The Kennebec Journal

March 12

Litchfield firefighter off to Afghanistan

By Betty Adams badams@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

LITCHFIELD -- The Fire Department will have to do without one of its captains for a year or so while Mike Sherman switches his firefighter helmet for an Army helmet.

Sherman is a sergeant with the Maine Army National Guard's 1136 Transportation Company. The Bangor-based unit is readying for deployment to Afghanistan.

The company leaves this weekend for training in Texas.

Sherman, 24, who grew up in Litchfield and graduated from Oak Hill High School in 2004, has been a volunteer firefighter for five years. He works full-time as a maintenance worker for the Maine Turnpike Authority and has four years with the Guard.

During most winter storms, he drives a plow truck on eight miles of the turnpike in Litchfield.

This will be Sherman's first overseas deployment.

"I think it'll be a good opportunity to learn and grow and experience a new culture and do the job we were sent to do as best we can and come back and enjoy life in Litchfield," he said Wednesday.

Fellow firefighters, community members and extended family gathered for a sendoff recently at Carrie Ricker Middle School.

"He's an outstanding citizen, a great friend, an Eagle Scout," said Rick Gowell, deputy chief of Litchfield Fire & Rescue. "He's a good friend to the town of Litchfield and we're going to miss him."

The department has 35 active members. Gowell said Sherman will be captain on his return.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com