Crash and Salvage Sailors stand watch on the flight deck during flight operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)

SOUTH CHINA SEA

03.05.2024

Photo by Seaman Apprentice Aaron Haro Gonzalez 

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)      

SOUTH CHINA SEA (March 5, 2024) Crash and Salvage Sailors stand watch on the flight deck during flight operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), March 5, 2024. Theodore Roosevelt, flagship of Carrier Strike Group Nine, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Aaron Haro Gonzalez)

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Students and community leaders attend 137th SOW’s student flight fest

 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, UNITED STATES
03.29.2024
Photo by Airman 1st Class Erika Chapa 
137th Special Operations Wing  

A firefighter with the 137th Special Operations Wing Fire and Emergency Services unit helps a young attendee don bunker gear during the 137th Special Operations Wing 2024 Student Flight Fest Invitational event held at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, March 28, 2024. The invitational allowed for students, educators and other visitors from across the state to broaden their understanding of what the Oklahoma Air National Guard has to offer through aircraft displays, interactive stations, and discussions with Airmen and Soldiers from diverse career fields. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Erika Chapa)

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12th Civil Support Team Joint Training with Nashua Fire Department

 

NASHUA, NH, UNITED STATES
03.28.2024
Photo by Sgt. Bei Simmons 
114th Public Affairs Detachment  

Sgt. Bank Wutisen, a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Specialist with the 12th Civil Support Team (CST), 54th Troop Command, New Hampshire Army National Guard, showcases his team’s hazard detection and identification equipment to the firefighters from the Nashua Fire Department's hazmat team during a joint training on March 29, 2024, at Holman Stadium in Nashua, N.H.

The CST and Nashua Fire Department joined forces during a training exercise to respond to a hypothetical chemical warfare incident as part of the efforts to exchange knowledge and strengthen relationships. The exercise evaluates CST’s capabilities and prepares them for a team readiness assessment in June. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Bei Simmons, 114th Public Affairs Detachment)

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Peter Gagnon, a firefighter with the Nashua Fire Department hazmat team, takes off his oxygen mask after the decontamination process in a hypothetical during a joint training with the 12th Civil Support Team (CST), 54th Troop Command, New Hampshire Army National Guard on March 29, 2024, at Holman Stadium in Nashua, N.H.

“It’s interesting to be part of this exercise and I got to see all the equipment and processes the CST uses to be thorough and precise,” Gagnon said. “It’s comforting to know that the National Guard has our back. If there’s something we can’t take care of, the CST will be here with much more equipment and technology.” (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Bei Simmons, 114th Public Affairs Detachment)

Moody AFB Aircraft accident exercise test emergency response.

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, GA, UNITED STATES
03.26.2024
Photo by Senior Airman Deanna Muir 
23rd Wing Public Affairs

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 23rd Wing participate in an aircraft accident response exercise at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, March 26, 2024. Subject matter experts from various career fields provided desired learning objectives to the 23rd Wing Inspector General office. The IG then built the exercise around these objectives to test each agency's ability to integrate. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deanna Muir) 

DOD Firefighter turned author pens children’s books

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (JBMHH) firefighter Jon Nordstrom poses with one of the books he has illustrated and authored at the fire station on the Fort Myer portion of JBMHH on Jan. 12. Nordstrom, an award-winning author, has written and illustrated two children’s books and is currently working on a third.

Nell King

Sometimes Sleep Kindle Edition

by Jonathan C Nordstrom (Author), Jonathan C Nordstrom (Illustrator) 

By Julia LeDou | Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Jan 20, 2016. Updated 3/20/2024 By DODFireNews

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, FORT MYER, VA. -- In his workday life, Jon Nordstrom is a firefighter on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

In his off-duty time, he’s a devoted family man who relishes his roles of husband, father and uncle.

He’s also earned the title of award-winning author, with two published books to his credit and two more on the way.

Nordstrom’s writing career was born out of a dream and an unfathomable family tragedy. About five years ago, Nordstrom said he had a dream, a nightmare really, that involved a grandmotherly figure draped in black robes that flowed out behind her. In his dream, the figure’s robes helped lull children to sleep. Although the dream ended up being a nightmare, it planted an idea into Nordstrom’s mind about soothing children to sleep, a story that would eventually become his first book, “Sometimes Sleep.”

Then came Oct. 31, 2010. Halloween that year began as a joyful day for Nordstrom, his wife and daughters. They trick-or-treated in their neighborhood and had a great time hanging out with friends, until the phone call came.

On the line was Nordstrom’s father-in-law, who told them that their beloved 11-year-old nephew, Nathan, had been killed.

“We lost our nephew in a car crash,” Nordstrom said. “I had a really hard time sleeping. My daughter had an even harder time sleeping. I came to the conclusion that I wanted to do something to immortalize Nathan and to help my daughter sleep.”

That led to Nordstrom to ask his oldest daughter what helped her to sleep. He began illustrating what she told him and then put words about the drawings to paper.

“The illustrations came pretty quickly,” Nordstrom said. “‘Sometimes Sleep’ was absolutely therapy for me in coping with the loss of my nephew.”

The self-taught illustrator draws on paper with ink and marker before editing his work with computer software.

Nordstrom, an Air Force veteran who has been a professional firefighter for 15 years, did most of the work on “Sometimes Sleep” at the Fort Myer Fire Station during his off-duty hours. The book took him more than two years to complete, and he initially self-published it. He now has found a publisher who has re-issued it. “Sometimes Sleep” has been awarded both the Gelett Burgess Award and Mom’s Choice Award for Excellence.

“The biggest thing is we got Nathan’s name out,” Nordstrom said. “We’ve done different charities, and we donated numerous books. Now it’s a celebration of joy.”

Nordstrom said his eldest daughter also served as the catalyst for his second book, “Shimmer.” Father and daughter were discussing the water cycle when she answered a question about it incorrectly. That led to “Shimmer,” a tale about a water droplet who is trying to find his place in the world, and at the same time teaches kids about the water cycle, which describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the Earth’s surface.

Shimmer Hardcover – April 27, 2016

by Jonathan Nordstrom (Author, Illustrator)

“I love to make kids laugh,” Nordstrom said. “This book teaches kids while making them laugh.”

Nordstrom’s third book, which he is at work on now, is about a mouse who, appropriately enough, lives in a fire house. He said his daughters review all his work and that he takes great stock in their opinions.

“Kids will tell you the absolute truth,” Nordstrom said. “They are great editors.”

Update to the story New Books released!!!

The Mouse at Sixty One House Hardcover – July 12, 2017

by Jonathan C Nordstrom (Author, Illustrator)

"There was a cheeky little mouse, who lived outside a Firehouse..." Follow the tale of Jingles the mouse as he seeks to become a real fire fighting mouse. Engage in the crazy antics that he thinks will help his cause, but only get him into more trouble! Can he figure out a way to fit in? Or will The Mouse at 61 House be banished?

The Sometimes Silly Saga of Sven the Sailing Swede Hardcover

by Jonathan C Nordstrom (Author, Illustrator)

An ancient manuscript has been unearthed and translated. The notes suggest a tall tale, but what really happened to nautical adventurer, Sven?

Meet Sven, a nautical adventurer. His brave travels across the oceans are woven into fantastic tales of wonder, bravery, and excitement. Sven's playful, rhyming stories, paired with memorable and engaging imagery, will delight readers of all ages. Follow him from the Caribbean, where he meets an organ playing octopus; to Canada, where a pancake flipping platypus catches his eye.

While the translators provide fun facts, Sven learns that not all is as it seems.

To see other great books by DOD Firefighters Click Here!

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