Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

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Unknown Speaker 0:49
right, good morning Las Vegas. Good morning Las Vegas, this Veterans Affairs plus on any 1.5 chairs and more indeed Washington, your host. We do have a guest coming on shortly this chief and colleague John Reed from down in Atlanta area. But however before I want to, by way of condolences. I learned that the wife of a dear friend and colleague of ours, Roy jerrells. She transitioned just a few weeks ago and I learned about her transitioning from a fellow colleague of ours Fetty Stevens who also lives down in the Orlando Florida area. So again, condolences to the family. On birthday side we have another March person I mentioned a few weeks ago and as George Bochy, Turner, His birthday is also in March, I want to once again repeat that this is Women's History Month. And we want to acknowledge all the work that women have done and in ensuring the survival of art of our nation because women has done quite a bit of things that sometimes they don't get credit for. And on an earlier last week show, I did mention our assistant state service officer, Tony Marshall, and I fail to acknowledge his numbers. So his number is 301-537-9465. Again, veterans trying to get their benefits together, Tony will be a person to call it's by appointment only. One other thing I want to talk about real quickly, is my wife. This woman was in a talent show. And she acted as a Oh person. And she claims that well, she was only comedian on the show. So that probably gave her a boost. But anyway, she told jokes about old folks. And from all indications it was well received by by folks who were all seniors, mostly in the audience over at the West Las Vegas Library theater. So hopefully that will get out there on here somewhere where we're more chicken, stop bragging about how good she was. But anyway, a little my wife and my family. And in that vein, I want to talk about you know, there's a veterans family resource fair coming up on March 30, from 11 to three at 390 East Centennial Parkway. And as I speak about families, you know, last week, I was talking about how much teen they were on my case. And they trying to feed me all this rabbit food. I know a lot of folks know that I'm going through some health trials right now. Where man he was smothering me. And then me and my wife Eleanor talked last night. Um, you know, Angel looking at me, like why are you saying this? Cause it's my show. And I get to say this, because it's my family to that I'm talking about and Gene be calling me every day John been calling me I'm like, Okay, keep the smothering going. Because I love it. No, I do appreciate all the prayers and all the comments and statements people make and it makes you feel good. But it also makes you realize how important you have been in a community that you reside to include from a fire service standpoint, as John well knows that we are international. We have people from all over the world that we operate and work with, particularly down in Adela University. And with that, John, I'm gonna bring you in and ask you to just kind of share with our listening audience, do we? We this is a veterans affairs show and we have a number of veterans who do listening and so you have an indication of where you served. How long did you serve?

Unknown Speaker 4:36
Okay, so the United States Marine Corps, first served in capital of June for a year and I was asked Do you want to go to Hawaii for three Okinawa for one, of course, I went to Hawaii for three or four years out there and I'm doing a Westpac which Westpac and compass is going to Australia, Thailand. Singapore, any of those countries on the West Pacific? If you ever did a NATO you will be going to Spain, Barcelona, Italy, places like that. So four years Marine Corps, great experience, can't beat it for nothing the world never I will never change that for nothing.

Unknown Speaker 5:19
And you call Westpac where you call is called Westpac.

Unknown Speaker 5:24
Okay. Most of the times you leave from San Diego, you go to Hawaii, and then you hit the Philippines, Thailand. You may hit Mombasa, South Africa, Singapore, and anything along that Western Pacific. Okay. So anywhere we got stations that normally where you hit, and you patrol that area in case something jump off out there in the Pacific. Okay,

Unknown Speaker 5:50
so what position did you serve?

Unknown Speaker 5:54
I served as a field wireman, which is in communications out there in the Marine Corps, but I was tasked to infantry unit. So you got to see a little bit everything.

Unknown Speaker 6:09
John, did you get your hands dirty at all?

Unknown Speaker 6:11
Oh, of course, you did. You had to. You had to get your hands dirty to be part of inventory. You know, you had to hump you know, you Forsmark and all that stuff, everything you learn it, you know, it came full circle anyway. So it was a good learning experience.

Unknown Speaker 6:28
Well, John, you know, David has me kind of interning a little bit. And you brought up camp June. And being a veteran also, I'm kind of aware of what's been going on with the claims in the water down there. You are aware of that? And what information would you want to share with today's lessons?

Unknown Speaker 6:50
Yes, just a lot of information about what's going on down there. Matter of fact, I was down there during that time, but thankful, I'm truly blessed that I didn't get affected by none of that water. A lot of people experienced a lot of different kinds of cancers. And that's what's impacting so many women, you know, to deal with miscarriages and everything else, because of that water was contaminated. A lot of the cleaners down there, the water they use, it went back into the system. And that's what contaminated the system. And I think from 1952 of the 1987, those people that served down there, they was impacted by the water. I was like I said, I was only down there for like, a year. And I'm sure I drink the water. But it didn't it had an impact on me yet. I'll say that. I don't know what's gonna happen in the future. But up until now, I've been good.

Unknown Speaker 7:47
Well, that's good to know, John, I want to say this real quick before Dave gets in, because I think this is very important. They had timelines that people needed to meet for the first portion. But now I think what the VA is doing is they're trying to get people into a mandatory class, where they're going to go through and see your exact impact that it might have had on you, just to put you in some database. So I would just encourage all the veterans, if you've been on different places like campus union, or any other places affected by contaminated or believed to be contaminated water impacts as it relates to being touched by nuclear testing and those kinds of things. Make sure you reach out to your local advocate, because there's a lot of things that help you out there. And a lot of those characters that you mentioned, John, or the presumption of those are, if you've been in those places for a certain period of time, it's presumed that you have it. And if you apply for disability, you can get it so veterans need to know that.

Unknown Speaker 8:48
Yeah, gee, I'm glad you mentioned that. Because if you look, not only in Campbell, agility, we look at new river airstation, which is north of that, you look at all the other surrounding areas, they all affected by that same system.

Unknown Speaker 9:03
Wow. That was well said, you know, I'm glad you brought that up as well. I think it's good to share that kind of information with those military brothers and sisters who may listen to the program from anywhere in the world. For that matter. All I gotta do is go on to AP story, K and UV and 1.5, jazz and more, you won't see a picture of me and with my engineering director, but you will get that information to be able to listen to the program, John.

Unknown Speaker 9:32
So Dave, as you said that I also think about the burn pits around the world. There's a lot of burn pits that was overseas, or whatnot, you know, different parts of the country that they had, and it affected the long, long capacity of many of the veterans around the world, whether it be in the Marine Corps, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, they all serve, and they all was around some of those pits. So they are backed by that, so, you know, they need to, you know, like you say, look into that and make sure that they contact the VA. So they can, you know, make their claims wherever they need to do.

Unknown Speaker 10:15
Thanks, John. John B. Eugene. We're colleagues at the Carl Holmes executive development institute. I want you to share with our listening audience a little bit about that experience. And yeah, cuz we all classmates, because you know, I'm getting old man. And was Freddie Freddie was with us or wasn't in mind. He's behind this. What were you afraid? He always he always called me and checking in and, and when I told him about what Jean was doing, he say, Man, Jean is how I see. I think he just turned 62. He's a man. I was just out of high school. So he's like in his mid 80s, but he's still in control of his

Unknown Speaker 10:56
pretty Stephenson. I think he's 8283. Yeah,

Unknown Speaker 10:58
he's in him in the mid 80s. Man, and he is in control of his faculties because like I say, he calls me every other month or so we talk a little bit. Okay. And he was the one who informed me about a Roger Ailes wife. Pass on. Okay. So John, tell us about a little bit about that EDI experience.

Unknown Speaker 11:16
I'll tell you what, it was an experience that I would never, ever give up for anything. And gee, I always say the G No one talks about me and G was in the same class that he gave me some information that I was given. I was preparing for the lieutenant's exam. And they gave me some information. And I took it, and I read it, and I use it. And don't you know, I came out number one on the lieutenant's exam, what information he gave me for Las Vegas.

Unknown Speaker 11:49
That's great, crazy, small

Unknown Speaker 11:50
world, but he didn't tell me that story before. That's all right.

Unknown Speaker 11:55
Now, once I got that information, I learned how to utilize that information. Not only I came out, number one on the lieutenant's exam, also the captain's exam. I mean, it's hard work. But what he gave me I could utilize. It was it was it was it was a dream come true. It is something that makes it made a lot easier to be a battalion chief when I'm a battalion chief.

Unknown Speaker 12:22
Right? Oh, it's interesting, me and how, and I know you will want John, I didn't realize you didn't have rank when you came. I thought you were an officer. But obviously, just a firefighter. Right. I didn't realize that until right now, in fact, but for you to go from firefighter, and through your training, ultimately become a fire chief is says a lot about our program, which you? Oh,

Unknown Speaker 12:45
yeah. Oh, yes. And see the one the number one thing and I say to people that comes down to EDI, the network down there, you won't get that kind of network, nowhere in the world, not in the fire service. Right? It doesn't exist. Right? Do we up can go one on one with a person and talk about the things they're going through. Talk about what you going through, and they can kind of parallel it. So you can say, Now, if this going on with you, and then going on where I'm at, why don't we get together, you know, and make this thing a little bit smoother for both of us. Right? Yes, what happens? What happens? Yeah,

Unknown Speaker 13:22
the exchange that we have a lot of times, like you said, John, is even outside of the classrooms. I know some people say Why don't y'all just give us a time to do assessment center processes, we have set courses, and we're gonna go, that's our model. But in between class man, and after hours, even between dinner, and the evening session, and then after an evening session, there's all kind of interviews being set up. I had several um, when I was in pursuit of higher rank. And that is not a part of the normal process. But it was just people engaging in wanting to help one another, move up through the ranks. And one of the things that I brag about is both in particular with Gene and Burt off of my executive staff. In fact, Burt actually wasn't there on the executive staff, but he I promoted him before I left. And what's so good about that story is both Jean and Bert became fire chiefs. And off of the Estelle's came more fire chiefs. So one thing I told the former commissioner here who was a councilman who was one of the leads to help me get the interim fire chief job here in Las Vegas. I told him You have no idea the impact by promoting me because one thing that we have to do and and you obviously explained a lot of that John how when God gave you this stuff to help you to be prepared to go to Lieutenant man, that's all that's that's how it's is done. We can't take information like that. Some do and I won't call anybody's name on this program, but I know some guys you share information Have you get to the guy? No, I mean, you know, I've just thought I'd keep, you can't do that share. And we I believe when you share, God brings black those but brings back those blessings to you. So that is well said and God say he didn't even know, realize he had done it for our time flies.

Unknown Speaker 15:20
Yeah, time flies has done the job.

Unknown Speaker 15:23
It does, it really does. You know, I can think back also that when we went down to to Tallahassee, when we first got there, Jay, how we can sit down well, even even a dealer, when you can sit down as a firefighter and talk to a fire chief, he can kind of guide you, right, give you a career path, or which way to take and things you have to deal with. And, you know, the tickets, you got to punch in order to get where you need to be, you don't get nowhere else. They say, hey, you need to take this class, you need to take that class, you need to get your education here, you need to go to the National Fire Academy and take this particular class, you know, so you will be well rounded when you get to the top. And then you got all this access to all these other people that you met along the way. You all going in at about the same time they met Jesus did within the same time. And all of a sudden, we go in parallel, straight up the ladder. That's high goals, you can't beat get that.

Unknown Speaker 16:30
That is a fact that is true. That is a fact. You know, it's really something man how, when you work with others, man, and I did a little video on the the board members of EDA, and one of the things that my daughter Angel sitting here she produced and directed a thing. But there was a statement in the am Angel. Can you remember the one that I wanted in there? It says something about? If you want to go fast, go alone. Yeah, or go together? If you want to go far. Go together. Can you say that? That's right. That's right. Can you say that angel? I know you're off duty today. Come on. I don't think I'm getting there. I'm getting very involved with whether she wants to be or not. So yeah, I wanna I wanna I want that stay. Because I think it's so important. And a lot of people don't even think that we think of Self Only. I want to make sure that it's correct. Well,

Unknown Speaker 17:31
I believe that the African proverb is because I can't find it in time is if you want to go

Unknown Speaker 17:37
alone? No, would you say I don't remember, if you want to, if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far go together this way. And that was important, because what your board they helped to get, because everybody know I'm, I've always been a real firecracker and I do things, man. Sometimes I don't give it a whole lot of thought, I just need to move on this. And sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm wrong. But I certainly wanted to acknowledge them for the work that they've done to help to continue to grow EDI. And I know John, you've always you've been a source for his job, because you helped us to get the city manager there. And she gave a lot of valuable information. In fact, she's been on campus twice for us. And that's sister me and why am I having

Unknown Speaker 18:29
a break? Dave, you know, what you say you were you always say, it can't be about you, you know, you gotta you gotta reach back for somebody else. That's right. You know, what were you doing the organization, whatever you trying to push the organization, it can't be about you it, it got to be about the organization. And that's what you've done. And I tell you, you've done a great job doing what you do. I

Unknown Speaker 18:51
appreciate that. It's Donna Cadency, city manager that you introduce us to I think, if I remember correctly used to work for her. So all these contacts man over time, it helps us to continue to grow the organization that's, that's most important. And something I learned from Herschel and I was reviewing my little book the other day, and I didn't make this statement at Herschel's you know, they did a, a fire station dedication in his name, where he spent a lot of time working. And one thing Hershel and it's in my book, it says, basically, that don't wait on you getting such and such rank, you know, people, when I become fire chief, I'm gonna do this due to her say, No, you work from whatever space you're in. You affect the difference by doing the work putting in the time a lot of people, people don't want to bring their bricks, they just want to come in and say Look at me, and I should be promoted just based upon this not not any work or effort has been put forward. So I will always appreciate deceased brother, Herschel Clady for those comments that he made.

Unknown Speaker 19:57
Oh, that's true about her. So that's the way he was. That's what He was built

Unknown Speaker 20:02
in the so other experiences with EDI or any suggestions or thoughts that you would share with anyone that may be interested in in that program. How's that a Dillard university?

Unknown Speaker 20:15
Well, I think the people that go down there look forward to being in a great network, look for a great environment. Look for people that this is trying to move forward in their organization, we're still going to be planning because that's what they come down to do, to try to try to make a difference. You, if you really want to make a difference, come down there, prepare to learn. We have people coming. And before and they you know, they did what they did, they moved up, but they didn't reach back, they help the ones behind them. Right. But I think that's what we need to do in the future. Make sure that that's the mindset you have going to EDI.

Unknown Speaker 21:02
Excellent. John, you're still involved with the community and the government. As you get your week, week together, and you look at some of your work. How do you feel that the pool is interested? Are they interested in the fire service? Do you get people interested in? Or is it a challenge for you to even get them to think about the fire service, let alone EDI?

Unknown Speaker 21:27
I think you have people that are interested, but they're not. They're not really

Unknown Speaker 21:39
a lot of these, the group now think about themselves trying to get ahead. They're not reaching out. They're not reaching back. But I think when they come in contact with other people that are trying to get ahead, trying to make a difference. That kind of changes their thought process. You know, yes, because I look at the ones that come out of the Northeast like Philadelphia, Atlantic City, New York, those those right there, they trying to make a difference up in the north, you know, in their area. And I see other ones in the south just doing exact opposite. As I look at it from the International Association of Black professional firefighters.

Unknown Speaker 22:26
What do you see going on in your area with the with the since you brought up in the National Association of Black professional firefighters? Could you tell us a little bit what's going on in your area? And what's the challenge today different than when you started as a young firefighter?

Unknown Speaker 22:41
Well, we don't pave the way. And nowadays think everything is was it wasn't it? They they see the sacrifices we made prior to them get there. And now they think it's just okay. You know, they make good money now. They are driving nice cars now. And they just they don't see what we went through in order to get them where they are now. And that kind of disturbs me a little bit.

Unknown Speaker 23:12
Understood. You

Unknown Speaker 23:13
know, one thing that the point where Atlanta in the city of Atlanta, they changed their name from Brother COMMBUYS to another name. And they said we changed it because we didn't think that we need to do something different because it's a new day and a new time. I don't by that. I mean, everything in life has historical value. And I'd say that name did. Because they got the first Black Fire Chief, they got the second Black Fire Chief under the auspices of brother combined, and that the new name they have now. And from the time they got that black fire, she don't have one fight one white fire chief in between that time. So I'm about it.

Unknown Speaker 24:01
Well, it's interesting that I know that there's a number of things that people move away from sometimes and it's their ethnic ethnicity, for whatever reason, and I think I agree with you that we shouldn't do that. But some people just gear that way, unfortunately. And all we can do is just try to educate and keep working with folks. Man. One of the things that there's a brother that I'm gonna call, even though he's very, very disappointing, I won't call his name but he works here in the Valley. And he always talks about he's gonna call me because he wants some advice on some stuff. And I'm like, man, don't do that to me, you know, I am a very fiery guy. And know tell me you gonna call me you don't and you every time you see me, I won't call you. So I'm gonna I'm gonna reach out and call him and try to provide whatever advice I can to because I've been hearing through the grapevine that he's very, very frustrated on recruitment and I know G Can I talk to you? That is a very, very, very tough subject, man. Because most young people from what I've studied, they they looking for no 2530 year job, they just if they're extremely mobile, but but I figure if we, it's just my thought we can get some in, they may say, You know what this is a good place to be, gets excellent benefits, you know, health benefit, I mean, the benefits that you can name that we get as far as service employees, man is better than most better than most. So, yeah, again, I'm gonna call this young man and reach out to him and see what I can do to assist him even though every time I've seen him, he's given me this story about man you meet at busy. That's what I tell him and I just walk away.

Unknown Speaker 25:48
Yeah, Chief, I do the same thing. I opened my door to anybody, everybody's anything you need anything I can help you with. Just let me know. If you're trying to go through a process, and I got information I can give you you can have it? Absolutely. It's not about me. It's about you're trying to get ahead. You're trying to do the things y'all need to do to make, you know, to make to make it better for everybody. Which is what I do.

Unknown Speaker 26:13
John, we got about two and a half minutes, man. So some final thoughts from you. And I just like to say thank you, me, because, you know, I, I told you about it a couple of days ago, and I hit you this morning after I had a guest to cancel on me. And I gotta I gotta put somebody in this space, because I don't want to be talking for 2030 minutes.

Unknown Speaker 26:34
So I gotcha, gotcha. Oh, it's

Unknown Speaker 26:37
brother. How's your mom doing? By the way?

Unknown Speaker 26:40
Oh, Mom's doing fine. I talked him out every day. Now. Every day tell her I said, matter of fact, this weekend, she going down to Orlando for about four weeks. My brother Oh, cool. But I'm going to I'm gonna fly down there to help her out a little bit to get them checked in and everything and then I'm gonna fly back.

Unknown Speaker 26:56
Right? Tell her, please tell her I said hello.

Unknown Speaker 27:01
Okay, I definitely do that. But yeah, she's doing fine, man. Mom's doing well. All right. But I was about to say, you know, going down to EDR for five years, and then going through the the grant program, which is the sixth year, right? I mean, it's really impactful. And I think anybody who does defy, you need to do it. The security graduate program, it has a lot to offer, has a lot to offer.

Unknown Speaker 27:31
Well, thank you, John, for your time, your effort, and we will certainly be back in touch with you because I think you have a lot to offer to those who may be still in the fire service. Because one thing about experience, man, you can't just say I got experienced without doing anything. And I've asked everybody, what have you done? Want to be the fire chief and ain't done nothing. I'm talking about zero. And then he call you and say I want to be fire chief? No, try no track record. no track record of doing anything. Not right.

Unknown Speaker 28:05
But chief you know what if you look around the country, and just about, I would say a good 80% of these fire chiefs around the country. They have been through EDI have impacted by Adi Dever, the press their predecessor was a part of EDI, you know, and they've been impacted by EDI. You

Unknown Speaker 28:28
know what John? John, if John if I can get you to in your in your general area, John, if you know folks that came through Iidea let us know who they are. And they have fire chiefs I'm talking about cause what's his name? Fry. Darrell Fratte, Dr. Holmes nephew, he works. He's a marketer for for Disney. And he said, you get you guys should be marketing what you have done in terms of the impact of fire chiefs in our country. He said there could be human interest stories written on folks. He said you guys had that list? I say no, but we're gonna start developing it. So any help you can give us an egregore will be greatly appreciated my brother.

Unknown Speaker 29:12
Okay, I can do that. I want to do that. All

Unknown Speaker 29:15
right. Once again, Las Vegas. This especially is a fast plus on any 1.5 Jazz and more. We just had the pleasure gene. Chief gene Campbell and I have a heavy little interview session with a colleague, brother chief, John three out of the letter G. Thank you, John.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai