Firefighter John L. Beatty

While working his first day as a regular firefighter, Firefighter Beatty was riding on the right side of a Hook & Ladder which was responding to a reported fire. At the intersection of Eighteenth and Troost, a pumper truck responding to the same alarm crashed into the ladder truck at the point where Firefighter Beatty was standing. He died a short time later.

Firefighter Beatty was a Veteran of World War II.