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Reminiscences of Jerry Gombo : oral history, 2002.

Creator: Gombo, Jerry, 1944-
Project: September 11, 2001 response and recovery oral history project.
(see all project interviews)
Phys. Desc. :transcript 38 pages sound recordings 1 audio disc (93 min.) : digital ; 3 in.
Location: Columbia Center for Oral History
Full CLIO record >>

Biographical Note

Assistant Chief, Emergency Medical Services.

Scope and Contents

Born in Manhattan; family background: father Hungarian, mother American, grew up on Lower East Side; early life: Jewish upbringing, reminiscence of neighborhood's diversity character and change, marriage and move to Queens; education: Brooklyn College, BA, Hunter College, MA in healthcare administration; career: EMT (Emergency Medical Technician], volunteer ambulance corps, paramedic in Manhattan and Kings County, memories of early job, history of promotion and rise to staff chief position in EMS, reminiscence of merger between fire department and EMS; 9/11: reminiscence of day, confusion, on-site operations and staging area, witnessed body parts and burning debris, saw and heard people jumping, witnessed collapse of first tower and second, sought cover, witnessed ash, soot and paper from fallen towers, work in Police Plaza command and control, establishment of casualty collection points, problems with communication, return home; trauma; medical trauma.

Subjects

Access Conditions

Copyright by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2006. Permission required to cite, quote, and reproduce. Contact repository for information.

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