Last Man Standing | Eastern NC Now

RANDOM SHOTS

LAST MAN STANDING

I found this picture in my Photo file, and it brought back great memories of a number of good and dedicated men. Most of these have passed away now. I look at this photo and can remember each one has an interesting and adventurous story. I may be the last man standing.

In 1958, I had just returned from active duty in the Army back to the National Guard and served there with Milton Parker. Milton insisted that I attend a Volunteer Fire Department meeting with him. I went to my first meeting, not knowing what to expect.

As soon as the meeting got started the Fire Chief said, “We need a Rescue Squad”. Milton jumped up and said, “I’ve got just the man to organize this.  He just came back from the Army.  He was trainee of the month there and an Eagle Scout.  He is just what we need”. Everybody said, “Yea, let him do it”. Suddenly, I was captain of a non-existent Rescue Squad.

There was no provision in the City statutes or codes for a rescue squad and no funds to support one.

Bill Moore ran the local WRRF radio station, and he became my advertising and right-hand man to get us up and going.

There were no provisions to buy a Resue vehicle, and the City did not have one. Bobby McKenzie who owned McKenzie Fam Equipment Company said, “I will bill this vehicle to the Buzz Cayton and Bill Moore Rescue squad and you guys can pay me when you can”.

Joe McCotter had an old metal boat that he said we could have. Later Warren Whichard donated a very nice boat and motor because we were also getting water rescue calls.

Joe McCotter had an old narrow building across from the Fire Department and he let us use that for free.

The Cold War was raging, and we were able to be first in line for War Surplus. This gave us a generator and one searchlight, a rolling stretcher and a stokes stretcher along with some cots and surplus tools.

The people in town were very generous with donating materials like rope, axes, small tools etc.

Doctor Bill Piver, one of the few doctors who still made house calls, became our medical instructor. We passed the lifesaving course in his backyard pool.

Thirteen men, shown in the picture above were willing to take turns to “Jump and run” at all hours of the day and night with no pay for five years.

At the end of the first year of operation, the only rescue squad in Beaufort County was averaging one call a day. A total of 360 calls in the first year.

Now we are fortunate to have seven rescue/EMS squads in Beaufort County with up-to-date equipment and trained personnel.

You don’t need them until you need them.

The thought in my mind, for those five years was, “What ye do unto the least one of these my brethren, ye do it unto me”.