CFPD Engineer Firefighter set to leave for boot camp 2-4-13

Copper Fire will be feeling the loss of one of their finest on Monday February 4, 2013 as Engineer Nick Maness will be leaving to boot camp at Fort Benning Georgia. "I felt it was my duty to serve my country." Said Nick who is slated to be with 184th Infantry. According to Nick the 184th has seen 5 deployments to the Middle East over the past few years. As the US gears up to send more troops to the Middle East to replace contractors in Iraq and back-fill troops in Afghanistan the 184th is set to report for deployment sometime later this year. "Its undetermined if I will make that first deployment."

Nick joined Copper Fire when he was just 15 volunteering as a cadet, then a volunteer and an intern firefighter and finally was hired as paid staff at the age of 18 and promoted to Engineer by 21.

Now 23, Nick will be one of the 'older' recruits at boot camp but feels he has what it takes to be the best. He has been training and working out for the past two years to stay healthy and kicked it up a notch when he enlisted in November of 2012.

Nick is a husband to Kendra Maness and father to 2 year old Kadence, with one more on the way due in late July. Nick's wife Kendra, is "excited" for Nick to have this experience.

Nick is from a family of four children. His older brother Chris (USMC) is currently serving as a civilian contractor in the Middle East and was previously a CFPD volunteer, younger sister Amanda just gave birth to Nick's first nephew Harrison, and younger brother Marshall is closely following in his brother's footsteps and is active as a cadet at Copper Fire.  Mother Charity Maness is an author and editor/journalist for the Copper Gazette and father John Maness is Chief Investigator for San Mateo County Private Defenders and also a Copper Fire volunteer. The family steeped in military history and firefighting it was no wonder Nick chose this path. "I am so proud of my son. I am afraid for him at this volatile time in our world, yet I am very proud." Said Charity.

Recently Nick took a tactical gun class from Steve Nelson of Calaveras Tactical which was designed for military and law enforcement personnel and utilized many military-style weapons in the training course, giving Nick a leg up when he hits that level in his training.

At a recent going away party given for Nick at the firehouse many told of how Nick helped them to learn, were secure in a fire when Nick had their back and was a friend and mentor to many. With these kudos, it seems as if Nick will do well in his chosen path.

Both Nick and his brother Chris have a tattoo referencing John 15:13, 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'

God speed Nick.

by,
Charity Maness

updated 2-4-13