We Should Be Hearing All About Mike Behette Today, Rather Than Knowing So Much About the Navy Yard Shooter.

Here we go again.

By now, we know way too much about the coward with anger management issues who killed a dozen innocent people yesterday at the DC Navy Yard.  I won't repeat his name.

Someone said he never got over "his demons" working at Ground Zero immediately following the 9/11 attacks.  Boy, that sure sucks, eh?

In my opinion, we give these criminals way too much coverage.  They don't deserve our attention.  I'll keep it clean here:  "Screw them."

Instead, I propose we direct our attention to someone else who worked The Pile on September 11.  A good guy.  A great guy.

He is our Brother Mike Behette.  An FDNY firefighter assigned to Ladder 176 in Bensonhurst until his 2002 retirement, Mike was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2011.

This cancer is a direct result of Mike’s bravery, serving valiantly at Ground Zero immediately following the cowardly attack on our country. Since then, the cancer spread to his brain and spine.

Mike was vacationing in Florida when he heard that the twin towers had been hit by hijacked planes.

Unable to fly to New York, the Dyker Heights resident rented a car and, getting speeding tickets on his way, drove until he reached his destination: the wrecked scene at Ground Zero.

He worked The Pile for over a month afterwards, digging up and cleaning debris and continued working at the scene for six continuous months, searching desperately for his missing colleagues.

Mike passed away one year ago today. He was 55.

Let's give him more attention today.  He deserves it.

Never forget those still dying.

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John Mitchell is a student of the fire service, having served on volunteer and career departments as both a firefighter officer and paramedic in suburban Chicago since the 1970's.  He has served as department training officer and college lead instructor for state firefighter and EMS courses. John is the President of Diamondplate Productions which produces 911 Weekly© and Firefighter Netcast©. John also responds to national disasters across the country as a member of the FEMA’s Command Staff in External Affairs.