Bob Sleasman's Biography

Bob Sleasman, 59, was born and raised in Upstate New York. At an early age, he was introduced to the world of target shooting, hunting and fishing. Bob also enjoyed baseball and football, but his love for target shooting (both rifle and pistol) and fishing has followed him to the present day.

Bob attended both Catholic grammar and high school, where he maintained a straight C average. Let’s just say he was not a fan of school. Bob is proud of his final bookkeeping test score of three; yes, a three. He managed this feat because his teacher, taking pity on the young man who failed to attain one correct answer, did spell his name right, hence the three. Bob managed to graduate from high school, but college material he was not.

After graduation from high school in 1967, Bob found his first fulltime job in the corporate world, working in the mailroom in the offices of a local factory. Five months later, he married his high school sweetheart, better known as his first wife.

Bob and the mailroom did not get along. He was not happy in an office setting. In late December 1967, Bob left for a job at the local bus company. There, he was content learning the mechanics of buses, but that was to be short lived.

On March 13, 1968, at age nineteen, young Mr. Sleasman was drafted into the United States Army.

Bob was raised in a family in which his grandfather and father served their country in World War I and World War II respectively. As he was growing up, Bob was taught to honor and respect country, flag and family. He had always known deep down inside that he was a Patriot, and knew what the price of freedom could cost. Right or wrong, this was his country. When called to defend it, Bob would, no matter the price. And now, he was called.

Bob completed basic training (boot camp) at Fort Dix, New Jersey. With his target shooting skills Bob managed to qualify as Expert Rifleman with the M14 and later the M16 rifle. Bob went on to complete advanced individual training at Fort Dix and became qualified as a radiotelegraph operator.

In September 1968, Bob received orders and was shipped overseas. He was assigned to the 1st Calvary Division in South Vietnam. Bob served with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 9th Calvary, which was an air and ground recon unit. He spent twelve months in various parts of South Vietnam, participating in three major campaigns. In September 1969 Bob returned from his tour of duty to spend the rest of his active military service with The 6th Armored Calvary in Fort Meade Maryland.

Bob is reluctant to talk about his time spent in Vietnam. He usually only talks about his experiences with other Vietnam veterans. Bob’s first wife knows almost nothing about his time in the combat zone. Donna, Bob’s current wife of eleven years, knows about some of the demons, as Bob calls them, which to this day haunt him, especially in dreams and on nights when he can’t sleep.

In March 1970, after returning home and having completed his active duty with the United States Army, Bob went back to work for the city bus company. He became a second class mechanic, working on diesel engines. Bob stayed with the bus company until April 1971, when he took a job as manager of a full service gas station. The station had a two-bay car engine repair facility. The service station was new and the owner had poor administrative skills. As a result, the service station closed only after two months.

Bob needed a new job in a hurry. His wife was pregnant and they had just purchased a new home.

He soon found a job at a large pharmaceutical company as a machine operator. After working there for six months, there was a labor dispute. Bob was one of over a hundred employees that were laid off. That left Bob with a new baby, Sherry, born in December 1971, a new house, and no job.

Bob’s wife Rosemary had to go back to work three weeks after Sherry was born. Bob applied for unemployment benefits, and took over care of their new baby. Within two months Bob found a job with a vending machine company. The pay was low and Rosemary kept her job with the state. A babysitter was found to take care of Sherry.

Bob stayed with the vending machine company for about a year. He was called back to work at the pharmaceutical company, with a much needed pay increase. Rosemary decided to keep working. It worked out well. Bob worked the second shift, so he could take care of the baby during the day. The next-door neighbor watched Sherry for a few hours a day until Rosemary came home from work.

With Bob working evenings and Rosemary working days, home life suffered. It was hard on both of them and Sherry. This was not a good foundation on which to build a life together.

Late in 1972, Bob took city tests for jobs at the police and fire departments. Taking these tests would forever change his life.

In September 1973, Bob received the news. Out of more than two hundred applicants that had taken the written and physical agility tests, Bob was one of twenty-three chosen to become a city firefighter. On September 24, 1973, in a city in New York with a population over 100,000, Bob was sworn in.

At the time, training consisted of a two week course. Probies, as new firefighters were called, learned very basic things. They were taught how to tie the knots used to rig and hoist equipment, how to raise and lower the heavy ladders used, which size hose was used for the various situations, how to jump into a safety net, how to hold a safety net so as not to break one’s wrist, and how to don and duff the self contained breathing apparatus. Everything else was learned on the job or taught by the platoon officer.

Bob was assigned to Engine Co. 11, a platoon. The platoon officer was one of the most respected firefighters on the job. What Bob learned from this officer would save his life more than once.

At the time, firefighters worked a fifty-six hour week with no overtime. New York changed that beginning on January 1, 1974. Firefighters had to be paid for all hours over 40 hours a week, unless the cities and firefighters’ union could reach an agreement that would otherwise compensate firefighters for the extra hours per week.

Bob’s union and the city went from a three platoon company to four. They also agreed that after working two twenty-four hour shifts in twenty-one working days, the firefighter would get a twenty-four hour paid day off. It worked out well.

With the implementation of a four-platoon system instead of three, men were allowed to be moved to different platoons, or shifts, as they were sometimes called, with the consent of the union. The crew Bob was originally assigned to lost only one member, who was replaced with another crew member from a different firehouse. The platoon was renamed D Platoon.

Bob had found his true calling in life. He absorbed everything he possibly could. He learned from one of the best on the job, and would be forever grateful.

In this time period, the fire department’s self contained breathing apparatus was almost never used. Two were carried on Bob’s engine, with five firefighters on the shift. The SCBA was usually checked in the morning and put away in a compartment. The firefighters went in the burning buildings and just sucked up the smoke the best they could.

Firefighters call each other brothers. They are a universal family. Firefighters know that if at all humanly possible, when they get into trouble in a fire they can count on a brother to be there, even if might cost him his life trying to do so, to help his brother to safety.

Being a firefighter is not a job, it is a way of life. If you are not willing to give your life to save a stranger then you are not a firefighter, even if the shield on your shirt says you are. Firefighters are not made. They are born.

As Bob was becoming a respected firefighter, his marriage was falling apart. The high school sweethearts and young married couple found it impossible to repair the lost passion and love. They separated in September 1974. They tried to reconcile, but found that what they once had was gone. There is still a bond that will always be there, and they remain close to this day.

As times changed, the city expected more from its employees, including the firefighters. The city received a grant to train its firefighters to become EMT s (Emergency Medical Technician). Back then, it was voluntary. In 1977, Bob became one of the city’s first EMT s. The fire department now responded to all emergency medical and trauma calls, as well as fire calls.

In April 1979 Bob’s second daughter Tricia was born. Bob had met Ellen, a young and pretty woman. After a short courtship, they moved in together. They remained together on and off for about ten years. They are still friends, and Ellen often attends holiday and family gatherings.

In 1980, after cramming about three years of comparable med school training in a six month specialized course, Bob became one of the first paramedics in the city,. The course consisted of all phases of care and transport of emergency medical, trauma, extrication of accident victims, as well as giving intravenous and drug therapy.

After becoming a paramedic, Bob was transferred to Rescue 9. At the time, there were only two rescue units, the other being Rescue 11. As more firefighters completed the course Rescue Units 1, 2, and 7 were added. The early days with just two or three units were very busy. It was not unusual for a unit to respond to as many as fifteen calls in a twenty-four hour tour. The city paramedic program was the first one in the state that consisted of paid professional firefighters.

Bob performed well in this work. He received recognition from the three major city hospitals, including the regional trauma center, for patient care in emergency medical, trauma, and vehicle extrication.

Bob later became an EMT and paramedic lab course instructor, and a vehicle extrication instructor. He served in various city firehouses during his career, mostly in the busier ones in the inner city.

In late 1989, Bob took and passed the Fire Lieutenant test. He received a score of 90% out of a possible 100%. The highest score posted on the test was a 95%. While waiting to be officially made a lieutenant, Bob traveled throughout the city filling in as a provisional lieutenant. On January 16, 1991, Bob was sworn in as a lieutenant and stationed at Engine Co. 4.

Bob attended the New York City Officers Training Academy in April 1993. He earned instructor certificates in fire methodology, arson investigation, building construction, fire matics, building ventilation, and building standpipe and sprinkler systems. When he returned from NYCOTA, Bob went back to Engine Co. 4 and was more than happy to get back to everyday life at the firehouse.

Bob was as happy as a clam. He was in a house with a good crew. The fire house day-to-day routine is a mixture of repetitive training on firefighting tactics and emergency medical and trauma procedures. In their spare time, the crew did building inspections throughout the city. This was all done between the fire and EMS calls the company had during their twenty-four hour shift.

At this point in his life, Bob was very single, and liked to play the field as much as possible. One evening that all changed, with the help of the internet.

In December, 1995, Bob was checking out the online chat rooms. As he recalls, it was late at night, and not much was going on. He received an instant message from a woman who had read his profile. They spent the better part of three hours just talking about general topics, kind of feeling each other out. The lady lived in California, and as we know, Bob lived in New York. The two agreed to meet online the next night.

The next night turned into another night, then another, then more. Bob and his new online friend, Donna, talked every night, except when Bob was in the firehouse. After a few weeks, he was totally smitten. In addition to going broke paying his AOL bill, Bob took up calling Donna at least once a day.

December turned to February. In that time, Bob had become a basket case and just had to meet Donna. While Donna had him, hook, line and sinker, she played things close to the vest.

Bob pulled out all the stops and talked Donna into meeting him. The plan was for Bob to fly to California in March for ten days. Bob’s parents were celebrating their 50th anniversary in March. A party was planned for March 9th. Bob would fly out to California on the 15th.

Airline tickets were purchased; vacation time was requested and granted. Now Bob just had to wait for the day to arrive to meet his Donna. It seemed like forever, but the day finally came. Bob boarded the plan and was on his way to a life-changing adventure. He landed in Sacramento CA in late afternoon. Donna was waiting for him at the gate. For Bob it was love at first sight.

Bob and Donna spent the next ten days traveling throughout Northern California, with a visit to Reno, Nevada. Bob and Donna had agreed ahead of time to split the cost of traveling, except Bob’s airfare.

The weather was perfect over the ten days. Every day was like magic, and the two found themselves falling in love. The days melted into one happy day after another, but ended all too soon. With heavy hearts, they had to say goodbye, and Bob returned to New York.

Bob and Donna kept talking online and by phone. They made plans for Donna to come to New York on June 21st. She arrived in New York as planned. They spent seven days traveling and again enjoying each other’s company. But as before, goodbyes had to be said, and the two were separated again.

Bob had planned to ask Donna to marry him on her visit to New York, but just plain forgot to do it. Several days after Donna returned home, and while they were talking online, Bob proposed. He explained about wanting to ask her to marry him while she was in New York. Donna said yes.

Wedding plans were made. Bob flew to California. On August 11, 1996, Bob and Donna became husband and wife, in a small ceremony in Reno, Nevada. They have been together and very much in love ever since.

The newlyweds made their home in New York, mostly because of Bob’s job with the fire department. They settled into married life. Donna found work with a temp agency. Bob stayed with the fire service.

In 1997, the injuries Bob had suffered from spending half his life in the fire service were catching up with him. He had developed arthritis in his back, neck, knees and hands. He also had hearing loss in both ears from the sirens and air horns. The fire service was also going in directions Bob was not happy about. He knew a hard decision had to be made.

Bob and Donna sat down one evening and had a long discussion about their future. Bob knew he couldn’t last much longer in the fire service. His body ached every day, but he truly wanted to stay on the job he loved so much.

Donna told Bob about the trucking industry. Donna had been a long haul truck driver, and owner-operator. She first started driving a truck in 1983. They decided to look into the possibility of team driving. They did some research, and went to truck dealers on weekends to price trucks.

They went to the Boston Truck Show in May, 1997. There, they learned about expedited freight transport. It seemed like the perfect solution. They could buy a straight truck, which meant Bob would not have to train for the class A commercial driver's license, which is required to drive an 18 wheeler. A straight truck would also be less expensive to buy and operate. They left the truck show with a wealth of information to digest.

Bob and Donna did some hard thinking and more research. After looking at all aspects over and over again, a decision was made.

Bob put in his retirement papers on June 1, 1997. It was a heartbreaking decision. But at age 49, having spent half his life in the fire service and with his injuries taking a toll, Bob made the only choice he could.

On the following weekend, Bob and Donna drove to the Alumi-Bunk dealer in New Jersey and purchased their first expediter truck. It was a 1997 Freightliner FL70, with an 84” sleeper. They then called Tri-State Expedited Services and signed up for orientation.

On July 11, 1997, Lieutenant Robert Sleasman retired from the fire service and became Bob Sleasman, owner/operator.

After orientation, Bob and Donna hit the road as an expediter team. Bob had a hard time adjusting to this new lifestyle. He tried his best but could not do it. They sold their truck in November and returned home.

Donna got a job in the bookkeeping department with a management company Bob worked a few part time jobs and collected his retirement checks. He missed the fire service and it took a toll on him for the better part of a year.

In January, 1999, Bob took a job with a local pharmaceutical research company. He operated the mailroom, and acted as a courier when needed. Bob liked the job. He was more or less his own boss.

Bob soon learned about company life. He learned about the back biting. He learned that his supervisor would take the credit for ideas he shared. He also learned that his supervisor would tell her boss she could do something, then turn around and have Bob do it; adding to his job, while she took the credit for getting it done.

By January, 2000, Bob had had enough. On his lunch hour, he called Donna. He said, "Let's get another truck and get back into expediting." Donna couldn’t believe it. She told Bob that she would get back in the business in a second. She also said that if they got into expediting again they would be staying in it, and that he had better think hard before making the move.

Bob had been thinking about it for the past few months, without telling Donna. He had already made his mind up. He told Donna he was ready to get back into expediting. And besides, he had just given his two week notice.

They bought their second expediter from Alumi-Bunk, a 2000 Freightliner FL70, with an 84": condo sleeper. Then they called FedEx Custom Critical, completed the paperwork and went to orientation in February. They have been with FedEx Custom Critical ever since.

Bob and Donna have had some good times and some not so good times in expediting. They now own and operate a 2007 Western Star, White Glove, TVAL, CR-unit. Happy in the life, they have no plans to get out anytime soon.