Bucca, Ronald Paul, WO1

Marshal Ronald Bucca was killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks while attempting to rescue the victims trapped in the World Trade Center.  He was off-duty at the time but responded to the scene as soon as he got word of the attack.  He and another member of the fire department had made it all the way to the 78th floor of the South Tower, one floor below the point of impact, before the building collapsed.

He was one of just two fire fighters to reach the fire floor in the South Tower.  At the time of his death the two men had begun to put water on the fire in an attempt to allow escape for people on higher floors..  He was the first Fire Marshal to be killed in the line of duty.

Ron Bucca was a fire fighter for 23 years.  While with the New York City Fire Department he served with  where he served with Engine Company 95, Ladder Company 2, the Fitness Unit, Rescue Company One, the Fire Department Terrorist Task Force and in 1992 was promoted to Fire Marshal.

Ron was also 29-year veteran of the military.  He served with the 101st Airborne Division as a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam.  He later served with the 3413th Military Intelligence Detachment, the 11th Special Forces Group and with the Defense Intelligence Agency.  He also served during the first Gulf War.

He was a Licensed Practical Nurse and held an Associate Degree in OSHA and Fire Science from John Jay College and a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety from Mercy College. His hobbies included archaeology, travel, history, and physical fitness. He was a man of many accomplishments and interests. He was an avid historian and had lifelong interests in Boy Scouting and woodsmanship.
He leaves behind a wife(Eve), son(Ron Jr) and daughter(Jessica).

I am amazed at how my military career parallels FM Bucca (although i am not a Long Tabber, iIhave supported SOF the second half of my Army Career)
I had the honor and priveledge of serving as his sons MID NCOIC in 2/5th SFG(A) and the even greater honor of pinning his Airborne wings on.
His son Ronald Bucca Jr follows in his dads foot steps and is now a Green Beret himself.

Rest in Peace and know your Wife and children will always make you proud because i am proud of them...... De Opresso Liber, Always out Front!!!!!!!!!!