Bronx native sets up fire station in Southwest Asia

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. David Salanitri | Senior Master Sgt. Joe Walsh, 332nd Air Expeditionary Group, is the fire chief at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. Walsh, a native of The Bronx, N.Y., is on his second deployment to this location. Walsh was in charge of the stand up the fire department here.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

09.04.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri 

United States Air Forces Central     

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - Fighting fires is in his blood. A native of the Bronx borough of New York City is following in the footsteps of his father, a retired firefighter with the Fire Department of the City of New York in South Bronx.

Senior Master Sgt. Joe Walsh is a guy who is impossible not to like. If you work for him, he sets you up for success. If he works for you, then he's the guy busting his butt to make sure you look good in front of the boss. If you're a stranger, then he's the guy who will start a conversation with you out of the blue, making sure you're doing alright.

Walsh is a fire chief in Southwest Asia. He's been tasked with starting a fire station at a base.

"Aircraft is our primary mission, but our job has many aspects: installation support, responding with EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) to UXOs (unexploded ordnance) and identifying gaps in our taskings through our headquarters at Shaw Air Force Base and the CAOC (Combined Air Operations Center)," said Walsh. "We wear many hats here."

Having a conversation for Walsh can be compared to breathing for most -- it's natural. And everyone loves talking to him. His thick Bronx accent is distinct. He starts talking and everyone listens. Not sure if that's because people are just being respectful, or because they identify his voice with Tony Soprano, a Hollywood mobster from New Jersey. Regardless of the reason, seldom is Walsh seen not engaged in a conversation with someone.

Walsh will never be accused of chest-beating, and talking about himself too much. His troops are his livelihood.

"It's not about me. It's about the airmen and all the people who've busted their tail to get this all to work," said Walsh when told there was a story being written about him. "Why are you here? You need to get down to the station and write about those guys."

Walsh is here for a reason though. He's not new to standing up fire departments as this is his sixth deployment where he's been tasked with starting a fire department at a base with no or limited firefighting capabilities.

This isn't Walsh's first deployment to this base either.

"When I was told I was coming back here, I was worried things would be mundane," said Walsh. "Mundane it was not. Each day has brought its new challenges."

Walsh has an interesting perspective on this deployment.

"Eleven years ago, this deployment was the place to be," said Walsh. "We had a pool, TVs, trailers -- this place was the good life."

Finding a way to add spice to each day isn't a hard thing to do with Walsh's outlook. An outlook that only comes with experience.

"Just make a difference every day," said Walsh. "If you can be the difference, then that's even better."

Walsh handled his short-notice tasking like a veteran.

"I was set to go on a TDY," said Walsh. "Days before I was about to leave, I was then told to go home, pack my bags and start out-processing. Five days later I was on a plane, on my way here."

With more than 24 years of active-duty service, Walsh still has a passion for his craft.

"I love what I do," said Walsh. "I wouldn't change any aspect of my job."

• Date Taken: 09.04.2011
• Date Posted: 09.05.2011 07:19
• Story ID: 76461
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)