Stationed out of Camp Ole on Mt. Laguna, Descanso Ranger District. The superintendent then was Leon Ballou. His wife Irene Ballou also worked for the USFS on the Descanso as an Administrative Officer or something to that effect. I do not know of anyone who was on the old Cleveland Hotshots who rose up to be an IC or FMO but I'm sure there were some, I have limited knowledge of the crew in those days.

Dick Raybould was the FCO (FMO) on the Descanso from the late 40's or early 50's until he retired in 1973. I don't know if he was ever on the Cleveland Hotshots but he had a great reputation as a top notch forest service fireman who could really hike the hills. (Ab note: Raybould was on the Oak Grove.) The crew moved to the Trabuco district in 1959 (That's what I always heard) and Danny Street was the superintendent. They were burned over on the Decker fire that same year. There were 7 fatalities on the Decker, not sure if most were hotshots, but one was the Trabuco District Ranger. Red Wilson who was engine captain at El Cariso in 1976 said he was on the crew on the Decker fire. He said when the fire blew up, he heard Danny Street yell "Throw your tools and run for your lives." Red said he was running down the Ortega Highway. He was 18 years old.

Tony Doty AK Type 1 IC, Area Commander, Logistics; AK Type 1 IMT Deputy IC

John Thomas, crewman 1977; Supt '93-'03, ANF Chief 2 '07

Buck Latapie R-6 Fire Training Officer; Branch Chief for Fire Training; WO, Ass’t Fire Director, WO

Randolph "Radar" Harrison Rural Fire Defense Coordinator (1992-1995), Northeastern Area Coordination Center (NACC) Manager (1995-1997), Emergency Ops Coordinator (1997-2000) and Area Fire Planner (2000-2002) - Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry (Radnor and Newtown Square, PA).
Mike Rotonda - Regional Aviation Officer R-3
Patti Koppenol, Director - Fire & Aviation R-1
Judy Reese, Regional FMO - Alaska Division of Forestry
Bob Wing, Unit Aviation Officer - CDA BLM/Idaho Panhandle NF

Jim Hedges BLM NorCal
SIFC Co-Center Manager, Unit Aviation Manager

Willie Metz-CA-CNF Forest Supv

Bob Becker is now a Director within State department in DC

Terry Raley Ventura Co FD

If anyone has info on this disbanded California crew's history, please email Ab.

Paul Tompkins, Asst Chief for the Miramar Fire Dept, San Diego Co.*

Paul Tompkins, DOD Civilian Firefighter of the Year '05; DIVS on Molumby's CIIMT*

Paul Tompkins, Asst Chief for the Miramar Fire Dept, San Diego Co.
James Hall, Asst Chief ANF
Marc Nelson, Chief 1 MNF

Paul Tompkins, DOD Civilian Firefighter of the Year '05; DIVS on Molumby's CIIMT

Howard Rayon (Squad Boss, original Laguna HS, 74-75); SOF1 on CIIMT #2 Molumby and a Deputy Chief with Heartland Fire, San Diego

Dale Shippelhoute FMO/Division Chief FWS Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Steve Millert, hotshots 1978-1983. D-MNF

 

Mike Conrad T2 IC*

Mark Koontz IFPM program manager(?) for NPS at NIFC

Part of the problem for Converse was its location, and the long drive to get anywhere quickly. Another part was one of the buildings burned. The station was rebuilt while I was on the district. Bill Smith, the Running Springs Fire Chief and Russ Johnson, both BDF retirees, could also fill in a lot of blanks. Russ now works for ESRI in Redlands.

From Former CDF~~
~~Only person I know from the Converse Hotshots was the future Supt. of the Del Rosa Hotshots (Ron Regan) who retired some time ago. I met him in 1984 and learned from him until the time he retired.... and still learn to this day.

If I remember the story correctly, Ron was a member of the Converse HS before he headed off to Vietnam, and then when he returned, he was a member of the Del Rosa Hotshots. Between the time when Ron left to Vietnam and he returned, the Converse crew was disbanded. Ron finished off his career as the Supt. of the Del Rosa Hotshots in the early 1990's. I believe he was the longest serving HS supt. of the crew.

Stories fade over time and I am probably wrong in my recollections or how the story goes...... Ron can explain it better and give a better history of the Converse HS crew history. I am not sure of the time lines.... just the effects of the stories of my mentors.

T. Molzahn..... great to see you still around and leading.... Weren't you on Converse also?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My name is Joe Chandler. I was originally assigned to the Del Rosa Hotshots in 1959. Some of us then were transferred to the Converse Hot Shots to finish the season. We were the first Converse Hot Shot crew. My memory is bad so the only names I remember were John Eby, and Jim Witt. Witt was our foreman. We were put in an old CC camp with a four seat outhouse and lousy beds. The dorm burned down sometime after I left. I believe we fought seven Class E fires that season. A couple of the ones I remember were the one that burned down the Morton Peak lookout, and the Stable fire behind Arrowhead. Also a couple in Cajon Pass. Bob Chandler, my brother known as Moe, was on the crew in later years. I wish I could remember more and if I do I'll write again. Take care.

I was on the Converse Hot Shots 1962 and 1963. In 1961 Bob Woodland was the foreman - no sup at that time. In '62 Gary Bratton was the foreman. At that time only a 15 person crew. I believe Bob Glascock was the foreman in 64 and 65. I was drafted early in 1964. When I came back from Vietnam in 66, Converse was already disbanded. I was stationed at Oak Glen as a driver from March of 66 until August 66. Then reassigned to Converse until the summer of 1968. Went to Del Rosa in 1973 and retired in 1997.
--Converse Alumni include Bill Shaffer, Bob Chandler (retired Arrowhead Fire District), Greg Davis (retired USFS), Jesse James Wadkins (living in Oklahoma), and Dennis Stine (retired USFS). -Ron Regan, Retired Sup 3

I was a member of the Converse Hotshots in 61, 62, and 63. During these years Bob Widlund was foreman in 61 and Gary Bratton in 62 and 63. On occasion Smokey filled in. All were excellent leaders who expected the best from all crew members. Steve Nehring (from Louisiana), and myself served as squad bosses during the summer of 63. We were followed by Bob (Moe) Chandler and Bill Shafer. Moe was kind enough to forward many pictures from those years. Hard work, comradery, and great crew members.......Great memories. - Wayne King; 208 337-3134

In your IHC history you listed "Monterey". Not sure if you were referencing the Monterey RD, LPF. There was not an IHC those years but there was a 30 person helishot crew on the Monterey RD during 1976-1978. The Helishot Sup was Don Lopez. Gerry Barney and Rick Johnson were module leaders. Jim Chestnut and Kenneth Stump were assistants. Juan Lopez was the H-526 foreman.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Don Will:
I remember the Monterey Helishots back in 1974-77 when they were based at the Jolon Mission at Ft. Hunter Leggett. The helicopter was based at Arroyo Seco, and for a short stint at the Indians. The crew was 20-25 strong and the crew colors were light blue t-shirts and hats. Don Lopez was Supt, (he passed away a few years back in his hometown of Espanola, NM. His daughter, Sandra works at ASC). Gerry Barney and Rick Johnson were the foremen I remember and Jim Chestnut, was a Squad Boss.

The crew regularly worked project during the day and had an initial attack module pre-designated. I remember a very aggressive crew and hard workers. Don was very much old school and everything was about work. One of his famous quotes that still reverberates in my brain was on an assignment on the LP. We had hit a fire on IA in the afternoon and cut line all night. The
next day we were gridding and securing and all of us were out of water. Gerry Barney went up to Don and asked that he order water for the crew. Don's answer was, and I quote because I heard it, " No water, work."  I remember on an assignment on the ANF when Don jumped me because I wasn't cutting the brush with one or two swings of my Brush hook. Another famous Don Lopez quote, " "G-------t, Will, Cut those bushes".

R2 Rocky Mountain

Roger Staats: WY IHC 1984, McCall Jumper 1986-2000ish, currently McCall District (or west zone) FMO, Payette NF

Dave Hamrick- on Alpine before becoming Supt for Roosevelt 2003- 2006. Now North Zone FMO on the Arapaho-Roosevelt.

David Niemi - Alpine IHC Supt; now D-Roosevelt-Arapaho NF

Michael Powell D-KNF Forman with China

Tami DeFries, Alaska Fire Service, Military Zone

Geoff Bell first supt & founded crew; now Arapaho-Roosevelt NF in CO*

R6 Pacific Northwest

Kyle Cannon, Entiat IHC 89-92  95-07 Now – Columbia River Division Chief (DFMO), Okanogan/Wenatchee NF
Mike Starkovich Yak Riv FMO
Anthony Starkovich S Zone FMO on the MBS
*Chris Theisen Cle Elum Rd FMO on the OWF; now Dep FFMO on the Humboldt-Toyaibe NF.

Alaska

Chris Hays Fremont-Winema NF, Klamath Ranger District FMO

R1 Northern Rockies

*Don Feser ANF

Jim Hedges BLM NorCal
SIFC Co-Center Manager, Unit Aviation Manager*
 

*Tony Doty AK Type 1 IC, Area Commander, Logistics; AK Type 1 IMT Deputy IC

John Maupin, Type I (R5)

*Buck Latapie R-6 Fire Training Officer; Branch Chief for Fire Training; WO, Ass’t Fire Director, WO*
(crew started by Dean Lundberg in 1963)

*Tony Doty, DOI Office of the Secretary, Emergency Operations Manager

Todd Camm AFMO Suppression, Seward RD, Chugach NF, Alaska.

Dave Curry, Alaska Fire Service, Alaska Interagency Coordination Center Manager

R3 Southwest

(see notes on early history below)

Dan Eckstein, Tonto NF, Payson RD

*Louis Sandoval Fuels specialist on the Globe RD

Mark Kaib, US FWS in Fire Management

Catalina, Coronado NF moved &  became Sacramento, Lincoln NF late '70s

R4 Eastern Great Basin

(Sawtooth IR)

(began as Payette HS then Payette IR then Boise IR then Boise HS)
Moved to Boise in '80 (when Boise FS SMJs consolidated with McCall.)

Randy Skelton, D-BKF*

(began as USU Forestry Crew '73 then Logan IR76 then Wasatch HS '80 then Logan Training crew88 then Logan IHC 1989)

Western Great Basin

R8 Southern

FIRE  MANAGER  HISTORY: What SmokeJumper Crew did they start on?

Managers with smokejumper background (who may or may not have been hotshots as well)

Steve Jolley, ODF, Forest Unit Supervisor

Steve Cross, rac 84-93; now Blue Mountain R.D. – DFMO - Malheur NF

Dewey Warner rac 75-83 & Redmond Smokejumper Unit Manager 94-03

Tim Lynch, rac 86-93; now FAM Project Leader at MTDC
 

Dale Dague – mso 70’s CIIMT5*
Joe Stutler – mso 70’s PNW Team 3*

Dave Provencio DPIC for Rocky Mtns & T2IC Central Coast*

Robert Mutch mso 54, 55 Lolo NF, Another Father of WFU

George Weldon mso 75-79 gac 85-87
Asst. Director - Fire, Aviation, and Air, R1

Leslie Anderson- 4 years of ZigZag hotshots / MSO SJ 1984-?/since '97 at MTDC for equipment & development

Kim Maynard - 6 years of  Bitterroot hotshots / MSO Smokejumper 1982-1990 /PhD in D.C.

Lindon Weibe Fire Specialist, WO

Jim Hedges BLM NorCal
SIFC Co-Center Manager, Unit Aviation Manager*

Dave Provencio Intermountain Region - R04, Fire Ops Specialist*

Deanne Shulman - 4 years of Los Padres hotshots / myc 81-85 /FS Emergency Management Specialist, Staff International Programs

Scott Anderson - NWCG Training Specialist

Jim Hedges BLM NorCal
SIFC Co-Center Manager, Unit Aviation Manager*

up and coming AFMOs
listed below

and now closed:

cj
lgd

Northwest R6
Northwest R6

Cave Junction/Gobi
La Grande

USFS
USFS