WEBVTT 00:08.309 --> 00:09.937 - [Interviewer] All right, so, 00:09.937 --> 00:12.538 Monday night, the storm's coming in. 00:15.516 --> 00:17.433 What were your plans going into Monday night? 00:18.604 --> 00:20.383 - We planned on staying at the battalion. 00:20.383 --> 00:24.390 Because both me and Sergeant Roy live out in the Rockaways. 00:24.390 --> 00:26.784 And they said the storm was going to hit them hard. 00:26.784 --> 00:28.572 So we figure on going to battalion. 00:28.572 --> 00:30.464 We knew there were two individuals, two other Marines, 00:30.464 --> 00:32.294 Sergeant Donaire and Sergeant Cesar, that were on duty. 00:32.294 --> 00:35.630 And also two more Corpsmen who were there. 00:35.630 --> 00:37.539 So we figured we'll keep them company, 00:37.539 --> 00:39.233 we'll stay away from the storm. 00:39.233 --> 00:41.377 If anything happens out there, we're already there at battalion. 00:42.814 --> 00:45.414 - [Interviewer] So what did you guys see, 00:45.414 --> 00:46.846 being there at battalion? 00:47.548 --> 00:49.353 - It was... 00:49.353 --> 00:50.375 It started getting bad. 00:50.375 --> 00:54.385 At first it wasn't too bad but the winds started hitting hard at battalion. 00:54.385 --> 00:57.525 We were witnessing pieces of the building flying off. 00:57.525 --> 01:00.620 In fact, in the back of the battalion, 01:00.620 --> 01:03.384 there was a whole section that flew off. 01:03.384 --> 01:05.171 So we had holes in the back of our building. 01:06.525 --> 01:08.568 We saw some water at the edge start to come in, 01:08.568 --> 01:10.256 but it wasn't too bad yet. 01:10.256 --> 01:12.503 - [Interviewer] So at what point did 01:12.503 --> 01:15.064 the cops come over and start knocking on your door? 01:15.064 --> 01:16.968 - It was shortly after. 01:16.968 --> 01:19.484 We actually went outside to move our vehicles 01:19.484 --> 01:22.334 because we had our vehicles parked in the parking lot in the back 01:22.334 --> 01:24.219 and we knew a lot of stuff was flying around. 01:24.219 --> 01:27.700 So we put on a flak and a Kevlar and we headed out there. 01:27.700 --> 01:30.242 Grabbed our vehicles real quick and pulled them in. 01:30.242 --> 01:32.281 As we were pulling them in, we looked up and saw at the front gate 01:32.281 --> 01:34.932 that there was some sirens and some policemen, 01:34.932 --> 01:36.649 or some gentlemen standing at the gate. 01:36.649 --> 01:39.236 So that's when we headed over to find out what was going on. 01:39.236 --> 01:42.387 - [Interviewer] And so what happened? What did they want? 01:42.387 --> 01:45.263 - We talked to them and they said they had some 01:45.263 --> 01:47.670 first responders that were out in the Rockaways. 01:47.670 --> 01:50.574 They said they were trying to help out with the 01:50.574 --> 01:52.595 situation that was going on there. 01:52.595 --> 01:54.766 And they had become stuck, 01:54.766 --> 01:57.005 they were standing on the vehicles because the water level had gotten so high 01:57.005 --> 01:59.031 they couldn't get away from their vehicles. 01:59.031 --> 02:00.910 And they were asking for our assistance because they knew we had 02:00.910 --> 02:03.601 7-tons which is a very tall vehicle. 02:03.601 --> 02:07.238 It's a lot bigger than most civilian 02:07.238 --> 02:09.401 agencies have out here in New York. 02:09.401 --> 02:11.317 So they requested our help. 02:11.317 --> 02:13.370 Sergeant Donaire was actually the staff duty. 02:13.370 --> 02:16.676 He was responsible for the compound as far as duty. 02:16.676 --> 02:18.987 So he went ahead and he contacted our CO. 02:18.987 --> 02:20.820 which is Lieutenant Colonel (inaudible). 02:20.820 --> 02:24.343 And he made sure we had permission to do this. 02:26.178 --> 02:29.311 The lieutenant colonel said good to go, just make sure you guys are 02:29.311 --> 02:31.896 keeping up communication and staying safe. 02:31.896 --> 02:34.856 He put that trust in us to go ahead and help out the policemen. 02:36.496 --> 02:38.282 - [Interviewer] And so just kind of take it from there. 02:38.282 --> 02:41.449 You guys head off in 7-tons. 02:43.200 --> 02:44.513 Just explain what you guys did. 02:45.694 --> 02:47.170 - We headed out, we... 02:47.170 --> 02:48.209 Actually as we were leaving, too, 02:48.209 --> 02:49.843 the water started coming into the battalion. 02:49.843 --> 02:51.644 So we could tell it was starting to get bad. 02:51.644 --> 02:54.150 But we headed out, went across the bridge. 02:54.150 --> 02:56.523 As soon as we came across the bridge, that's when we saw 02:56.523 --> 02:59.095 how bad...I mean, we knew the storm was bad. 02:59.095 --> 03:00.757 But as soon as we came across the bridge and we actually 03:00.757 --> 03:03.110 started driving into the water, that's when we realized, you know, 03:03.110 --> 03:05.173 oh, you know, this is real bad. 03:06.235 --> 03:08.982 We weren't scared, we were going in there to do what we needed to do. 03:08.982 --> 03:11.687 But we started to get worried at a point because 03:11.687 --> 03:13.458 the water was getting so high 03:13.458 --> 03:15.213 around the vehicle and everything, we were afraid that 03:15.213 --> 03:17.165 we were about to get stuck. 03:17.165 --> 03:18.324 But we kept on pushing forward because we knew 03:18.324 --> 03:20.423 there were some people that needed help. 03:20.423 --> 03:22.915 We ended up meeting up with some police 03:22.915 --> 03:26.025 and at that point they told us that the people that were 03:26.025 --> 03:28.413 trying to get to originally, the first responders, 03:28.413 --> 03:30.303 that we wouldn't be able to get to them 03:30.303 --> 03:32.980 because the water level was too high, even the 7-ton couldn't get there. 03:32.980 --> 03:35.899 As we were driving, we were seeing vehicles that were completely submerged. 03:35.899 --> 03:37.650 There were SUVs that we could see the top of the vehicle, 03:37.650 --> 03:39.369 barely see it over the water. 03:39.369 --> 03:42.936 So that gives you a reference on how bad the water was coming in. 03:42.936 --> 03:44.659 But that's when they told us. 03:44.659 --> 03:46.905 We tried to get there and they were like, 03:46.905 --> 03:48.549 there's no way we're going to be over there. 03:48.549 --> 03:50.014 But they said they would be all right. 03:50.014 --> 03:52.273 they were getting some help to them. 03:52.273 --> 03:55.640 And they were getting I believe some boats that were trying to get out to them. 03:55.640 --> 03:58.222 And they told us we were going to redirect our efforts 03:58.222 --> 04:01.457 because there was another area where a fire has started. 04:01.457 --> 04:04.330 And they heard of some individuals that were staying 04:04.330 --> 04:07.155 in homes near the fire and they wanted to get those people out. 04:07.155 --> 04:10.187 - [Interviewer] And so... 04:10.187 --> 04:12.770 It took you guys a little bit to get out there, right? 04:12.770 --> 04:14.301 Didn't you have to wade out in some of the waters? 04:14.301 --> 04:17.445 - Yes, because the water was too high. 04:17.445 --> 04:19.676 We had two 7-tons, but the first one 04:19.676 --> 04:23.450 ended up...It was almost incapacitated. 04:23.450 --> 04:25.469 Because the water level was so high. 04:25.469 --> 04:27.261 So we had to wait until it was lower so we could get back to the 04:27.261 --> 04:29.520 other vehicle and help those people get out, 04:29.520 --> 04:31.763 the first Marines that were driving in that vehicle. 04:31.763 --> 04:34.322 - [Interviewer] So what was it like sitting there 04:34.322 --> 04:37.936 and just waiting for the water to be good enough even for your 7-ton to get through? 04:37.936 --> 04:40.498 - It was bad, it was anxious, 04:40.498 --> 04:43.315 because we were sitting there and we were hearing the radio chatter 04:43.315 --> 04:46.462 from the policeman because we had a policeman in our vehicle, 04:46.462 --> 04:49.164 which was Detective John Kelley. 04:49.164 --> 04:51.739 Or Kenny, I believe his name is. 04:51.739 --> 04:54.399 And we're sitting there and we're hearing the radio chatter 04:54.399 --> 04:56.944 and we're hearing all this talk about the other policemen 04:56.944 --> 04:59.244 were talking about how they were communicating, 04:59.244 --> 05:01.239 trying to get people out of places and stuff like that. 05:01.239 --> 05:03.678 We were looking around the city and we could see fires. 05:03.678 --> 05:05.375 We could see fires start up at Breezy Point 05:05.375 --> 05:07.886 and then we saw the other fire starting up in the point that 05:07.886 --> 05:09.491 we eventually went to later. 05:09.491 --> 05:12.792 And then just seeing transformers blowing up and everything like that. 05:12.792 --> 05:15.678 And we knew we had some other Marines over at the other 7-ton 05:15.678 --> 05:17.832 and the policemen that we were with them. 05:17.832 --> 05:19.933 And they were in their area and we needed to get to them. 05:19.933 --> 05:23.299 So it was really... 05:23.299 --> 05:26.179 It was making us a lot anxious, we really wanted to get out there and help them out. 05:26.179 --> 05:29.796 - [Interviewer] So you finally wait out the water and you get in there, 05:29.796 --> 05:32.623 what was it like when you finally got to the folks that needed help? 05:32.623 --> 05:35.459 - It was disturbing as we were riding up. 05:35.459 --> 05:38.708 Because before we went there, we loaded up with 05:38.708 --> 05:40.962 a lot of policemen. 05:40.962 --> 05:42.968 They brought a raft and a bunch of special equipment. 05:42.968 --> 05:45.498 They loaded up in our vehicle and as we were driving down, 05:45.498 --> 05:48.782 and just seeing pieces of houses floating by and 05:48.782 --> 05:52.044 all these vehicles that are messed up, the water level is crazy. 05:52.044 --> 05:54.392 It wasn't as bad as it was before because it had gone down a little bit. 05:54.392 --> 05:58.037 But it was still bad enough that there were some firetrucks we passed by that were stuck. 05:58.037 --> 06:00.064 But we couldn't help them out. 06:00.064 --> 06:02.408 Like, we wanted to stop and see if we could get them out, too, 06:02.408 --> 06:03.974 but we had to rush to the house. 06:03.974 --> 06:07.612 But we were passing by all these vehicles that were stuck 06:07.612 --> 06:10.486 and we ended up running into some firemen that were 06:10.486 --> 06:13.198 they had a raft also, and they were trying to walk over there 06:13.198 --> 06:17.502 walk/ride over in their raft over there. 06:17.502 --> 06:19.586 They ended up joining up with us 06:19.586 --> 06:20.500 and then we kept on riding up. 06:20.500 --> 06:23.590 But we could see the glow of the fire as we were coming up. 06:23.590 --> 06:25.926 But we didn't realize it was that close. 06:25.926 --> 06:27.700 We thought that, you know, okay, it's bad. 06:27.700 --> 06:29.118 It was starting to get towards the houses, 06:29.118 --> 06:31.017 so we wanted to be on the safe side and get these people out of here. 06:31.017 --> 06:33.797 We didn't realize until the point that we actually 06:33.797 --> 06:35.604 got to the block, we turned around the corner, 06:35.604 --> 06:37.765 and there was the fire. 06:37.765 --> 06:40.694 The houses that were on fire, the trees that were on fire. 06:40.694 --> 06:43.461 And they were four houses away from us, 06:43.461 --> 06:44.903 that's how close we were to the fire. 06:44.903 --> 06:47.480 The policemen, they jumped out immediately, 06:47.480 --> 06:51.147 got in their raft, went over to the building where the people were. 06:51.147 --> 06:54.491 I think it was about four people that were in that building. 06:54.491 --> 06:56.502 They were all elderly. 06:56.502 --> 06:58.875 They were about two houses away from 06:58.875 --> 07:01.581 a house that was about to catch on fire. 07:01.581 --> 07:03.182 Like, the flames were moving towards the house. 07:03.182 --> 07:05.450 The firemen jumped out immediately, they went over to the fire. 07:05.450 --> 07:07.838 They were doing their best to slow down the fire. 07:07.838 --> 07:09.896 The policemen went in, they got the people out, 07:09.896 --> 07:11.304 and then came back to the vehicle. 07:11.304 --> 07:13.079 They loaded up, we started rolling out. 07:13.079 --> 07:15.462 The firemen stayed behind and they continued to fight that fire. 07:17.878 --> 07:19.909 - [Interviewer] So when you guys were starting to pull people in, 07:19.909 --> 07:21.971 did you get in the bed and start pulling people up too? 07:21.971 --> 07:23.735 - Yes, we helped out with that. 07:23.735 --> 07:26.285 The firemen and the policemen, they were the real heroes. 07:26.285 --> 07:27.827 They were the ones that were actually... 07:27.827 --> 07:30.275 Like I said, the policemen, they jumped down, they went into the building. 07:30.275 --> 07:31.582 They got the people out. 07:31.582 --> 07:33.837 The firemen, immediately, like I said, they went to the fire, they were fighting that. 07:33.837 --> 07:35.643 But as they brought them, the people that were helping out, 07:35.643 --> 07:39.048 lift them up into the 7-ton, making sure that they're all good. 07:39.048 --> 07:42.715 We had a couple more policemen that stayed behind there helping us out also. 07:42.715 --> 07:45.802 - [Interviewer] What was it like when you got the first 07:45.802 --> 07:48.993 person into the bed, that you were finally starting to get them rescued 07:48.993 --> 07:50.469 and you were pulling them out of the water, 07:50.469 --> 07:52.720 and then the first person finally got in your bed that you rescued? 07:52.720 --> 07:54.537 What was that like? - It felt great that 07:54.537 --> 07:56.577 we were able to make it there. 07:56.577 --> 07:59.150 Because like I said, in the first place, we couldn't even make it there 07:59.150 --> 08:00.320 because conditions were so bad. 08:00.320 --> 08:03.334 But now that we were actually in a place where we were helping out people, 08:03.334 --> 08:06.491 it was great, we felt like we were actually getting something accomplished. 08:08.860 --> 08:12.325 - [Interviewer] Looking back at the whole night, what was the most surprising thing to you? 08:12.325 --> 08:14.743 - What was the what? - [Interviewer] The most surprising thing. 08:14.743 --> 08:17.791 - Just the fire and how bad it actually got. 08:17.791 --> 08:19.341 I mean, we heard that it was going to be bad 08:19.341 --> 08:21.660 and then we saw the wind, we saw a little bit of water. 08:21.660 --> 08:24.076 But actually when we drove over there and seeing the water level, 08:24.076 --> 08:26.528 I've never seen anything like, maybe in movies. 08:26.528 --> 08:30.480 Or some crazy thing that you'll see on TV that happens across the world. 08:30.480 --> 08:33.484 But no, to actually see it here in the place that you live, 08:33.484 --> 08:37.331 it really came across as surprising. 08:37.331 --> 08:39.786 - [Interviewer] How far away from the Rockaways do you live? 08:39.786 --> 08:41.998 - Oh, we actually live in the Rockaways. 08:41.998 --> 08:45.509 But from the actual area, maybe five minutes at the most. 08:45.509 --> 08:46.877 It was right near our area. 08:46.877 --> 08:49.459 - [Interviewer] You're talking about where you were living, right? - Yes, yes. 08:50.529 --> 08:54.505 - [Interviewer] Were you thinking about that factor when you were out there? 08:54.505 --> 08:56.045 It wasn't just some area. 08:56.045 --> 09:00.145 It wasn't just you doing civil affairs stuff in Afghanistan or driving a convoy somewhere. 09:00.145 --> 09:02.345 This is an area where you live that was just destroyed. 09:02.345 --> 09:06.202 - Yes, definitely, like I said, it felt good that we were actually helping out people. 09:06.202 --> 09:10.644 Especially people that we live around, but I mean, anywhere we go we felt good about it. 09:12.182 --> 09:14.058 Yeah, it was really gratifying. 09:16.230 --> 09:18.505 - [Interviewer] Did you really understand how bad everything had been damaged 09:18.505 --> 09:22.148 at night or was it the next morning when you saw pictures with the sun up? 09:22.148 --> 09:25.178 - We figured that it was bad and we saw a lot of bad stuff. 09:25.178 --> 09:28.598 But even to see it the next day was even more surprising, 09:28.598 --> 09:31.747 to see the amount of damage, to see the vehicles and the other places in the Rockaways. 09:31.747 --> 09:34.555 We got lucky, fortunately for us, the Marines that live there, 09:34.555 --> 09:36.855 because the areas we live in didn't get hit as bad. 09:36.855 --> 09:40.887 But a lot of other the places in the Rockaways got hit a lot worse, especially Breezy Point. 09:40.887 --> 09:42.306 I know they had a giant fire. 09:42.306 --> 09:45.135 It was, like, 111 homes that burnt down. 09:45.135 --> 09:47.702 So our heart goes out to them. 09:47.702 --> 09:49.826 - [Interviewer] For someone who doesn't know, 09:49.826 --> 09:52.179 explain how big a 7-ton is 09:52.179 --> 09:54.806 compared to other stuff that was driving around the streets that night. 09:55.145 --> 09:59.181 - Oh, we're about double the height of any vehicle that's out there. 09:59.181 --> 10:01.197 I mean, I'm not an expert on 7-tons 10:01.197 --> 10:03.997 because I'm actually a communicator, I was just helping out. 10:04.085 --> 10:08.516 But yeah, we were definitely double the height of any vehicles out there. 10:09.869 --> 10:12.938 I wish I had a better, more exact measurement. 10:14.743 --> 10:17.254 - [Interviewer] And how bad was the water even on yours? 10:17.254 --> 10:20.013 - Like, if I had been standing on the ground, 10:20.013 --> 10:22.829 it would have been a foot over my head. 10:22.829 --> 10:25.051 At the very least, at some of the points. 10:25.051 --> 10:28.414 As we were driving, we were seeing vehicles that were completely submerged. 10:28.414 --> 10:30.879 And then we'd just see them as they would just barely come up. 10:30.879 --> 10:34.213 There was one point we saw an SUV, we could barely see that it was there. 10:34.213 --> 10:37.029 Just the top of it. I mean, that's an SUV, it's already a tall vehicle. 10:37.029 --> 10:39.155 So, that was at the worst parts. 10:40.555 --> 10:42.540 - [Interviewer] Do you remember, as you were pulling people up, 10:42.540 --> 10:44.761 do you remember anyone saying anything to you? 10:44.761 --> 10:46.929 - As we were pulling them up? 10:46.929 --> 10:48.742 - [Interviewer] Yeah, or as they were sitting in the bed. 10:48.742 --> 10:50.298 - A lot of them were saying thank you, 10:50.298 --> 10:53.903 but just with the wind and everything, we didn't get to communicate with them a lot. 10:56.247 --> 10:58.990 I don't know if they actually went into shock, but it seemed a lot of them were going into shock. 10:58.990 --> 11:02.213 I mean, I'm sure anybody would have, being in that situation. 11:02.213 --> 11:05.551 So they were sitting there just cold and everything like that. 11:05.551 --> 11:07.630 So just glad to be out of there. 11:07.630 --> 11:09.581 - [Interviewer] Because the storm is still whipping around, right? 11:09.581 --> 11:11.679 The wind is still kicking up and the rain is still coming down 11:11.679 --> 11:12.784 as you're out there, right? 11:12.784 --> 11:14.721 - Very much, it was still going strong. 11:14.721 --> 11:18.191 - [Interviewer] So how long were you out there? 11:18.191 --> 11:19.416 Or when did you get back? 11:19.416 --> 11:22.558 - Oh wow, I think we left around 7 or 8, 11:22.558 --> 11:25.453 I don't know the time we rolled out, I wasn't paying attention to the time. 11:25.453 --> 11:29.233 But we didn't get back until I'd say 3 or 4am 11:29.233 --> 11:32.019 is when we got back from doing all that. 11:32.019 --> 11:34.351 And once again, the firemen and policemen 11:34.351 --> 11:37.819 they were out there after that. 11:37.819 --> 11:39.245 So it really goes out there to them. 11:39.245 --> 11:43.240 We tried to do our best but they really did a lot out there. 11:43.240 --> 11:45.581 - [Interviewer] Is there one thing that sticks in your mind, 11:45.581 --> 11:48.095 or one thing that you think you'll remember from that night? 11:48.095 --> 11:52.739 - Just the gratifying experience of being able to help out people 11:52.739 --> 11:55.047 and just how much everybody came together 11:55.047 --> 11:56.835 to work together. 11:56.835 --> 11:58.294 We had the policemen, we had the firemen, 11:58.294 --> 12:02.066 I think I saw some other civilians that I don't know where they worked at 12:02.066 --> 12:03.204 but they were helping out also.