Heroic in 1988 action, set lifelong course of integrity
By Jody Callahan (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Friday, April 24, 2009
Navy Lt. Bob Firehammer saw the mines ahead and ordered the frigate Samuel B. Roberts to stop.
But another mine was lurking behind the warship and it tore an enormous hole in the hull.
The ship started taking on water and was in danger of sinking in the Persian Gulf. But thanks in part to his leadership, the ship survived.
His efforts in that 1988 incident made him a hero, friends said.
"The ship should've sunk. The damage it took, I would say that most crews probably would have lost it," said Capt. Phil Altizer. "His guys were the ones who did the work to save the ship.
"He tended the wounded. He led repair parties. He was physically leading up front in the effort to save the ship."
The naval officer, who retired in 2008 as a captain, was killed when his bicycle was struck by a car last week in Fayette County. He was 51.
Daniel Daffern, who police said veered into the shoulder and struck Capt. Firehammer, was charged with reckless driving.
Capt. Firehammer, a resident of Eads, was killed while doing something he loved, his family said. He cycled frequently, part of his general love of being outdoors.
"He always had some kind of project going on," said his son, Alex, 18. "He would wake up early, do his work on the computer, do some yard work, go for a bike ride and come home. That was his routine."
Capt. Firehammer was also active in the Boy Scouts. Not only was he an Eagle Scout, but Alex also earned the honor.
"Dad taught me pretty much everything I know," said Alex, a freshman at the Virginia Military Institute who plans to follow his father into the Navy.
"Dad always pushed me to be the best that I could," he said. "I liked running track in high school, and Dad always told me, 'If you want to be better, you've got to put more time and effort into your practice than the guy down the road.'"
Capt. Firehammer's friends described him as a man with immense integrity.
"He is a hard-charger, no-nonsense, very direct, extremely intelligent man of very high integrity," Altizer said. "He didn't really care much about being politically correct."
Capt. Firehammer was also a quiet man, but when he spoke, friends said, it was worth hearing.
"He doesn't say anything unless he has something to say," said Bret James, who met Capt. Firehammer through Scouting.
In addition to his son, Capt. Firehammer leaves behind his wife of 22 years, Debra; another son, Eric Firehammer; three daughters, Allison Firehammer, Madelyn Firehammer and Elizabeth Firehammer; his parents, Robert and Phyllis Firehammer of Tomahawk, Wis; two sisters, Ronda Firehammer of Wisconsin and Kyle Plouhar of Michigan; a brother, Michael Firehammer of Montana; and his maternal grandmother, Marjorie Drogsvold, also of Tomahawk.
After a service Tuesday, Capt. Firehammer was buried at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery (attached photo).
