Steve Raacke's Cyberspace
I am a native of Hammond, LA. After High School, I joined the U.S. Army and trained as a driver of the M1A1 Main Battle Tank at Ft Knox, Kentucky. I was assigned to Armor units in Germany and Fort Hood, Texas and even deployed to Saudi Aradia as part of First Cavalry Division for Desert Shield/Storm. After leaving the Army in 1991, I drove trucks for J.B. Hunt and then worked for 4 years as an order selector & forklift operator for Supervalue Warehouse in Albany, LA. From 1996 to 2002 I was a Corrections Officer for the Louisiana Department of Corrections as an Officer at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center (EHCC) in St Gabriel, LA.
From July 2002 to March 2005 I was a full time Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician for the City of St Gabriel Fire Department. I was also a volunteer with the East Iberville Volunteer Fire Department (EIVFD) from 1997 to 2005. For about 2 weeks in Dec 2006 I worked as a dispatcher for East Baton Rouge EMS communications. I worked as a Security Officer/EMT for American Citadel Guard assigned to Bayou Steel in Laplace, Louisiana Feb 2005 until July 2008. In April of 2008 I took a full time postion as a Security Officer for Baton Rouge General Hospital.
I've had a Technician Class Ham Radio callsign, KC5SAS, since 1995 and a GMRS callsign, WQBY447, since Jan 2005. I am currently the Iberville Parish RACES Officer responsible for coordinating local Hams who wish to assist in disaster services. I'm a member of the Ascension Amateur Radio Club. Ham Radio is more than speaking through microphones or tapping out Morse Code. I use a Ham Radio system called Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS). The radio in my car transmits a beacon with my location using GPS and anyone can see where I am by going to THIS PAGE. I also use Amateur Television (ATV) gear to transmit video over ham radio frequencies. I'm not the only Ham Operator in the house. My spousal equivalent, Tena, has been a Ham since getting her callsign, KE5ECF, in March 2005. I also enjoy listening to "police scanners" and in January 2000 started my own Yahoo club, Scan Baton Rouge, so scanner listeners around Baton Rouge could exchange information.
I've always been a fan of modern military and police firearms and enjoy shooting semiauto pistols and rifles. I am an avid believer in the right to bear arms and was one of the first in Louisiana to receive a Statewide Concealed Carry Permit. It is the responsibility of every citizen to be able to protect his home and community when necessary. But guns aren't the only thing you need to be useful in an emergency. Taking courses at the local Baton Rouge ARC Chapter , where I have certified in Mass Care and Shelter Operations, and taking FEMA Independent Study Courses allows me to assist where needed in a disaster. To see a list of the FEMA IS Courses I've completed, click HERE.
I get lots of support from my family. Tena and I share our loving home with our adopted cats. Our first cat was Rock who we spent several years with until January 22, 2007 when age and cancer finally took him from us.
Shortly after Rock passed away we took in a pregnant stray cat we named Spot. On April 12, 2007 Spot gave birth to 5 healthy kittens. Data, Lore, Legend, Myth and Rumor keep us entertained and are a major part of our lives.
Thanks for taking a peek into my life.