Local EMS Shares Bayville's Role In 9/11 Aftermath

BERKELEY, NJ — Twenty-one years ago, the nation was left reeling after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. What followed, though, was the country coming together to support and help one another. Many of those helpers were from Berkeley Township, the Bayville Volunteer EMS shared on social media.

On Sept. 11, 2001, shortly after 2 p.m., Bayville EMS responded to Liberty State Park in Jersey City to assist the FDNY, the local EMS said.

The EMS assisted with returning two FDNY who had passed away and mistakenly brought ashore to Jersey City, Bayville EMS said.

The crew stood by until they were released at midnight, officials said.

Bayville EMS later went to Ground Zero on Sept. 15 to Sept. 16, for a 24 hour standby at the intersection of South End Avenue and Liberty Street.

A proclamation was later issued, in Jan. 2002, by the Berkeley Township Council to honor those who helped in the aftermath of 9/11.

"We marvel at the courage of our fellow citizens and what they endured in order to participate in the rescue effort and the search for the victims of this horrendous act of terrorism," then-Mayor Jason J. Varano said in the proclamation.

Bayville First Aid members who responded on Sept. 11 were Aaron Bremer, Ellen Sickles and Bonnie McMahon, according to the proclamation.

Those who went on Sept. 15 were Bremer, Melissa Hartman, John Kincaid and firefighter Joe Borchester, the proclamation said.

According to the proclamation, steel workers Joe Grippe, Biff Jones and Richard Musselwhite of the Bayville Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 were on the scene of Ground Zero on Sept. 12.

Nancy Murdock, Carol Sasso and members of the Bayville Volunteer Fire Co. Auxiliary participated directly in the collection and distribution of meaningful assistance to the victims, the proclamation said.

Manitou Park volunteer firefighter Ronald Diehm helped the FDNY in identification efforts following the attacks, according to the proclamation.

Pinewald Pioneer Fire Company volunteers Gregory A. DePaul and Gregory S. DePaul both responded with the New Jersey Task Force One, Urban Search and Rescue Team to NYC on the morning of Sept. 11, the proclamation said. That afternoon, volunteers Lt. Scott Murphy, Vinnie Favale, James Curley, Charles H. Bunnell, William G. Turner and Ralph Gutbrodt helped at Ground Zero, removing a Port Authority police sergeant from the rubble, according to the proclamation.

South Toms River First Aid Squad member Daniel M. DeCross and Tri-Boro First Aid Squad Captain Marie Rice and Sgt. George Krammer also assisted in rescue efforts, the proclamation said.