The Men of Fire

My inspiration to write this book (little did I know at the time) was an event in my life that you really can’t prepare for. In 2009, I suffered a massive heart attack. I collapsed on my living room floor and flatlined for over four minutes. I underwent an emergency quadruple-bypass operation. It was the fast action of the local fire department that shocked me back to life, stabilized me, and rushed me to the hospital. This life-changing experience compelled me to write this book in honor of the firemen of 9/11 and firefighters all over the world.

I am forever grateful to the Santa Barbara Fire Department for saving my life and allowing me to be able to enjoy life with family and friends. I thank the doctors for being there and the incredible hospital staff that watched over me 24-7. I thank God above for loving me and giving me a second chance at life.

I would also like to thank the two young men that have made a difference in my life: Joseph Papandrea, who is an apparatus engineer for the Riverside County Fire Department, California, and Dewayne Papandrea, who is a captain in the United States Marine Corps. He is a combat fighter pilot and flies the F-18 Hornet. These two men came into my life at a very young age and became the sons I never had, for which I’ll be forever grateful.

I would like to thank you, the reader, for buying my book and supporting me in my endeavors.

I will contribute a portion of the proceeds to the firemen’s medical fund in New York, to help in the ongoing medical costs of 9/11 volunteers.

God bless you, and God bless America.