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The Parting Glass: Goodnight Chief.

I am sitting alone at last. The firehouse is quiet and I can hear the pipes playing in my head. My Chief has fallen. While we ran from tone out to tone out, he slowly let go. As his boys ran the beat, he went to sleep. I miss him, you know. For some silly reason he used to call me "Watash". I think I'll write that on the back of my helmet. He believed in me.
He was our bull dog, our champion. He loved his men. We loved him. You couldn't help it. He believed in us. As the pipes play and the bell is rung, we'll sing a song for our Chief and remember him fondly as he was. But I will remember forever my last moment with him.
We had just run a Code, the boys had performed flawlessly. None older than 22, they fought for another man's life while thier own Chief lay dying in his hospital bed. They did it all, ET Tube first try, EKG and drug therapy, the works. I just stood there and passed them what they needed. You'd never know they were "just kids" as so many prefer to dubb them. I was watching them work and thought, "Not professional? Kiss my A**!" We can take these boys anywhere!

So as I stood next to the chief, I couldn't wait to tell him how well they'd performed, even then, knowing of his struggle, wanting to be with him. I took his hand. It was cold. I leaned over and said, "Watash reporting for duty, Chief." His eyes lit up, and he struggled for breath. I held his gaze, begging God to help me hold back my tears. "You shoulda seen your boys tonight, Chief" I said. "You can be so proud!" He reached up and placed his hand on my face and his eyes grew bright. He tried to talk, but we had to calm him. I told him I understood and I told him I loved him. Then I left him. I left him knowing we were on duty, toeing the line, ready to make him proud. Each University Firefighter, with grief in his/her heart, refusing to quit the tour.

I've never wanted to be a Battalion Chief or any other kind of Chief. I like my place, I like being a company officer and have never longed for the crossed bugles. But now I sit in his place. Only a week ago he sat here, saying "Well, Watash, whats for lunch?" Now I'm here...... And he is gone. Its after 2 am, and I can't sleep. Somehow I have to find the focus and willpower to begin again, to press on. I need to tackle that Battalion Chief's job, and do it for him. I know he wanted that. He believed in his people. He wanted one of us to step up and take it. So we must step up even as we plan his funeral.

We are the very embodiment of his life, his devotion to duty and his dedication to the young men and women who worked under him. We will be a living memorial to the Chief. What an honor to follow behind this man.

But just now, at 2:30 am, in a quiet firehouse, I miss him and I wish I could sit and talk with him just one more time. He was my friend you know.

The Parting Glass

"Of all the money that ere I had
I spent it in good company
And all the harm I ever done
A' las' it was to no but me
And all I've done, for want of wit,
To memory now I can't recall,

So fill to me the parting glass,
Goodnight and joy be to you all!
So fill to me the parting glass,
And drink a health what 'ere befalls,
Then gently rise and softly call,
Goodnight and joy be to you all!

Of all the comrades the ere I had,
that are sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts that ere I had,
that wish me one more day to stay,

But since it fell into my lot,
That I should rise, and you should not,
I'll gently rise and softly call,
Goodnight and Joy Be To You All!

So fill to me the parting glass,
And drink a health what 'ere befalls,
Then gently rise and softly call,
Goodnight and joy be to you all!"

--The High Kings

Good night to you, Chief. We're on duty, we're ready to roll!....."And all those kinds of things." --Watash

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Comment by Dan Miotke on November 25, 2008 at 7:12pm: Hey Capt., It's hard to find words worthy of Chief, he has influenced so many of our lives, he was like a father to me, I was one of those "kids." I remember going out on errands with him and getting talks on girls, relationships, food, and business. I'm glad I took his advice and married my wife! He always believed in us! The world needs more people like Chief Rounds.

Thinking about this weekend gives me such mixed emotions, the obvious sorrow of the loss, but the being proud of the great honor it was to work for him and be part of the UFD family. As we all gather to honor Chief, take a look around at the lives he has mentored and where they are today . Chief thrived on this, to see us arrive baby faced, wide eyed, and eager and grow and mature through our time at the U. Then when it was time for us to move on in our careers and to able to look Chief in the eyes, shake his hand and know he helped give us the confidence and skills to be successful.
Thank you for recognizing the awesome responsibility he has left us, his legacy will live on!

Comment by Shawn McGilvary on November 25, 2008 at 4:50pm: Well said Cap'n. I remember the Chief every time that bell rings and we go to work.

RFB
McG

Comment by Eric Hankins on November 25, 2008 at 12:27am: Ben, Brother,

As once again you have managed to put your heart on paper.

I am truly saddened by the news of the passing of Chief Rounds. By your and other accounts he sounds like he was a Fireman's Chief. One of the good guys. We all know Chiefs like that, but we also know the opposite. While it is always hard to lose a Fireman, it is especially hard when it is someone that close to you. Someone that you call your Brother.

Please send my most sincere condolences to the members of the UFD and the family of Chief Rounds.

We will never forget Fallen Brothers.

Go with God Chief, Your men at UFD will take it from here.

RFB

Comment by Kimberlee Jones on November 24, 2008 at 6:03pm: I am a consumer who lost my home to fire a few years ago. As such, I feel a sense of loyalty to the personnel who responded, and who for days after, stopped by to drop off an item or two, to help move something heavy from the debris, or to just check in. I am saddened by your tremendous loss; your team is in my thoughts and prayers.

Comment by Ben Simonds on November 24, 2008 at 3:39am: Ben,
I am glad that I did get to talk to you tonight. I know this is a difficult time for you and the rest of the "MEN" at the University. I sit here some 500 miles away and remember almost a year ago the feelings that you are having. To have to work and worry and wonder was a very difficult thing for me as along with the other guys i worked with. I believe that Phil is where he needs to be and this is difficult for a lot to understand. That is definitely the concept that helped me the most when Cam passed. We will never be able to understand or rationalize why they are gone but they are. There is a time to dwell and then a time to remember and carry on. This Job will continue on long after or days just like it has for the last 200 years. We have been blessed with the gift to attend it while we are here on this earth. The best way to remember those before us is to love the job and cherish it. To continue on in a manner that would make anyone that has served and loved the job and respected it the way that we do as brothers, friends, and FOOLS would. Phil was a Mentor and friend for many. I know that we will all try to continue his life in some aspects of ours. I am here for you brother. Any time I am a phone call away

Ben
RFB-KTF

Comment by Ben Fleagle on November 24, 2008 at 3:08am: Brad:

Thank you. Brad, you should know that I have never held a grudge with you or had any desire to keep you at a distance. As president of the chapter I have sometimes had to represent the official stance or opinion of the chapter and not necessarily my opinion. I have stayed away in order to leave certain things to the men that you work with. But enough of that here. This is about Phil and he certainly showed both of us how to get past differences and put Brotherhood first. I look forward to honoring the Chief with you and your department at the ceremony on Saturday. He was truly everyone's Chief in every sense of the word. KTF.

Comment by Doug Price on November 23, 2008 at 10:27pm: You got it also Brother Ben. And tomorrow while im on duty i will pray for you and your crews also. Take care !

RIP Chief! To Ben and the UFD gang KTF!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Todd McKee on November 23, 2008 at 9:07pm: Brother, I will say a prayer tonight for you, your guys, and for the families. Chief is in a better place, the firehouse in the sky directing other men to do the jobs they were sent to do. Heck, you never know he could be the one guiding you from here on out. Rest, Rest, Rest, In PEACE CHIEF! Todd McKee

Comment by Ben Fleagle on November 23, 2008 at 9:04pm: Thank you all. As my UFD brothers and I walked the processional route today and made plans for the color guard I struggled a bit to keep emotions out. To think that all of this ceremony is coming together for someone so close to us is comforting, but at the same time, unreal.

I would ask all who have read this, that they say a prayer to the Father for the young men and women in our department. They are incredible people and in my previous blog I wrote about thier fortitude and endurance under difficult conditions, never imagining that such times of sorrow lay ahead of us. Some of them are having a truly difficult time with all this. Yet they are still reporting for duty, still focusing on thier work. Please pray that they will continue to do so during this difficult week ahead and that our safety record will pay off.

Thanks again. FTM-PTB-KTF-RFB-DTRT-EGH

Comment by Jeff Betz on November 23, 2008 at 6:53pm: My heartfelt condolences to you Ben, and the whole crew at UFD. I continue to be astounded at the compassion, character and integrity of our collective fire service. From Ben's heartfelt words so eloquently written, to the support of his closest friends, and the support of all the rest of us all over. All of these sentiments for a Chief who left an indelible impression on those around him, and motivates them still to this day...wow.
These are the exact times that I am so proud to be a small part of an awesome family of firefighters,

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