8TSC, USAG-HI recognize Federal Firefighters

By Kristen WongNovember 3, 2017

Federal Fire Department recognizes nine members
1 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - From left to right: Col. Stephen E. Dawson, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, Gregg Moriguchi, regional fire chief, Federal Fire Department, firefighter and paramedic Anthony Young; Lt. Shane Ching, an emergency medical techn... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Federal Fire Department recognizes nine members
2 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - Col. Stephen E. Dawson, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, congratulates firefighter Kenny Amuro during a ceremony at the Federal Fire Department Fire Station 15 on Schofield Barracks, Nov. 1, 2017. Four members of the Federal... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Federal Fire Department recognizes nine members
3 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - Five firefighters prepare to receive certificates of appreciation during a ceremony at the Federal Fire Department Fire Station 15 on Schofield Barracks, Nov. 1, 2017. Four members of the Federal Fire Department were honored for ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Federal Fire Department recognizes nine members
4 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - Five firefighters prepare to receive certificates of appreciation during a ceremony at the Federal Fire Department Fire Station 15 on Schofield Barracks, Nov. 1, 2017. Four members of the Federal Fire Department were honored for ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Federal Fire Department recognizes nine members
5 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - From left to right: Col. Stephen E. Dawson, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, Gregg Moriguchi, regional fire chief, Federal Fire Department, firefighter and paramedic Anthony Young; Lt. Shane Ching, an emergency medical techn... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Federal Fire Department recognizes nine members
6 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - Gregg Moriguchi, regional fire chief, Fire and Emergency Services, Federal Fire Department, congratulates Lt. Walter W. Ilagan during a ceremony at the Federal Fire Department Fire Station 15 on Schofield Barracks, Nov. 1, 2017. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Federal Fire Department recognizes nine members
7 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - Gregg Moriguchi, regional fire chief, Federal Fire Department, congratulates firefighter Justin M. Sabio during a ceremony at the Federal Fire Department Fire Station 15, Nov. 1, 2017. Four members of the Federal Fire Department ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Federal Fire Department recognizes nine members
8 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - Gregg Moriguchi (left), regional fire chief, Federal Fire Department, explains the significance of the awardee pins to Maj. Gen. Susan A. Davidson, commander, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, and Sgt. Maj. Jacinto Garza, 8th TSC... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Federal Fire Department recognizes nine members
9 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - Firefighter Justin M. Sabio (third from right), driver/operator Christopher A. Balmaceda (second from right) and firefighter Clinton Kitabayashi (right) prepare to receive certificates of length of service during a ceremony at th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Federal Fire Department recognizes nine members
10 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - Col. Stephen E. Dawson, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, congratulates driver/operator Christopher A. Balmaceda during a ceremony at the Federal Fire Department Fire Station 15, Nov. 1, 2017. Four members of the Federal Fire... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Federal Fire Department recognizes nine members
11 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - Col. Stephen E. Dawson, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, presents a pin to firefighter Clinton Kitabayashi to go with his length of service certificate during a ceremony at the Federal Fire Department Fire Station 15, Nov. 1... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - The Federal Fire Department recognized nine of its personnel in a small ceremony at Fire Station 15, here, Nov. 1, 2017.

Maj. Gen. Susan A. Davidson, commanding general, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jacinto Garza, senior enlisted adviser, 8th TSC, arrived first to congratulate the honorees, followed by Col. Stephen E. Dawson, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, and Command Sgt. Maj. Lisa Piette-Edwards, senior enlisted adviser, USAG-HI.

Davidson said she hoped the fire department is mostly "bored" - meaning it doesn't have to respond to many emergencies - but was grateful for their professionalism as they conduct their duties.

On Aug. 24, five members of the Federal Fire Department provided aid to a Soldier who went into cardiac arrest and collapsed during physical training. Driver/operator Christopher Balmaceda and Lt. Shane Ching; firefighters Raymund Manuel and Kenny Amuro; and firefighter/paramedic Anthony Young were each honored with certificates and pins.

One of the pins had a number, which signified how many times the recipient had been recognized for a lifesaving action.

Additionally, four other members were presented with length of service certificates for their years working in the federal government. Balmaceda, firefighters Clinton Kitabayashi, Justin Sabio and Lt. Walter Ilagan received certificates and pins.

"You guys are just as much (a part of) the Army team as anybody else," Dawson said. "Those who live on the base can sleep well at night knowing that you guys are on the job and that you guys are going to come to the rescue if there's a fire or any kind of lifesaving required."

Dawson noted that this is the second time in 18 months that he has attended a ceremony in which members of the Federal Fire Department have been honored.

"We're proud of their accomplishments. That's what we're here to do; that's what they're trained to do," said Gregg Moriguchi, regional fire chief, Federal Fire Department. "It's a proud moment when we're able to apply our training and our experience and expertise to a situation. ... We respond to people's greatest time of need and we're able to make it better."