Dad of Granite Mountain Hotshot Shares Thoughts

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SAN DIEGO, CALIF. – It’s hard to explain to an outsider how members of the fire service consider themselves one big family.

Los Angeles County Capt. Joseph Woyjeck told young firefighters at Firehouse World on Wednesday he often assisted other families in need. He was there for them when their loved one was sick, when they lost someone and while they were going through a tough time.

Woyjeck said his wife never really understood it completely.

But that changed on June 30, 2013. They were the ones on the receiving end. That’s the day they lost their son, Kevin, one of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

“She told me: ‘I get it now. I get it now.’”

Woyjeck said he can’t say enough about how the fire service family and others have helped he and his family over the past year and a half. “There’s been a lot of love.”

He urged the audience to step outside the box. “When you think you’ve done something, do a little more.”

His voice cracked with emotion as pictures of his son flashed on a screen. The last one showed Kevin and a fellow hotshot standing on a rock as smoke rose nearby.

It was one of the last photos – found on a camera that miraculously survived the fire.

Woyjeck said it’s one of his favorites. “I can see the way he’s looking down, he’s texting.”

He was moved when he was asked to speak at a graduation ceremony for LA County Fire Department Explorers, the same organization Kevin had participated in years ago.

When his speech was finished, he said he couldn’t get through it for days.

“Author Mark Twain once said, ‘Twenty-five years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than the ones you did.'"

"These young men and women may not be full blown firefighters yet, but they are now members of a long tradition of young men and women who set out to accomplish something very few have the courage to even try. They have begun a journey that will see them caring for the sick and extinguishing flames that would otherwise destroy a family’s home or a business."

My 21 year-old son Bobby is currently in pursuit of his dream of becoming a firefighter. He currently works as an EMT for an ambulance company.

Bobby’s dream is also my dream. Some day and hopefully soon I hope to pin the badge of firefighter on my son’s chest.

My oldest son, Kevin Woyjeck, was an explorer for six years, Kevin proudly served as an Explorer, hoping to one-day 'wear the bear' -the badge of an LA County firefighter.

Just like me.

Eventually Kevin would become the 7th firefighter in our family.

With the experience he gained as an LA County Fire Explorer, Kevin went on to graduate from the CalFire Wildland academy and the El Camino firefighter academy.

Kevin was then hired by and became a member of the Prescott Fire Department, Granite Mountain Hotshots, an elite wildland firefighting crew.

Unfortunately, on Sunday, June 30th, 2013 – Kevin and 18 other members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots were overrun while fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire.

They all gave their lives while living their dream – being firefighters.

They paid the ultimate price and it is your responsibility now to continue the pride and tradition of all those Explorers who came before you.

This is your shot.

The only thing my son Kevin loved almost as much as he loved the fire service was fishing.

He loved being on the water, in a boat…the wind blowing. He was happy there...

Ladies and Gentlemen, remember that I started this speech by quoting Mark Twain…."

'Twenty-five years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than the ones you did.'

"Well, Mark Twain went on to finish this quote by saying: 'So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Dream. Discover. Explore.'

Welcome to the Los Angeles County Fire Department."

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