Before They're Gone

Some moments in history are remembered by the entire world. Others are remembered differently by the people who were there.

In this episode of Before They're Gone, Country takes us back to September 11, 2001. He was on shift when the attacks happened. What followed would take him and Texas Task Force 1 from Texas to New York City.

Before the search and rescue operations could begin, they had to get there.

In Part 1, Country shares what he remembers about that day, the call to respond, and the journey to New York in the aftermath of one of America's darkest days.

This is the beginning of his firsthand account of 9/11. A story that deserves to be told in his own words.

Still at 31s, Country takes us back to a house fire up on Cat Mountain.

This episode gets into what a search actually looked like inside a burning home. How the crew moved through the house. What they were looking for. How the layout changed what they had to do.

Country walks us through the call as they made their way farther inside, not knowing what they were going to find.

By the end of it, the actions of the crew would earn them the Medal of Merit.

Station 31 had a reputation. Around the department, it was better known as the Bull Creek Country Club.

Country spends some time talking about what life was like at 31s and how much the Task Force was starting to shape his career. But there is one call from those years that he has never forgotten. 

He tells the story of responding to a devastating car wreck involving a young woman named Jacqui Saburido. At the time, she was simply the victim of a terrible crash. In the years that followed, her face and her story would become known around the world through campaigns against drunk driving.

It is one of those calls where Country knew only what was in front of him that night, without any idea how far the story would eventually reach.

This week on Before They’re Gone, we’re heading to 31s.

Country wraps up his time at the ARFF station, but before he can settle into what comes next, he gets a phone call that will end up changing the course of his career.

In this episode, he tells the story of being asked to join a brand-new team, the first meetings that brought it together, and the early days of what would eventually become Texas Task Force 1 as they entered the world of federally recognized Urban Search and Rescue teams.

And just as one new chapter starts taking shape, another move is coming. Country heads to Station 31, better known around Austin as the country club of fire stations.

At the time, it was just another phone call. Looking back, we know it was the beginning of something much bigger.

Dad was already working at Station 14 when he headed to Duluth, Minnesota for additional airport training.

It was December. It was snowy. And for a group of Texas firefighters, Minnesota was definitely a change of scenery.

Between the training, the infamous ARFF “baked potato suits,” and everything that happened after the training day was over, Dad came home with plenty of stories.

There was skiing. There were nights out. There were a few questionable decisions. And at one point, someone may have been forgotten.

You’ll have to listen to find out what happened in Duluth.

After his time at Station 7, my dad moves to Station 14 for the first time. This assignment brought him into a completely different side of the fire service as he joined the airport station and began learning everything about Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF).

In this episode, Dad talks about what it was like adapting to the airport environment, understanding how everything operated behind the scenes, and preparing for emergencies that came with protecting an airport. He shares what it was like being part of the team as the new airport was getting ready to open and the responsibility that came with that moment.

But this chapter wasn’t only about the job. Some of the memories that stand out the most are the ones made at the station with my brothers, watching airplanes and getting to experience a small piece of Dad’s world.

This episode also marks a major milestone in his career as he becomes captain at Station 14. It was a new station, a new challenge, and another important chapter in the story of his career.

This episode is a special one because you're finally meeting my mom.

Most of the story is my dad recalling a day he took her on a ride out at Station 7. She knew it would be a busy shift, but she didn’t expect just how many calls would come in. One after another, the day didn’t slow down. She saw firsthand how intense the job can be, including a moment where a patient was brought back to life.

Alongside the ride-along story, we also step into the beginning—how my parents met, and the people who were around during that time.

At the end of the episode, my mom shares her perspective from that day and what it was really like seeing it all unfold in real time.

For years, Station 7 was home.

In this episode, Country shares stories from his time on the east side. Some calls were serious. Some were strange. Many required quick thinking and a little creativity. From medical emergencies that did not have a clear answer to moments that tested his instincts, these are the calls that taught him how to think outside the box.

Of course, it would not be a Station 7 episode without a few laughs. Country also looks back on some of the pranks he pulled on his supervisors and the reactions they got from the people in charge.

Before the episode ends, there is a brief introduction to someone who will play an important role in the story ahead. He meets the woman who would later become my mom.

Medicine, mischief, and a little bit of fate all come together in this chapter of the story.

This episode, Country takes us inside life at Station 7 — sharing stories from the calls that stuck with him most. From intense medical emergencies to unforgettable fire scenes, this conversation dives into the side of the job people do not always hear about.

A lot of the episode focuses on patient care, the pressure of medical calls, and the human moments that come with the job. Some stories are funny, some are intense, and some still stay with him years later. It is an honest look at what day-to-day life was really like at Station 7 and the experiences that shaped him along the way. 

This one starts on a heavy note.

We lost James Sledge—an Old Timer who taught Fire School alongside Country. One of those guys everyone respected, not just for what he knew, but for how he carried himself. We never got the chance to sit down with him for this podcast, and that hurts a little more in moments like this.

From there, it turns into memories of Country’s last shifts at Central, a short stop at Four’s, and then the move out East of the River. 

Country always figured he’d end up back at Central. Spoiler Alert…He didn’t