The Story of the "G. I"

During the Second World War, our auto factories were refitted to produce cars and trucks for the war effort. Chevrolet was commissioned to build the 1 1/2 ton military chassis, Model G-7107. Hundreds of thousands of the trucks were produced and outfitted with various bodies, including fire trucks. One such truck, serial number F-6126, rolled out of the Oren Fire Truck Plant in early 1944. Built on a 1942 chassis, the truck was readied for shipment overseas to serve on airstrips, or in Allied occupied towns. However, the end of the war made this and other trucks surplus, and they were made available for domestic use.

Number F-6126 was driven to town from New York in early 1946. It arrived in olive-drab paint, and was covered in the preservative Cosmoline. It was repainted red, and outfitted with ladders, Indian tanks, and hose. Large lights and a generator were mounted on the truck, making our truck unique. The pump was upgraded from 300 to 500 g.p.m. through the addition of a larger intake. The truck was named the "G.I.", because it was an Army truck hence, "Government Issue."

The "G.I." served the town for many years, answering many of our worst fires, including the tragic restaurant fire in 1959. It was a familiar sight during snowstorms, when it was often the only vehicle able to open the streets. In 1963 the truck was sold to the Lower Bank Fire Co. in Burlington County. Later it was sold to the Erma Fire Co. in Cape May County.

In 1991, while preparing for our 100th Anniversary, we were advised by Chief Warren Homiller of the Lower Bank Company that our G.I. was for sale by Erma. A committee comprised of interested firemen and citizens was formed. Called the "Friends of the G.I" the committee re-purchased the truck and returned it home. It has been refurbished to appear as it did when it was a firefighter for our town in the forties and fifties.

The truck also answered other major fires with

Lower Bank and Erma into the late eighties.

Our faithful old firefighter has come home.