Captain Brown looks back at FDNY career which began after September 11
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- As New York City commemorates the lives lost on Sept. 11, the sacrifice endured by the FDNY remains a lasting part of the department's history. In a single day, 343 firefighters were killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center.
For FDNY Capt. Andrew Brown, the heroism displayed that day helped shape a career that began in the aftermath of the attacks and concluded this year with his retirement from the department.
Brown was among roughly 300 probationary firefighters training to become the first FDNY class to graduate after Sept. 11, 2001. In an interview conducted shortly after the attacks, Brown said the tragedy did not cause him to reconsider his decision to become a firefighter.
Asked whether Sept. 11 made him think he should not pursue the job, Brown responded, "No, not at all. Just kept my focus. I wanted to be within the brotherhood that the fire department has."
When pressed on whether there had been even a moment of doubt, Brown replied, "No, sir. No hesitation."
Looking back on that interview nearly 25 years later, Brown laughed at his younger self.
"Why am I trying to sound so cool? Who do we think I am?" Brown said during an interview this past summer.
"Well, you're 24 years old," said Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter who interviewed Brown.
"Yeah. I had no clue what I'm doing, Bill. No clue at all, my friend," Brown said.
Brown went on to rise through the ranks of the FDNY. He retired this year as a captain after being wounded while fighting a fire.
Reflecting on his retirement, Brown said he will miss many aspects of the job.
"Oh, I know there's a few things. Obviously, the members, the relationships that I forged, the rigs, the learning. I'm going to miss everything about this job from the meals. We also have a meal in every tour. We have a meal where everyone has to sit and eat with us because it could be the last one," Brown said.
The loss of the 343 firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, remains a powerful presence within the department, Brown said.
"There's members who are working right now who, you know, they smell certain aromas that remind them of 9/11, and it messes with them. When around 9/11 memorials come, you see guys hurting, you see members, you know, with tears in their eyes, but they're not, you know, they still have a smile on their face. But somehow tears in their eyes," Brown said.
Brown said he does not dwell on the attacks but keeps the memory of those who died close throughout his career.
"Never want to let him down, no matter what it takes, no matter how many nights of, you know, just running around floods, fires, car accidents, whatever. I just never want to let them down because the ones before us, you know, they're looking," Brown said.
His comments echoed sentiments he expressed as a rookie firefighter nearly 25 years earlier.
"I want to live up to all the brothers that's passed because they they're just incredible what they've done prior to September 11th and September 11th. I just want to live up to the greatness and the legacy that they've left behind," Brown said in the earlier interview.
As the recent conversation concluded, Bill Ritter thanked Brown for sharing his story and reflected on the impact of his service.
"Thank you for joining us like this. This is really important, and I think when they see you and they see what you said back then and how brave you were and what you've made out of this, it's beautiful. And it's exactly what this department is about," Ritter said.
An emotional Brown responded, "Don't do this to me, Bill. I was doing good. Don't do this to me. Thank you, thank you. I really appreciate this this this interaction from 25 years old now will forever be a memory that I'll always cherish."
Brown's journey from probationary firefighter to captain stands as a reflection of how the legacy of Sept. 11 continues to influence generations of FDNY members.
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