The Centre Square Fire Company is deeply saddened to have lost a great one of our own.  Firefighter John Kulick, a career firefighter with Whitpain Township, was killed in action in Iraq on August 9th.  The entire Company shares its grief with the career firefighters of Whitpain Township.

John had been on military leave from the fire department for the last ~20 months.  Although not previously a member of the United States Armed Forces, after the war in Iraq began John enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard, and had been serving in theater for almost 12 months.

John was killed in an ambush in the northern Iraq city of Beiji. According to the Associated Press the 10 Task Force Liberty soldiers were on patrol when their Humvees and Bradley Fighting vehicle came under fire from RPGs and small arms. Insurgents killed Four American Soldiers and wounded six others soldiers.

John had been a firefighter here since 1998.  He was originally hired by the CSFC, and then was transitioned to  Whitpain Township the following year when the career firefighters were made Township employees.  He was a tremendous asset to this Fire Company and to the citizens of Whitpain Township.  He was a good-natured, easy-going guy who always approached this calling with the utmost professionalism and dedication.  He was always focusing on training and improving his skills and those of his brother firefighters.  He approached firefighting with an absolute passion.

Perhaps the most tangible reminder John leaves behind is our newest apparatus, Squad 33.  John served as one of the three members of that truck committee for a few years, and was the driving force behind laying out the best, most efficiently-designed truck we could have within our budget.  He worked tirelessly on the design of this truck, often poring over the blueprint drawings and specifications during his  time off.

John Kulick was also a volunteer firefighter for the Enterprise Fire Company of Hatboro, where he rose up to the rank of Deputy Chief.  Prior to being hired in Whitpain, he began his paid career at now-closed Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster, then transferred to NAS Willow Grove. He also worked part time as Firefighter/EMT at Horsham Fire Company Township.

John leaves behind a young daughter.

Godspeed, John.  You will be sorely missed.