, when he said, Girl, dad, because that's in the book too. Y'all, I mean, he let it be known absolutely, you know. And I know the struggle that he went through because trust and I used to be on a prayer call. We was up like 536 o'clock in the morning. We did it couple times a week. This was many, many years ago. And when his, when his, when trace passed, he was it was a struggle for him. And I know he would, you guys would go down. I think my memory serves me correctly, Houston.

Dr. Linda Bynoe 20:36
Wasn't it was Austin, Austin.

Dave Washington 20:39
Austin. Austin, Austin, Austin, Texas. I knew was somewhere in Texas that you guys had to go, yeah, that was that was very, very painful for him. And, you know, we used to talk about it, but the girl that, the girl, the girl, Dad thing, is very, very strong, and it was deep in his heart, for sure. And I didn't even transfer that over to as you mentioned, Russ chief, as you mentioned that that same thing applied to to women in the fire service, for sure, right? Exactly.

Dr. Linda Bynoe 21:10
Yeah, yeah, Theresa. Theresa was very helpful in helping me put understand some of the language of the fire department. You know, I think that was Theresa Reed. He was very helpful and helped me. She was the chief of Oakland, I believe, yes, very helpful. And they were very, very they were very, very close, you know, I edited this book to preserve his authentic voice, and I left his language unaltered where it mattered most. So there can be some strong language in the book.

Dave Washington 21:48
Hey, hey, Doc, they call him trusty. You know, you know what he and I never talked about where he got that nickname from and when I saw it in a book. Yeah, I know I'm saying I never knew until I read the book, and that's why I'm saying this book is so encouraging to learn even more about our brother, because, again, I never asked him where did the nickname trustee came from? And it's because the his teacher trusted him so much and gave him assignments and he didn't want to fail, you know, in giving an assignment, he didn't want to be a failure to his teacher. So, wow, that's some powerful stuff, no doubt.

Dr. Linda Bynoe 22:30
Yeah, well, you know, again, they call me trustee a black firefighters fight for social justice. It really the title came about in several ways. A lot of people contributed to that. We bounced it around with several of my colleagues and friends and other other family members, adopted family members. But, you know, it reminds us that history is not simply about the past, it is about guiding the presence and inspiring the future. And it's painful. It's really painful. It's painful for me right now, even now, because we know that all this work that trustee suffered and sacrificed for is now at risk of being reversed, right? So I think that's another, another reason why this book is important.

Dave Washington 23:19
Absolutely, this is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. Have Dr Linda vino, trustees widow, and then we also have Chief Russell step, who was a long time friend. And I just want you guys to know the depth of thought about what Dr byno did in terms of editing this brother's book. And I'm telling you, it's a very, very powerful document. So I don't know where we are time wise, but I know we got about five more minutes. I just got the nod from from Wes my director and engineer, so give some closing remarks. And again, we got about five minutes. So it can be as deep as you like, Doc, we'll start with you.

Dr. Linda Bynoe 24:04
I didn't hear what you said. I'm sorry. I'd like

Dave Washington 24:07
to give some closing remarks. We got about five minutes to share between the three of us, because I share some words as well. But we'll start with you, Doc, and then we'll go to you, Chief,

Dr. Linda Bynoe 24:16
okay, my closing word is because you will learn something that you wouldn't learn any other places. So it's important that we know our history. I recommend that all of you guys write your history, because you all have so much to say, and you have stories that will help in the future. For our future, black firefighters and women,

Dave Washington 24:39
absolutely, you know, it talks about family, not just not it's not just about the fire service. It talks about some very, very painful things that he went through. And I think it's important to for us to know that we're all fellow human beings, and which is something that I talk about a lot on this show, that we have lost our humanity on the whole. And I. Think that people need to recognize that, that people like a trustee, vinyl Dudley, vinyl, this brother had such a human spirit, and I had no idea of how he had worked with some monks. I mean, the brother was very, very deep. No, no doubt about it, what you got cheap,

Russell Steppe 25:15
you know, man, when I think about trust and all the amazing stuff he's done, probably you've been able to document a lot of things that happened in his life in this book, the thing that stands out for me is just being honest, being true, being a friend. Trustee was a friend to so many people. He was he was like a big brother to so so many people. Man, what a difference we have to make a difference with our lives and other people's lives, to stand up for what's right and to come against the things that are wrong, to speak against wrong, but to do it with love. And that's what a thing, I think, is greatest thing that trustee provided with humor, love to laugh, and he loved to love. So, you know, I'm just grateful I am a better person because I had an opportunity to know this. Brother. You get a chance to read the book, you'll have a it'll stir some things in your heart and your mind and help you to maybe stand up and do some positive stuff for somebody else, just like my brother, trust. Yeah, thank you. That was nice.

Dave Washington 26:28
Yes. And again, I echo those sentiments because trustee, he was always encouraging me. And as I mentioned on the previous show, when I had doc and bill on the show, I didn't even recognize or understand why, because I knew how sharp he was, why he didn't get promoted until I was at his memorial service, and it had to do with him running down a BC in the office and was going to hurt this guy because of something that he did, and he was On the captain's list, and they just said no. But again, because he was trying to protect someone else, he sacrificed his own career. That's the kind of person that he was. He sacrificed His own career because he wasn't gonna let somebody just run over somebody, just because they had the power to do so. I don't care about your rank. You're not going to get to do that, not as long as I have breath and energy to stop you. And if it means me running you around in this office, that's what I'm going to do once again. Las Vegas, this. This is Veterans Affairs, plus on 91.5 jazz and more. We had the widow of duck Dudley, trusty banno to talk about his book, they called me trustee of black firefighters fight for social justice. It's just outstanding work that is done in this book. And I'm through four chapters y'all, and I can't put it down. I'll finish this in a couple days, because it touches you in many, many ways. So I thank you both for being here, because I think it's important for us to share the heart the struggle that this brother went through, yet he stood for more than just himself, and that's a powerful statement, because most folks today, we've lost again, I believe our humanity and and we're so self serving that it's ridiculous, and we know from the highest office in our country, And I know we always have a disclaimer done by our operations manager Jason, but 47 is he's doing some things that are so harmful and so inhumane that it's ridiculous. But if we come together as a people, and I'm talking about all people now, we can fight this off, this ridiculousness that it's going through. So once again, Doc Davino, Chief Russ, I appreciate you guys so much for coming on and be in your willingness to take you this so thanks a lot. Thank you. Dave. All right, again, we will come back on for next week's show, and I'm asking Chief Russell step to come on the show, and we want to talk about cancer, something that he's going through. Thanks very much. Las Vegas, we'll talk to you soon. Hey, oh,

Music 29:38
all the smoke in the air till they hate when I stare, all the pain that we bear, all you bet.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai