Firefighter David J. DeFranco Medal LIEUTENANT TATE L. HUNT LADDER COMPANY 166 June 28, 2009, 0630 hours, Box 3548, West 17th Street and Surf Avenue, Coney Island Beach, Brooklyn Appointed to the FDNY on February 4, 2001. Previous assignments include Engine 257 and Ladders 6 and 148. Brother, FF Chris Hunt, is assigned to Engine 157; cousins, FF John Gorman, is assigned to Ladder 166 and Captain Brian Foster, is assigned to Ladder 84; brothers-in-law Captain Brian Gorman and Lieutenant Patrick Gorman are assigned to Engine 155 and Ladder 156, respectively, and FF Brendan Gorman, is retired from Ladder 105; and father-in-law, Battalion Chief Jerry Gorman (now deceased), was assigned to Operations. Member of the Emerald Society. Recipient of the Albert S. Johnston Medal in 2009 and the Life Saving Benevolent Association Medal & Award in 2010. Holds an Associate degree in Engineering from the College of Staten Island. Resides in Staten Island with his wife, Maggie, and their children, Emma, Tate, Liam and Quinn.
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hile the New York City Fire Department has all but could not see the victim. The Lieutenant dove down approximastered the art of urban firefighting; there are mately eight feet under the water and began to search for the times when members of this great and storied victim. Department are called upon to demonstrate personal initiative Within a few seconds, Lieutenant Hunt spotted a white and aggressive action at unusual incidents. This was the case blur, reached out and found the male victim, who was faceon an overcast day in late June 2009 when Lieutenant Tate L. down on the ocean floor. The rescuer grabbed the victim, Hunt displayed these important traits and made the difference brought him to the surface and began to swim toward the at a critical moment. shore. Along the way, he was met by FF Raymundo Ferrer, In the early-morning hours of June 28, 2009, the phone who had entered the water with a life preserver and buoy to alarm rang in the quarters of Engine 318/Ladder 166 for a per- assist the Officer. Lieutenant Hunt used the buoy to elevate the son in the water at Box 3548, West 17th Street and Surf victim’s head out of the water and then he continued to swim Avenue, Brooklyn. As they responded, Brooklyn Dispatch with the victim back to shore. advised the company that three civilians had entered the Several seconds later, Lieutenant Hunt was joined by FF water, but only two had emerged. Sean Connelly, Ladder 161, who also had entered the water In fewer than five minutes, the Kings of Neptune arrived with an additional life preserver and tethered surfboard to on-scene and the company was waved in to the boardwalk by assist in the victim’s removal. The three rescuers placed the several civilians. As members of the company retrieved their victim--who was not breathing--onto the surfboard and the water rescue equipment, Lieutenant Hunt ran ahead to obtain rest of the company still on the beach pulled the tethered surfadditional information on the nature of the emergency. He was board back to shore. Once at the shoreline, Lieutenant Hunt met by EMS members who stated that someone was in the and FF Connelly carried the victim to EMS personnel, who water drowning. Lieutenant Hunt ran down onto the sand and immediately began CPR prior to transporting the victim to was met by two New York City Police Department officers Coney Island Hospital. who confirmed the information. However, they could not verIn his report of the incident, Battalion Chief Joseph ify the victim’s last known Carlsen, Battalion 43, location. Meanwhile, a numnoted, Lieutenant Hunt disber of civilians were on the played exceptional bravery. pier, screaming that the person Additionally, then-Deputy was drowning and pointing to Chief James E. Leonard, a general location in the water. Division 8 Commander, Realizing time was critiwrote, His initiative to cal, Lieutenant Hunt, a strong enter the water quickly is swimmer, sprinted more than the reason a life was saved. 500 feet to the beach and The New York City Fire entered the water without a Department is proud to life preserver or safety rope. The Lieutenant Tate Hunt family is big enough to form an FDNY Company. honor Lieutenant Tate L. He swam out approximately Left to right--brother, FF Chris Hunt, Engine 157; brother-in-law, Hunt today with the 150 feet to the point where the Lieutenant Patrick Gorman, Ladder 156; Lieutenant Tate Hunt, Ladder Firefighter David J. 166; brother-in-law, Captain Brian Gorman, Engine 155; brother-in-law, FF civilians were pointing, but he Brendan Gorman, is retired from Ladder 105; and cousin, FF John DeFranco Medal.--DJH Gorman, Ladder 166.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT, CITY OF NEW YORK • MEDAL DAY 2010