From “Decades with the Squad,” by William Palmer Jervey, Jr.

He was a solidly built and sturdy young man, this faithful member of the Squad, who shall here be known as Murphy. Indeed, so dedicated was he that frequently when the tone went off his haste to respond made impossible the tying of the shoes or the secure fastening of his trousers. On this occasion there was no belt, no suspenders. The status of his trousers depended solely upon the strength and durability of one critically located button.

The call involved a wreck with the typical mass of twisted metal and a badly injured man inside. There was much straining, stooping, cutting, lifting, and prising before the patient was secured to the backboard and was ready to be removed and placed on the stretcher. All the while the tiny threads broke and raveled. The patient was placed on the stretcher. (The threads were breaking faster now.) The stretcher was picked up with Murphy in the rear and the trek started to the ambulance 30 feet away. At this point the button flew from the scene and the trousers began their inexorable descent.

Murphy did not forget his patient nor shirk his duty, but continued his solemn march to the ambulance calling desperately to the world at large, “Somebody get my pants!”

Another squad member instantly responded, seized his trousers, and fell in lockstep behind the sturdy young Murphy until the patient was safely in the ambulance. A superb example of devotion to duty, loyalty, and teamwork!