Comments on: Misfit No More

By: gwalter

gwalter — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:04:13 +0000

I’m so sorry to hear that you lost your son Scott. I’m so glad he had the opportunity to know Phil. What a blessing your son must have been to Phil. The other firefighters and paramedics I know, always get more out of their MDA involvement than they give. Isn’t that often the truth.

Thanks for sharing your story with me. I am honored.

By: Dennis and Karen Erickson

Dennis and Karen Erickson — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:54:04 +0000

Wonderful to read this article. Phil was a personal counselor for our son Scott Erickson (with MD) at MDA camp that year. Scott was probably one of the last to speak with Phil before he left camp. My son spoke very fondly of Phil on the way home with us. He was deeply hurt when he heard the news. We went to the funeral and several firefighters who knew who Scott was, escorted him into the very crowded church for Phil’s funeral. Scott died 2 years ago and always thought that time with Phil was one of his best times.

By: gwalter

gwalter — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:00:12 +0000

Thanks Dave. I appreciate your comments and insights. I hope you do well in your studies and training. Its a great career!

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:52:42 +0000

This is a great article. Very well written and I’m glad that Phil taught you exactly what being a true hero is all about. Right now I’m in the early stages of getting into EMS and firefighting. I’m just a freshman in college and working on getting my EMT-Basic, and I too, see how each one of my classmates is completely unique in their nerdy, geeky, misfit ways. This article is actually very enlightening and makes me want to look back on the people I viewed as “uncool” and forget whatever judgement I placed on them. Again very good job. I am sorry about your loss of Phil.

I think that it was Phil’s time though, but only because he was able to make a difference in so many peoples’ lives. He helped the MDA children and helped teach yourself about the “misfits”. We seem to lose the best ones, and it’s always too soon.