John Tumilty served in the US Navy on the submarine USS Sirago from 1954 through 1958 and the reserves until November 1962. Currently vice commander of the Greenwood based national submarine veterans organization he said they plan to have two floats in the Fall Festival Parade this year. He and June were married in 1959 and will celebrate 49 years of marriage this Friday.

After submarine duty during the Cold War participating in antisubmarine warfare, anti shipping warfare and intelligence gathering in the western Atlantic you'd think that he'd want a nice quiet and safe job. Instead he applied for a job as a firefighter. Fighting fires isn't a safe job in itself but firemen are also called out for auto accidents, gas leaks, trench rescues and scores of other duties including basic life support, hazardous materials response, auto extraction, rope and ice rescue and plenty of education for the firemen as well as education for the public by the firemen. .

Fire Chief Scott Chasteen said John was good to work with. “He was a mover and shaker when it came to training. He and Ray Bentley of Letts started the Decatur County Fire Academy.”

John remembers meeting Ray Bentley at some of the 1978 weekend fire training sessions. “The academy was Ray's idea. We talked about it and knew we had the education and training guidelines that were already set by the Commission for Firefighter Education and Training from the State of Indiana.” In addition, John was appointed by two Indiana governors to serve on the Board of Firefighter Training and Education for eight years.

John said the fire departments have some great equipment “because of technical advances over the years and the funds available to purchase what is needed, be it local tax money, grants or fish frys. A lot of money for the fist rescue tools, other than axes and pry bars we already had, were donated by industry, businesses, and many individuals. Another donation financed project was the first Fire Safety House. Captain Mark Baldwin said that John went to the Southeastern Indiana Homebuilders Association and asked if they would furnish the house. It's been an education tool that brings home the dangers of fires like nothing else. “When kids are taught fire safety they grow up to be fire conscious adults,” said Chasteen. John said the SEIHA built it in one day on an RV trailer. “We finished the inside and some other outside refinements like tail lights, paint etc.”

“I became deeply involved in training ,” said John, “because I wanted to know I could about something that could kill me. It was popular because we finally had a regional school - the first in Indiana. The present state board has since changed the certifications to coincide with the national certifications but the fire fighters receive basically the same education. The firefighters learn about the science of fire and how it will act so they can fight a fire and conduct rescue at the same time. They learn fire fighting tactics, water supply, rescue techniques and use of the tools. Then there are the hoses, ladders, axes, saws, air packs, turn out gear (coats, boots, helmet, gloves, hood, etc.). They learn about their own safety and the safety of others including their fellow firefighters.” He said since he retired there have been new innovations.

John retired as captain and assistant chief in 1992 after more than 21 years and then spent another five years as a volunteer. The day after he retired, he started as Safety Director at Gecom and retired from there in 2002. How does he spend his time now? When I talked with him recently he, June and some of their grandchildren were baking cookies. And then there's his bagpipe playing...

He learned from “a Scottish fellow” while he and June were in Florida and has since joined the Greensburg section of the Southern Indiana Pipes & Drums Band. “I play them because I like the sound, it is good for my health, you would not believe what it does for my lungs and we march too.

“We play once a month at the Columbus Visitors Center, parades, county fairs, fall festivals, memorials, funerals and also some weddings, birthdays, family reunions and more. There are over 25 people in the band that has members from Greensburg, Columbus, Bloomington, North Vernon, Hope and Seymour. I am also a member of the American Legion Color Guard that performs military services for veterans funerals. Melvin Robbins told the rest of the guys that I play the pipes and had performed at Jerry McGuire's Funeral (Jerry was a fireman and former chief.) I was asked if I'd bring my pipes to the next service. I agreed but I always have the guys check with the veteran's family if they want me to play at the service. Some people don't like the pipes.”