Honoring the heroes of Camp Pendleton Fire and Emergency Services Department

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, CALIF. - On the afternoon of June 14, 2023, the direct actions of six members of the Camp Pendleton Fire and Emergency Services Department saved the life of Declan Henson, a military dependent. Now, Henson is presenting the Marine Corps Installation Command Lifesaver award to these same firefighters.


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Honoring the heroes of Camp Pendleton Fire and Emergency Services Department

Story by Cpl. Mary Jenni January 19, 2024 at 07:10PM MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, CALIF. - On the afternoon of June 14, 2023, the direct actions of six members of the Camp Pendleton Fire and Emergency Services Department saved the life of Declan Henson, a military dependent. Now, Henson is presenting the Marine Corps Installation Command Lifesaver award to these same firefighters.

Father, Soldier ‘Spark Flame’ Inspiring Son to Enlist in U.S. Army Reserve and BR Fire Dept.

Story by Jonathan Holloway January 19, 2024 at 10:38AM Baton Rouge, La. —— A familial connection to military grew recently when U.S. Army Recruiter, Staff Sgt. Jesse Simon, inspired his son Pfc. Jackson Simon into the Army Reserves, enlisting him through the Baton Rouge Company’s Airline/Bluebonnet Recruiting Station––located at 10330 Airline Highway. Jackson Simon, 19, is in the Army Reserves with the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 92F Fueler—and still maintains a civilian career as a Baton Rouge Fire Department Firefighter. Typically, Army Reservist gather once a month and a separate two-week period out-of-the year for drill duty, leaving ample time in their professional and personal lives for dual careers. “I wanted to do something bigger than myself, and I did not want to sit around with a normal job,” Jackson Simon said.

Fort Johnson increases emergency capabilities with new fire station

FORT JOHNSON, La. — Fort Johnson leadership held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the North Fort Fire Station Jan. 16. Completing the 2.7 million dollar project is a testimony to the efforts of the Fort Johnson Directorate of Public Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Aegis Security Insurance Company.
The single story, standard design, one-company satellite fire station spans approximately 5,800 square feet. The newly completed station is located on Entrance Road, just west of the existing North Fort Fire Station.
The new building is designed to provide first responders with adequate facilities that meet current standards, and improve emergency service response to Fort Johnson and the surrounding areas. 
Brig. Gen. David W. Gardner, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Johnson commanding general, was the guest speaker for the ceremony.
Gardner acknowledged the work it took to complete the project and thanked the garrison and Corps of Engineers for their continued efforts to hold the project to high construction standards.
“We did the punch list. We got through it and now we have an almost 6,000 square foot facility to finally house our first responders on North Fort appropriately,” Gardner said.
He emphasized the personnel who will live and work at the station not only keep Soldiers safe while training, but also help the community outside the gate.
“The teamwork and partnership of our firefighters is amazing. They worked along with our 1st Battalion, 5th Aviation Regiment and 46th Engineers, as well as Vernon Parish and the National Guard while fighting the third largest wildfire in the United States for weeks. Through it all, we had no loss of life,” Gardner said. “They deserve this station.”
Fort Johnson Fire and Emergency Services chief, David J. Kass, said the new fire station meets all current life, health and safety standards and dramatically improves quality of life for firefighters working 48-hour shifts.
It also includes backup power to support all critical power requirements, fire protection and alarm systems and security access control.  
“The resulting improvements to quality of life is expected to aid in retaining personnel,” Kass said. “Firefighters can now take great pride in a facility that supports our efforts in keeping the Soldiers and Families of Fort Johnson safe, not to mention the community beyond our gates, as we did this past summer during the historic wildfires in our area.”
Interior spaces include:  administrative, residential, training, fitness, laundry areas and more.
Capt. Elinda Hollis, lead firefighter, is currently on rotation at the North Fort Fire Station.
“The station we have been using is pretty old, so this new station is going to be better for us in many ways including better sleeping quarters, a training area, dayroom, gym and more. It will be a great place to work and relax,” Hollis said.
She said people would pass by the old North Fort Fire Station and not even realize what it was unless the bay doors were open.
“With the new station, people will actually realize there is a fire station here. I think it will give them better peace of mind to know that we are close in case the worst happens and they need us,” Hollis said.
Shane Gremillion, DPW project manager for the North Fort Fire Station, said, “The completion of the fire station is a great achievement for the installation. This new station was needed, and days like this make all the hard work worth the it.”
People interested in touring the new fire station should call 337-531-7247.


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Fort Johnson unveils memorial commemorating namesake

FORT JOHNSON, La. — The Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Johnson hosted a memorial dedication ceremony Jan. 13 at Warrior Memorial Park to honor Sgt. William Henry Johnson. A monument, which commemorates the sacrifices Johnson made to the country, was unveiled.
In June of 2023, Johnson was also celebrated at a historical redesignation ceremony when the installation was rechristened Fort Johnson.
Johnson, who enlisted in the U.S. Army as part of the 369th Infantry Regiment in 1917, is renowned for his heroic performance in World War I.
In 1918, while on watch in the Argonne Forest, Johnson successfully fought off a 24-man German raid. Despite suffering 21 wounds in the midst of battle, Johnson defeated multiple enemy soldiers while aiding in the rescue of fellow Soldier Pvt. Needham Roberts.
After the war ended, and because of his courage and selflessness in the face of adversity, Johnson was bestowed a Croix de Guerre by France. He would later be posthumously awarded the Purple Heart in 1996 and the Medal of Honor in 2015.
As the community of Soldiers, civilians, leadership and elected officials sat awaiting the historic reveal, JRTC and Fort Johnson commanding general Brig. David W. Gardner expressed a few words of his own.
“I am proud to command one of the only, if not the only, bases named after an enlisted Soldier,” said Gardner. “This monument stands as a symbol of our enduring gratitude and serves as a reminder of what we do at this special place which has been so important in America’s history — we forge the warrior spirit.”
Louisiana State Rep. Chuck Owen, added what the memorial unveiling meant to him.
“It’s a wonderful moment for someone to be recognized for something that was lost on history,” said Owen. “For someone of this level of heroism to finally be commemorated, both with word and a monument, says a lot about the American spirit, the U.S. Army and the bravery of Johnson himself.”
The ceremony concluded with Gardner personally thanking five Soldiers from the 46th Engineer Battalion who assisted in building the monument.
A special JRTC and Fort Johnson coin was awarded to Chief Warrant Officer David Hatcher, Staff Sgt. Jared Mitchell, Sgt. Darius Smith, Spc. Brandon Sheehan and Spc. Vladislav Bobkov.


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