Quote:

Why not read what DID happen in JC in 1916?

http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistor ... s/Black_Tom_Explosion.htm

This guy is definitely deserving of this honor. Read below to see what could've happened.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_explosion

Bay Area man honored today for helping save NYC from destruction

By Brent Ainsworth, Bay Area News Group
Posted: 03/17/2009

Heroics in the Pacific, Asian and European theaters during World War II have been well documented through the years, but Walter Firestone's life-saving feat took place in New York Harbor during an incident that is unknown to most.

Firestone, an 88-year-old San Anselmo resident, helped prevent a relatively small fire from taking out greater New York City on April 24, 1943. For his efforts in putting out the fire aboard a burning freighter loaded with ammunition, he will be recognized in a ceremony Tuesday in Alameda - 66 years after the incident in which no one was killed.

"It was a close call for New York City that day," said Firestone, a native of Brooklyn.

Vice Adm. David Pekoske, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, will present Firestone with the Coast Guard Commendation medal at 10 a.m. at Coast Guard Island's Point Welcome Room.

Firestone was a U.S. Coast Guard fireman third class and on patrol in a small boat with two others that day off Bayonne, N.J., just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. A radio call came for him and others to report to Caven Point, a Jersey City water terminal just west of the Statue of Liberty, to fight a fire on the ship.

The Panamanian-registered freighter SS El Estero was loaded with munitions and was soon to head for Europe, according to an official Coast Guard history. More than 1,400 tons of bombs were aboard and an estimated 5,000 tons of munitions were on the pier
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where the freighter was docked. One hold inside the ship contained bombs that weighed 4,000 pounds apiece.

According to a book about the history of the New York City fire department by Paul Hashagen, the entire New Jersey and New York waterfront were at peril.

"At any moment, the El Estero could detonate and ravage the buildings and ships along both sides of the waterfront," Hashagen wrote. Coast Guard documents state that 10 percent of the metropolitan population was in danger from a potential blast.

As tugboats towed away the vessel from the Caven Point terminal, Firestone and his mates pulled up to the ship and boarded by ladder. "We surveyed the scene and tried to do as much as we could," he said. "What we were on was a time bomb, ready to blow. It was a wild scene with guys running around everywhere."

For about 30 minutes, Firestone and about 60 others fought the flames as the El Estero was towed past the Statue of Liberty. The decision was made to sink the freighter in the harbor to douse the threat. As the cargo holds were flooded, Firestone disembarked and watched it go down about four hours after it had caught fire.

"How the hell the rest of them got off is unknown to me," he said. "There were a lot of other small crafts around and I imagine they helped with that."

The New York Times published a story last year by writer Clyde Haberman that noted, "Few who were there are still alive." Firestone saw the piece and, eager to note that he was one of the few, contacted the Coast Guard station in Alameda. Public affairs Lt. Dave Oney arranged for a tribute in Firestone's honor.

Firestone has lived in San Anselmo for 30 years with Blanche Firestone, his wife since 1951. He left the Coast Guard in 1946 and obtained a doctorate in agronomy, leading international efforts in crop production until he was 70. He is a member of American Legion Post 179 in San Anselmo.

Contact Brent Ainsworth via e-mail at bainsworth@marinij.com