Kyle Tequila

In 1979, the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 191 shocked the country.

In 1979, the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 191 shocked the country.

Ken was leaving a shift at the club and stopped to pump gas at a station near O'Hare Airport when he witnessed the plane make a cartwheel in midair and nosedive into the ground shortly after takeoff.

Ken was leaving a shift at the club and stopped to pump gas at a station near O'Hare Airport when he witnessed the plane make a cartwheel in midair and nosedive into the ground shortly after takeoff.

The scene left an enormous impression on Kenny's mind. And over the course of the next few months, an idea began to form that maybe, one day, he could be a firefighter.

The scene left an enormous impression on Kenny's mind. And over the course of the next few months, an idea began to form that maybe, one day, he could be a firefighter.

But it was only an idea, and a crazy one at that. He was deep in the outfit, and there was no way they would ever let him go. So he put it behind him and went back to work.

But it was only an idea, and a crazy one at that. He was deep in the outfit, and there was no way they would ever let him go. So he put it behind him and went back to work.

I asked Chicago Tribune reporter Jeff Cohen to weigh in on this general period in the outfit.

I asked Chicago Tribune reporter Jeff Cohen to weigh in on this general period in the outfit.

As the years dragged on, the image of the plane crash still haunted him, and he found himself no longer able to suppress the urge to move on from the outfit.

As the years dragged on, the image of the plane crash still haunted him, and he found himself no longer able to suppress the urge to move on from the outfit.

Ken had made up his mind and put a plan in place to eventually leave the outfit. With his current responsibilities taking up most of his time, he knew it would take years to finish all the classes required to get his paramedic license before he could even begin to look for a job. But none of that would even matter without the approval of the higher-ups, which he knew was impossible.

Ken had made up his mind and put a plan in place to eventually leave the outfit. With his current responsibilities taking up most of his time, he knew it would take years to finish all the classes required to get his paramedic license before he could even begin to look for a job. But none of that would even matter without the approval of the higher-ups, which he knew was impossible.

So he went back to his old boss, Mickey, the made guy who first saw potential in a young kid who had robbed his nephew and offered him a place in the outfit.

So he went back to his old boss, Mickey, the made guy who first saw potential in a young kid who had robbed his nephew and offered him a place in the outfit.

I asked Jeff if he's ever heard of anything happen like this before, someone getting out of the mob.

I asked Jeff if he's ever heard of anything happen like this before, someone getting out of the mob.

So, with the green light from Mickey, Ken hit the books.

So, with the green light from Mickey, Ken hit the books.