902
i would listen to Brooklyn on the radio at my parents house in Bridgeport ct around the same time.
We had a antenna on the roof. Years ago me and my brother would buff 82s and 31s firehouse on
intervale and 169 about 1969, I was young then.Later in 1977 in got on in the Bridgeport fire dept.
We would listen for george all the time. He knew every street, Stores on the street. Etc.
I meet him years ago. Relocating companies would ask for directions and he would say, See the
store on your right , Take a left then another right. A classic. 902 you brought back memories of
years ago and thankyou . Retired now. But i would still love to hear 247 give out a box.
Yes we would Brother. George Munch will go down in the history books as one of the Great Legends within the FDNY Dispatching system. Others like Manhattans Herbie Eysser, Brooklyn's Warren Fuchs, and still one of the Best operating out of the Bronx Communications Office, Bobby the Beefer.
My brother and I would listen to George hour after hour of NON Stop heavy fire activity during the FDNYs so called War Years. Turning on Brooklyn Fire Radio with George at the mike was like turning on a AM/FM radio. With no computer aided dispatch he would be calling companies without missing a beat. He was truly talented and highly skilled in his work.
Even as things started to slow down and computers started to eliminate much radio traffic, the Fourth of July night was always the busiest night of the year. And George was always there on the radio coordinating those very busy Brooklyn Fire Companies.
I met George about three times from the early 1970s. Although he probably doesn't remember me, I certainly remember him. I remember one very busy hot summer night around 1975 or 76 when I stopped by the Brooklyn Communications office to get a quick Buffs Tour. The Supervising Dispatcher told me to hang here for awhile because right now everybody is just too busy with the activity going on. He wasn't kidding. The bells came in one after another from street fire alarm pull boxes, ERS boxes were coming in and the phones just kept ringing as the dispatchers answered "Fire Department, where's your fire" ?
George was at the radio for a period of two hours with no break. Finally, the boss came to me and said, "we're kind of busy tonight, can you try coming back another time". Well, I didn't get a tour, but I sure got a ear and eye full of what was going on. And it would be like that every night. I don't know how they did it.
Well George, you will never be replaced. You are in a Class all by yourself. I sure respect you for what you did. You go to the Top of the List with the Best of them. I have a couple of Audio CDs that I bought years ago because you are on them. I think one is the Blackout '77 and the other a Fourth of July night in Brooklyn.
George, I want the World to know just what you did. Best wishes on a very well deserved retirement.
Willy D - Retired Norwich, Ct F.D.
George D - Retired Bridgeport, Ct F.D.
