Charles F. Anstey

Charles Anstey was born to a poor family in Sibley on July 26th, 1922. If you looked up "Poverty" in the dictionary, there would be a picture of the Anstey family. Charlie didn't want to live that way. He moved to the big city and got a job at the Kansas City Fire Department. He started off when he was 15 on August 14th, 1937. His job was to mop the floors.

Kansas City Fire Department
Within his first week at Station 14, he was burned on his right arm. A day that would haunt him forever. His company was pushing their way into a small factory building when.. Poof! What we know today as a "backdraft" happened. His whole company died except for him. His Lieutenant jumped on top of him. The next day he was promoted to Lieutenant. He liked Lieutenant and stayed there until 1940 when he was offered the job as Captain at a new Rescue Station. Of course he took it! More money! Two years later, World War II had now broke out, he was drafted into the Army.

World War II
Charles F. Anstey was in the 17th Infantry Duvision, Company A. His first mission was his most famous. We know it as D-Day. His job was to lead 4 guys up a hill into a German MP40 nest. All 4 men were killed except Charles. He was taken prisoner until war's end.

A New Life
When he came out of captivity, Charlie went straight back to Kansas City to get his job back. Little did he know the Commissioner of the whole F.D. Died in Iwo Jima and wanted Anstey to be the new Commissioner. On December 18th, 1946 Charles F. Anstey took the pledge to be the head of Kansas City Fire Services. He served only at big calls until 1950 when he was demoted to Head of Emergency Responses. He now was head of only the worst calls. But on January 14th, 1954 he was injured when a I Beam fell on his right arm. Breaking it servery he was placed on light duty until he came back in 1955 only to be fired.

Lee County
Charles went back to his routes. Sibley, Missouri where he met with Sheriff James Lewis and got the job as Chief of the new Lee County Fire Department where he stands today.