Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

Kevin Krall 0:00
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Unknown Speaker 0:37
me good morning. This is Veterans Affairs Plus, I'm Dave Washington, your host. I'll introduce a few guests that we have shortly. I certainly want to give some announcements and one of the things that I want to talk about real quickly is the loss of a Las Vegas legend. Melvin stretch Washington recently passed away he's a family member. And he was an outstanding individual in our community and just want to acknowledge his family. Let them know how much we we care for them. And we'll be praying for God giving them strength to to deal with the situation. And from what I understand his services will be on July 9, at True Love Baptist Church at 11am. We most recently had our family reunion down in Atlanta, Georgia. Talk about the humidity was jumping it was but certainly want to thank the committee of Whitney rooks. Shari, rooks, Peck and patron right? These young people did an outstanding job. We had about 50 members from around the country to attend that exciting program. That was, again, we we've been doing the Washington family reunion since 1989. And I haven't missed one. In fact, one of the things that occurs there, the oldest individual and the youngest will take a picture together. Well guess who was the oldest one this year, it was me at 71. So proud to be a family member. Also, last month, Marsha and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. So certainly want to thank all those who were there to share that celebration with us. And certainly our children who put that on and just want to say thank you, we are grateful for our friends. You know, sometimes people are with you for a number of seasons, and sometimes for just a season or so. But those who've been with us throughout that 50 years, we again appreciate your presence there. Once again, this is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5, jazz and more. And I got producer extraordinaire. He's on air personality, catch him at 6am to 8am. It's Kev and the Queen Show Monday through Friday. So with that we're going to I'm going to introduce our first guest who's in studio. We also will have an in studio. Excuse me, he's a call in but in studio we'll have Miss crystal fails. And also William Bill. Hi, retired lieutenant with New York City Fire Department. Hi, Evan start out. today. We're gonna have Mr. Grady Hayes. Great. Please tell our listening audience a little bit about yourself to include what branch of service Did you serve in?

Unknown Speaker 3:27
Well, good afternoon, and belated congratulations on the anniversary. And the fact that you were able to do an elder now. Keep watching. It's always good to be elder. I served in the United States Army 95 Bravo Military Police in the investigation unit served for three years, two and a half years overseas. And very proud of my service there and then also graduate of the University of Southern California and a degree in business administration, and a graduate degree from University of Seattle and marketing and management.

Unknown Speaker 4:03
So gritty. Did you do your education, your formal college education before after you went into the service?

Unknown Speaker 4:12
Both? Well, you know, I was I was recruited to play football at the University of Southern California. I played my freshman and sophomore year there. And for personal reasons. I left school and joined the army. And then when I got out of return and finished their their C and then then got a chapter further a little further at university Adam.

Unknown Speaker 4:35
Great. Look, I would be remiss if I didn't indicate that greedy Hayes is a former commander of American Legion Post 10. And during his tenure there, they had a radio show. And he had listened to me be a one of the oldest interns with the former commissioner Lawrence weekly. And Miss Patricia Cunningham and He asked me if I would co host with him. So, my doing this show I have to give Mr. Grady Hayes a little bit of credit for, for getting me more involved in radio. So great. Tell us a little bit about something that you and I did. during your tenure as, as the commander, we talked to a local council person about telemedicine got no traction, and you also had brought up the housing. So, give give us a status, if you will, particularly on the telemedicine which again, nothing really came up there. But I know you also kept the idea of the housing for veterans.

Unknown Speaker 5:37
What we wanted to do, and you and I discuss it very much. One of the our biggest concerns was what we call the unappreciated veteran, which is the Vietnam era veteran, those who served in Vietnam, unlike today's veterans were not treated as heroes when they came back. In fact, there was complete opposite a lot of was spat upon, they will call it viral names. Because as unpopular war and they took the brunt of that unpopular war, when they return, they didn't receive the the attention, the accolades, or any of the benefits that are given to the veterans of today. So we want to focus on them, because we know at that time, PTSD was not even talked about, along with Agent Orange and a lot of the mental problems that that era veterans had, and knowing when to address those things. And then also culturally, we know that mental illness is, is a found upon illness in the community, a lot of times, they don't want to admit it. And that causes a problem, because if you don't admit to an illness, there's no way to treat it. So we wanted to address a lot of those concerns. Number one being the mental part of it, and we want to provide telemedicine, but those veterans who could not go into a facility, we wanted to provide a facility in the west or historic west side area where they could go in, feel comfortable, get peer counseling and deal with other veterans, because a lot of veterans feel more comfortable dealing with veterans that they think could relate to a lot of their problems. Like you said, at that time, that wasn't very popular, we didn't get a lot of traction then. But there's some that I know you and I both still working on. And presently I'm the CEO of a nonprofit, which is the National Veterans Housing Alliance. And basically what we're doing and I was able to build five of these homes down in the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. And those people from that area know of who's familiar with that area know that that was the area that was most affected with Katrina, that area was flooded probably than any other ward in that area. So we partnered with a company called Boxborough homes, which is located out in the Seaway area. And we provide homes there that they're sustained winds up to 149 hours of insect proof, a fireproof and low, low cost, I could build a three bedroom home like that for about $90,000. And what I wanted to do here was basically same thing to to address not only just the housing problem at work for homeless people, but also provide first time buyer homes for veterans so and, and feet. Well, let me interject some and this is one of the motivations here, the suicide rate right now for veterans is almost 90%, the suicide rate for female veterans 21%. So what we want to do address some of those some of the concerns when it comes to the housing part of it and then provide the services that are available to him for like peer counseling and mental health awareness. So we want to provide housing for them. Because a lot of times people feel more confident they know, everyday, they have a place to go to when they're not looking for a place to sleep every night. So we want to provide housing not only for homeless veterans, but firsthand by our veterans, where they could get affordable housing, and also for young families who wanted to start developing their family well. So we want to do that with this kind of housing in the store, Westside area. And we've been talking with, with Councilman careers office for some guidance, and some support to get the property necessary to put the housing in that area.

Unknown Speaker 8:51
Let me say this, as we close this segment, look, this, tell your friends that they can go online and get a free app that they get this particular radio program 91.5 Jazz and more can be listened to anywhere in the world. And I know that what you're doing is so important. We need to get the word out. And I think, again, tell your colleagues to pick this app up so they can check it out. And we'll be on on the air at 830 on Saturday. So please know that and we appreciate your closing remarks, my friend.

Unknown Speaker 9:29
Well, I just want to thank you for all the work you've done. You know, I know a lot of people don't know your history and know the contribution you made to to the community. But I just want to acknowledge that and thank you for everything you and your wife have done for the community and also say that you've really improved since the days we were on the radio before so I want to give you kudos.

Unknown Speaker 9:48
You still got chokes Mr. Grady Hayes, former commander of American Legion Post team, we thank you for your time and effort and certainly more to give you kudos for doing the work in terms of trying to To develop housing for our for our veterans, so thank you, sir.

Unknown Speaker 10:04
Thank you also Keith Washington

Unknown Speaker 10:17
Good morning once again, this is Veterans Affairs plus, on 91.5, jazz and more. This is Dave Washington, your host. Our next guests are Christopher fails. And Lieutenant Belhaj formerly with the New York City Fire Department. We got to start with you, Crystal. Please tell us where you're from.

Unknown Speaker 10:37
Yes. Um, Las Vegas, Nevada, born and raised native.

Unknown Speaker 10:41
You know, I didn't know that. I'm thinking that you come in here from somewhere else? To be honest, not Las Vegas native Isa, and currently working for Clark County Fire?

Unknown Speaker 10:51
Yes, sir. I'm an engineer had been on for nine years. And I was before that I was actually a training instructor for a little bit after firefighters was firefighter training instructor and now I'm an engineer, and acting captain, sometimes

Unknown Speaker 11:05
Thank you happen sometimes Great. Now, we certainly want to give you credit, and an opportunity to speak about a program that you lead. It's an entry level preparatory program. For those who are wishing to become firefighters. Give us a little feedback on that, if you would, our listening audience. Yes,

Unknown Speaker 11:25
sir. So the fire prep Leadership Academy FBLA, for short, is intended to successfully test and prepare participants for entry level positions in the fire service or identify other career paths in our community that they will be well suited to serve. We have a very rigorous curriculum which challenges individuals both mentally and physically, as they pursue a career in the fire service. Now, you mentioned before, like through one of the reasons why we kind of offset it with a career path that they, you know, would be suited for us because we've learned in the process of helping people that sometimes they don't fall into the fire service. Sometimes there'll be they'll fall into police. There'll be you know, inspectors, but we want to we want to give them the tools that they need to be successful in anything that they decide to pursue in their life. Yes,

Unknown Speaker 12:11
no, I think that's excellent. As I mentioned, off offline, Larry palata, he retired as assistant, fire chief, he and I ran a program out of Zion, Methodist, but we were pacifically geared to push people toward the fire service, because of course, we didn't discriminate against anyone. All folks were welcome. But we were very interested in trying to get blacks on our department. And it's very interesting how the dynamic has changed to some extent, where you guys are opening up to various professions. But one thing is obvious to me that people gain confidence from going through your program.

Unknown Speaker 12:48
Yes, we like you mentioned, we accept all individuals, but we understand that there's specific challenges in place for people of color, and especially women of color in the fire service. So not everybody needs the same things requires the same thing. So we make sure that we fill the gaps wherever they have, wherever they are with the individuals so that they can be successful. Absolutely.

Unknown Speaker 13:09
And also, you mentioned offline was Boy Scouts of America.

Unknown Speaker 13:14
Yes, we are posting explorer, post three at one nine. So we are affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. That's been very helpful and instrumental in us having the ability to I want to say interject ourselves into the fire departments in the valley. One unique thing about our program is that we are we not necessarily are affiliated with but all of the valley departments work with us. So North Las Vegas fire Henderson fire LVF, our Las Vegas Fire and Rescue and Clark County Fire Department. They all we all work we all train at their their training centers, we have individuals that volunteer with our program that are from every single fire department in the valley to include departments that are not in the valley because Lieutenant Hi, he also helps out he's a retired, as you mentioned, Lieutenant from New York. So we have you know, retirees from all over the United States to come and give us their insight. And so the really cool thing too is that even though we we help individuals who have no idea about what it means to be a firefighter or what it takes to be successful in this process, I myself am always learning from my elders because they come in with, you know, with with experience and wisdom about like how things operate in the fire service at every different level that I wouldn't have had I have you know, if I wasn't if we weren't all working together collaboratively with the

Unknown Speaker 14:41
with the students Yeah, who's eligible to participate in your program

Unknown Speaker 14:45
there aren't we don't really have any like limitations. I would just because in the fires will other departments in the valley they don't have an age restriction, so to speak, you just have to be 18 years and older. But as an explorer program will accept individuals 14 and up. And that's just because some of the some of the workouts that we do some of the level of things that we operate in, you kind of have to have a certain level of maturity. And plus, you can't. Most actually all fire departments require you to be EMT certified. And so that process doesn't really start for most people in the valley until 18. So we can help them mentally we can help them with, you know, with some of the skill sets as far as how to carry themselves interview skills, oral boards, like oral board interview skills, giving them an idea about what some of the job duties are of a firefighter to give them an idea of what to expect prior to 18. But some of the things that you would need is like a well, the bottom bottom line is you need a driver's license, you need a college degree, and to be 18 for Clark County. Yes, sir. Well, thank

Unknown Speaker 15:51
you very much. And you mentioned, Lieutenant Bo, Hi, yes. retiree, New York City Fire. So let's get some insight from from brother Bill. Bill. In fact, I was told that you were a veteran, by your colleague, Captain Orlando. Right. So tell us about briefly your branch that you served in and when did you serve?

Unknown Speaker 16:13
Yes, Jay, thank you for having me. First, I want to give you advice. I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on behalf of myself and those retirees that I represent. I just like to mention before I get involved, also who came along as retired Fire Captain Robert Sanders from the United States Navy, the first Submariner that ever met. Bob is sitting here in the audience with us. I retired. I am I am retired Lieutenant William Belhaj. FDNY 1962 to 98 my fire. My United States Air Force career started when I was enrolled as an active Air Force reservists in 1954, during my senior high school year in Boston, upon finishing the Air Force bootcamp in 1955, the Air Force offered me an opportunity to go to OCS, which was the opposite of Candidate School. Before there was an Air Force Academy. I knew nothing about the existence of the Tuskegee Airmen from World War Two, if I did, my military career would have gone in a different direction. Upon entering my boot camp training, I requested to go to the Air Force Military Police school, in in my Air Force military police go training in California, with my bootcamp, buddy, right. After a few months of intense military police training, I was on my way to Korea, the United States military was getting the hell out of Korea as fast as they could at that time. For the 10 days that we were in Korea. Our job was 24/7 was to God and the perimeter of the airbase against sabotage. During the military withdrawal. We were sent to Japan following to withdraw. Well, my next two years in Japan, doing military policing, there was several race riots off base between my soldiers of black soldiers. I was involved in the policing action, which included got into Air Force fighter jets stuck a duty and off base policing. I was well trained, and Air Force policing Military Police bill.

Unknown Speaker 18:13
I want to stop you right there for this reason, because we have so much time, and I can see you going to you can tell you a writer, man, because you're doing such a thorough job. You got all these sheets, but I don't want to spend all the time on it. Because I want to know, where were you born?

Unknown Speaker 18:30
I was born in Brooklyn, New York. And I finished my so you are a New Yorker. Yes. Okay. And I my education was in Boston, Massachusetts. So where's your family from my family from originally from North Carolina and by way of Brooklyn, New York. Okay. New York by weight loss collided either way. All right.

Unknown Speaker 18:46
So during your fire service career, let's talk to the listening audience a little bit about your fire service career. Okay. I know what threw you off a little bit. But what was the main positions or I trust that there was several that you you held during your tenure? Yes.

Unknown Speaker 19:06
I first sent to the fire department as a rookie in 1962. I was stationed to a very large fire station, and Upper Manhattan, New York. It was a predominantly white area. And I really didn't fit in because I was kind of aggressive and it was 1960s and the riots were going on all across the country. I soon was transferred to Brooklyn, New York in my own hood. I became a firefighter prescribed firefighter, and especially a truck, a lot of truck driver and tour operator. I stayed in and that particular firehouse during the majority of the 1960s and well into the 1970s. In 1977 I got promoted to the rank of fire Lieutenant. From there, I was transferred to another station in mid Manhattan. At that time, I was enlist for the promotion of Captain What I was me and my crew was caught in a four storey building which collapsed. I spent four years, the first four months in the hospital. After two operation divided apartment gave me a disability, retirement upon leaving the fight, let me go back a little bit. Let me tell you a little bit what happened prior to that accident in roughly about 1967. Dave Floyd, who was the president of the bulk of society, which is a black fraternity in the fire department, received a call from two black firemen in Hartford, Connecticut, complaining that they were victims of race racism. Myself, Dave, and about five of us drove up to Hartford, Connecticut in 1957. To let the WiFi me know that we had the back of those two brothers, and if anything was to happen to them, we would definitely be here on their behalf.

Unknown Speaker 20:53
Bill, that is a perfect segue because again, we don't have a lot of time. Okay. You're going to be honored by the IAB pff. Until Yes, next month? Yes. Talk to us a little bit about that,

Unknown Speaker 21:08
as as a result of that incident. De came home and and the idea of forming International Association of Professional black firefighters started, he was several other black profession, firefighters from other cities formed the organization. The organization then became what is known one of the largest international firefighters organization in the country, which was there for the protection of fire black firefighters around the country who are facing various forms of discrimination. The organization is now going into his 50th year. And there's only a handful of us that are still alive, who was there on that original date and it is 60.

Unknown Speaker 21:45
So you one of the originators of the IBP FL Yes,

Unknown Speaker 21:49
I am a lifetime member of this associate black professional firefighters.

Unknown Speaker 21:52
This is history right here, y'all. This brother is one of the founders I've been I'm a life member of that organization. I think it's absolutely essential that it stays around, and we continue the work that's being done. Now, Bill, I want to move now because we don't have a lot of time once again, you're an also an author. Tell us about a book or so that you've written?

Unknown Speaker 22:14
Yes, I had a hard time understanding why it took me to reach my 75th birthday, before I started writing. And someone told me the reason why it took so long because you didn't know enough about anything to write. So yes, I got involved writing my autobiography. And from there, it, it took off into other areas. I enjoy writing, I enjoy discovering who I am as a black person. My first book is called my autobiography. It's called My real black fire. It covers all of the racist incidents that happened in the 1960s, including the fire hoses that were put on civilians in Mississippi and Alabama. My second book was about to go into production is called the birth of an enslaved nation. And that says talk about what happened from the time the first black people got off the ship and 1640 up to 2022. And all those races, incidents that have not recorded in the history books. That's the reason why you see many people want to curtail the book based on critical black theory,

Unknown Speaker 23:23
your critical race theory. Yes. And a lot of people don't realize that came out of Harvard Law School, it was a law project. And they just making a crazy deal out of it is just really telling the truth about what has occurred in our country. I want to come back to you, Krista as we start to wind down the time. What can we do? What can the public do to assist you to ensure continued success of your program? And then I'll come back to you bill for some closing remarks?

Unknown Speaker 23:51
Well, I think one of the primary things is just to have an understanding that people of all shades and colors and you know cultural backgrounds are welcome in the fire service that you should never feel like. Just because you don't see someone that looks like you that there's not an opportunity for you in the fire service. I would have never have even considered the fire service as a as an occupation or a career. If an individual hadn't come up to me and said, Hey, have you ever considered the fire service as a career it never even occurred to me. And it's it's been one of the most fulfilling things that I could do in my life. I'm not that being an educator wasn't but this just allows me to help people in a different way or serve our community in a different way. So that's the one primary thing another thing is that we're a nonprofit. We have an EIN number fire prep Leadership Academy. 861745298 ein 861745298. So if you'd like to contribute to, to us, we'd be able to provide to greater opportunities for individuals we were donated a an engine by North Las Vegas, Fire and Rescue. So maintaining that has its expenses, we we do lots of community service, we try to have outings in the community for individuals just to bring some awareness to what we do allow individuals, young people, people of all ages just to experience what it's like to be, you know, to what to work out, like we worked out in the fire service, the rigor, we also do open houses at all, you know, for all of the fire departments. And so like I said, there's, there's always more that you can do. We also try to help people pay for their certifications for EMS, or, you know, now they're starting to charge for tests. So you know, there's, there's a fee to take the written test, there's a fee to take the C path, the, the physical agility test. So these things start adding up and depending on what your what where you are in your life, it can be it can be a hindrance to obtaining this job.

Unknown Speaker 26:01
Well, let me say this before we come back up for some closing remarks. During my tenure, you guys remember Sam Smith sales assistant, I met with Mayor Oscar Goodman, HR director at the time cloudiness, and we talked about the whole issue of EMT certification. I was as a as a steward of the public dollar. I'm a deputy chief, we got to protect the public money. So I was in agreement that you should have your EMT coming in one cycle. I said, Sam, you're right. Sam didn't agree with that. So I told Mayor, Oscar Goodman, we got to meet again and discuss this. So he said, Well, chief, what do you think the solution is? The solution is allow people to take the test that, Julie that the the eligibility list is going to last anywhere from 18 to 24 months, you got time to go and acquire an EMT certification without putting up 15 or $2,000. Prior to you knowing that you got to we can the average person can afford to go put up that kind of money and then for I might get a job. So when I left that's the way it was. And now you're telling me that they converted back to you oh seven?

Unknown Speaker 27:15
Well, no. Well, it depends on the department County, you don't have to but but with this, but but then it goes, well, then it goes into the success that you have in the in rookie school. So if you don't have it coming in, you gotta get it while you're in rookie school or your probationary year. So the so now you're looking at the the, how successful are you going to be when you have 15 things to worry about with the stress of rookie school? So I would say like you said, that's a great way to do it. But I would also say it's not just the money, it's the time you're an adult, you have a family, you're taking care of your responsibilities. That's time away from your family to get your 20 At least if it's a part time job to do that.

Unknown Speaker 27:53
Well, at least and everybody isn't required, because that turns my stomach that everyone will be requiring that you have to have it going in when there's always that that thought in the average person's man, why would I go pay this money for might get a job I might test high enough. Mr. Bill. Hi, Lieutenant, give us some closing remarks on just in general, about what you're doing today as an author, etc. And the conclusion of your career and being honored next month.

Unknown Speaker 28:23
Thank you. So last week, myself and several other recruits who FBLA went down to the backpack fighters Museum in Los Angeles, it was a fact finding mission to see what is needed, what is required, and how we are able to build such a facility here in the Las Vegas area, to in order to maintain and keep the legacy of the black firefighters here in the valley. We also would like to share that our facility that we intend to beat will be a multi purpose facility, not only exclusive to firefighters, but also to all black professional people serving the city of Las Vegas and Valley area. We know that Chief Dave Washington was among the first chiefs to be here in the Valley. And we would love to per se preserve his legacy. And that facility. Well, we get to have that system resulting

Unknown Speaker 29:15
Thank you, Bill. As we prepare to close we got one minute and I would be remiss and probably get beat up because I've always acknowledged my family's birthdays and other family members. But next month or this month, I should say David will turn 20 to one of our middle grandsons and also our son. I forget I think he turns 50 Vernon Ray Washington, so happy birthday to my son and my grandson. Hey you guys. It's been an honor to have you guys on the show today. And I think it's a wealth of knowledge that our that our listening audience will receive from this so thank you so very much. And once again we will be live and only

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