Retiree Blazes New trail

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Pieper, a grandfather of four, wanted to be a firefighter.

"I was a member of a company in North Jersey for a short time in the 1970s, until I moved down here and got busy with work," Pieper said. "But I think it's something that never leaves you. It stays in your blood."

Not only did Pieper make it through the fire academy - where he was old enough to be some of his classmates' grandfather - he was recently honored for finishing at the top of his class.

 Before any of that could happen, Pieper had to convince his family and Sweetwater Fire Company Chief Gary Franklin that he could handle the physical demands of firefighting.

"We've known Gary for some time, but one day he showed up and said he'd like to volunteer," Franklin said. "He insisted he was in good shape and works out regularly. So after he passed his physical, we enrolled him into a Firefighter I course."

Pieper's family was worried about their patriarch's safety but did not deter him.

"That would be a selfish thing to do," said his wife, Karen Pieper. "He feels like he is doing something that is important for the community and important for himself. You just hope that someone's looking over you and taking care of you."

The fire academy was physically demanding, but Pieper said he refused to let it show.

"More than 80 percent of the guys there were under 21. When you're older than the instructors, you definitely feel like grandpa," Pieper said. "It was tough. I got blisters like everyone else. But I kept it to myself, because you can't let the youngsters know it."

Pieper conquered the difficult self-contained breathing apparatus drills with about 50 pounds of equipment on and endured the classroom lessons despite having not taken a class since high school.

"It helped being retired, because between classes I would just read the book and study. I didn't have to worry about going to work or school like the others did," said Pieper, who finished with the highest grade-point average in the class.

As a member of the Sweetwater Volunteer Fire Company, Pieper said he feels like a baby.

"A lot of the guys here are, let's just say, 'mature,' because it's hard finding young people to come out. They're all in front of the computer," Pieper said.

Franklin said Pieper will be an asset to the company.

"Sometimes younger guys can think they're indestructible and could be more willing to (jeopardize their safety and the safety of others) to play hero," Franklin said. "But those of us who are older have a different level of maturity and know our limits."

Pieper knows his window to be a firefighter is limited.

"I will do this as long as I am physically able to," Pieper said. "Then I'll probably move on to driving the truck and then to the fire police, directing traffic."

But for now, he's happy just being part of the firefighting fraternity.

"All of the recognition I got from this is great, but there are people who have donated their time for years and have made sacrifices that you never hear about," he said. "You should."

E-mail Robert Spahr: RSpahr@pressofac.com

This story was taken from the news source stated above. It is not the opinion of The Elwood Vol. Fire Company or it's members.