It was time for final exams at the academy. Billy showed a lot of promise and he had worked hard to reach this day. It was hard to believe that thirteen weeks had passed. He felt like a new person. The instructors all said that he showed great leadership potential. It was time to show them that they were right. The final evolutions of the fire academy were about to happen. Billy and Jason were partnered up for the live burn exercise that would show their skills.
They set to work on their task. They cleared the first floor and began a search of the second. In the back room they find fire and they work to contain it. They sweep the room and find a victim. They radio it in and begin the rescue. Soon they come out successfully. Then they set to the task of their required rope rescue and finish the tower activity. At the end of it all they congratulate each other.
That afternoon was the written final. Once it was laid in front of Billy he took a deep breath and began. It was a timed test, two hours to answer nearly 300 questions. He carefully answered each question. When he finished he took his test up to the instructor.
Now the waiting game began. They would go home and come back the next day to find out who was an FDNY Firefighter and who would have to do some remedial work. Billy went home confident that he would be a firefighter. It was a long evening and even longer night.
When he woke up the next morning he was actually too nervous to eat breakfast. The nerves had hit him. He headed off for the academy. There was very little work today. It was graduation day. He called Ashley to remind her. But how could she forget? Graduation was at 2 PM.
The Probies did a few last minute paperwork items. Then they all hit the showers and changed into their dress uniforms. They were arranged alphabetically for graduation. They line up to enter into the auditorium. Billy hated the fact that his name was at the end of the alphabet. The lead instructor walks up to him.
"Billy, congratulations son, you have graduated as the lead recruit from the class." The instructor says.
"Thank you sir." Billy replies
"No thanking me son, you earned it." The instructor replies, "Now you get to lead your classmates in."
His classmates applaud the achievement as Billy passes to the front of the line to lead them in.
"It is time." The instructor says as Billy leads his classmates into the auditorium.
They stand before their seats as Chief Williams walks to the podium.
"Everyone please honor our country by standing for our National Anthem."
The probies all raise their right arms in salute to the flag as the anthem is played. Upon its ending Chief Williams calls Chaplain Brian Parker to the podium for the invocation.
"Let us bow our heads in prayer." He begins, "Heavenly Father, today we join together to celebrate the accomplishments of this class of cadets. Today each of them will begin a new call to duty with their graduation. Let us bless them and pray for their guidance as they begin their long and dedicated service to the citizens of the City of New York. In your name we pray, Amen."
Chief Williams returns to the podium.
"Thank you Chaplain Parker." He says, "Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. We are here today to honor these fine men and women for their dedication and commitment to this academy. For that they are rewarded with a knowledge that they are among New York's Bravest as they graduate. Tomorrow each one of them will move into their duty location and begin a career as a New York City firefighter."
Billy hated graduation; he hated the long speeches that came with it. But this one meant something special. He could live with it. He was glad to be moving on.
"Captain Angus Taylor will you please join me for the presentation? As a tradition we have to honor a special recruit today. This person showed great perseverance and leadership as well as having the highest test scores of the class. It is with great honor that I call this recruit to the stage to be awarded his first medal for his efforts." Chief Williams looks out over the crowd. "This year's top recruit is Probationary Firefighter William James Walsh." He announces.
Billy stands up and smiles as he walks to the podium to receive his medal. It was fitting the Captain Taylor was given the honor to pin it on him.
"Billy, I am very proud of you son. I hope that this is not the only medal I ever have the chance to pin on you." Angus tells him as he shakes his hand. Chief Williams also shakes Billy's hand. A flashbulb goes off to capture the moment on film as the audience and his classmates applaud.
"Firefighter Walsh, would you like to make any statements to your classmates?" Chief Williams asks. This really was not a request though, it was expected of him.
Billy walks to the podium and takes a deep breath. He looks out into the audience and finds Ashley who wipes a tear from her eye.
"I am not the best with speeches so guys, I will make this short." Billy begins, "14 years ago I had a dream, a dream that was lost to circumstance and later found again by circumstance. I am proud of each and every one of you. I am glad that I have had the honor to meet each and every one of you, and that I will be working with you for a long time to come. See you on the big one!"
Everyone applauded his sentiments and he once again took his seat. Chief Williams continued on with the ceremony and then finally it was time for their certificates- diplomas if you will. They would also hear their assigned duty station. And the first name called to the stage was none other than Billy.
"As I call your name please come up onto the stage to receive your certificate." Chief Williams says. He pauses a moment and then begins.
"Probationary Firefighter William James Walsh- with honors. Squad Company 5-5." It wasn't unusual for a probie to be placed with a squad company, but it was an honor usually reserved for the top recruit.
Billy once again marched across the stage to get his certificate and returned to his seat. It was not long before the list finally reached his partner.
"Jason Michael Sweet- Ladder Company 100." Chief Williams announced.
They hadn't realized it at the moment, but they would be stationed in the same house at the corner of King and Arthur. Squad 55, Ladder 100- better known as Camelot.
As the ceremony wrapped up the new firefighters congratulated each other at the small reception. They had their papers for their assignments. Tomorrow they would report to their new homes and begin their careers.
Ashley approached her little brother. She was beaming with pride.
"Well little brother, here we are again. This is where I give you the big sister speech." She says and then Billy mocks her.
"You be careful, I don't need the phone call saying that I lost my only brother." He laughs as she does as well.
"Well that wasn't exactly what I was going to say." She responds, "I am proud of you Billy." She hugs her not so little brother.
"I know." Billy responds. "I always have."
As morning breaks Billy heads out for a brief jog. He has to report to work at 9 AM; it is now just cracking 5 AM. It was the morning of September 1, 1980
Billy pulled his car up and parked in a lot near the firehouse. He grabbed his papers and his bag from his car and walked down the street. He looked at the street signs.
"King and Arthur" he read aloud. He looked at the house that stood on the left side of the street. On the right was the 55th Precinct of NYPD. He walked down past the bays and entered into the building that would be his new home. It was shortly before 8:45 AM. He saw a couple other firefighters.
"You the new guy?" One of them called
"Yeah, Billy Walsh." He introduced himself
"DK Kitson." One said
"Tommy Doyle." The other said
"Lieu's office is up the stairs to the right." DK told him
"Thanks." Billy replied as he ascended the stairs
He reached the office and knocked on the door.
"Come in." The Lieutenant called him in
"William Walsh reporting for duty sir." Billy said
"Do you have your papers?" The Lieutenant asks
"Yes sir." Billy replied as he handed his paperwork to the Lieutenant.
"Lieutenant John Pratt." The man introduces himself, "Welcome aboard son."
"Thank you sir." Billy responds
"I'll have someone show you around." Lt. Pratt said as he saw DK walk by the door, "DK, can you show William around?"
"Sure thing Lieu." DK replies
"Before you go, William, that's too formal, how about just plain Walsh?" Lt. Pratt asks
"That's fine with me sir." Billy responds.
"Good." Lt. Pratt says and smiles briefly before getting back to paperwork.
"Alright, let's get your stuff stowed into your locker huh?" DK asks as he leads Billy to the bunkroom. "Third one on the left. That's your bunk beside it."
"Thanks." Billy says as he puts his bag in the base of his closet- it wasn't really a locker but a wooden door to a small closet. Inside the closet were a pair of uniforms and some other FDNY apparel as well as a station t-shirt.
"We don't always wear duty shirts here." DK says, "Only reason we all got 'um on today is to look presentable for the new guys."
As they head downstairs they pass Jason Sweet.
"Hey Jason what are you doing here?" Billy asks
"Ladder 100, shares your house." Jason replies
DK then takes Billy to the next important location. The engine bay. "Your gear is in the 5th locker. You ride back left." He says referring to the location in the cab where the young firefighter would sit.
DK then began to go over the pre-ride with Billy so that he would know where things are.
"And if you don't know where something is, ask and we'll help you." DK tells the rookie just before the alarm box comes to life.
"Squad 55, Adam 55-3 respond for an MVC 123 and Lexington." It calls
"That's us." DK says as he flips his shoes off and puts on his gear.
Billy follows suit as the rest of the squad grabs their gear and moves to the truck.
On the way to the call Tommy Doyle drove with Lt. Pratt in the officer's seat. 2 others, Adam Miller and Jacob Wright, joined DK and Billy in the back.
They pulled on scene to find a 2 car MVC. Adam 55-3 was already there assessing the patients. The squad needed to just secure the vehicles and offer assistance to the medics as needed.
"DK, Walsh grab the cribbing to secure that vehicle. Miller and Wright grab the line." Lt. Pratt ordered his men.
DK and Billy set the cribbing to secure the cars. Once all the patients were cared for the squad was finished. A pair of cops walks over to them.
"DK, who's the new guy?" Sully asks
"Billy Walsh." DK responds
Sully always tried to make it a point to be nice to the squad since they would work together.
"John Sullivan and Tyrone Davis Sr." Sully introduces
"Nice to meet you." Billy replies
Sully tells Billy, "Welcome to Camelot."