Ronald Paul Bucca
Encyclopedia
Ronald Paul Bucca is the only fire marshal
in the history of the New York City Fire Department
to ever be killed in the line of duty.
as a Green Beret during the Vietnam War
. Later, he would serve the Defense Intelligence Agency
as an analyst
. Becoming a reservist
in 1986, he joined the FDNY. He was subsequently injured on the job, which cost him his qualifications as a paratrooper
and ended his eligibility with the Army Special Forces, causing him to leave the service.
and the FDNY representative on the Joint Terrorism Task Force
. By 2000, the fire department's seat was removed, and Bucca's position there relinquished.
He was on the 78th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center
with Battalion Chief Orio Palmer
when the building collapsed during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
" after Bucca.
At the National 9/11 Memorial, Bucca is memorialized at the South Pool, on Panel S-14.
Fire Marshal
A fire marshal, in the United States and Canada, is often a member of a fire department but may be part of a building department or a separate department altogether. Fire marshals' duties vary but usually include fire code enforcement and/or investigating fires for origin and cause...
in the history of the New York City Fire Department
New York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
to ever be killed in the line of duty.
Military career
Bucca had served in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as a Green Beret during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Later, he would serve the Defense Intelligence Agency
Defense Intelligence Agency
The Defense Intelligence Agency is a member of the Intelligence Community of the United States, and is the central producer and manager of military intelligence for the United States Department of Defense, employing over 16,500 U.S. military and civilian employees worldwide...
as an analyst
Intelligence analysis
Intelligence analysis is the process of taking known information about situations and entities of strategic, operational, or tactical importance, characterizing the known, and, with appropriate statements of probability, the future actions in those situations and by those entities...
. Becoming a reservist
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
in 1986, he joined the FDNY. He was subsequently injured on the job, which cost him his qualifications as a paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
and ended his eligibility with the Army Special Forces, causing him to leave the service.
Firefighting career
Bucca was a 22-year veteran of the department; he was promoted to Fire Marshal in 1992. As such, he was one of the individuals that investigated the 1993 World Trade Center bombing1993 World Trade Center bombing
The 1993 World Trade Center bombing occurred on February 26, 1993, when a truck bomb was detonated below the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The 1,336 lb urea nitrate–hydrogen gas enhanced device was intended to knock the North Tower into the South Tower , bringing...
and the FDNY representative on the Joint Terrorism Task Force
Joint Terrorism Task Force
A Joint Terrorism Task Force is a partnership between various U.S. law enforcement agencies that is charged with taking action against terrorism, which includes the investigation of crimes such as wire fraud and identity theft...
. By 2000, the fire department's seat was removed, and Bucca's position there relinquished.
He was on the 78th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
with Battalion Chief Orio Palmer
Orio Palmer
Orio Joseph Palmer was a Battalion Chief of the New York City Fire Department who died while rescuing occupants of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001...
when the building collapsed during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Legacy
In 2003, military police named the principal POW holding camp in Iraq "Camp BuccaCamp Bucca
Camp Bucca was a detention facility maintained by the United States military in the vicinity of Umm Qasr, Iraq. As of June 2011, a group of entrepreneurial Iraqis and Americans are re-building Camp Bucca as Basra Gateway, a logistics city and environmentally-friendly industrial hub to lead the new...
" after Bucca.
At the National 9/11 Memorial, Bucca is memorialized at the South Pool, on Panel S-14.