Douglas E. Whitehead
Date of Birth:
LODD Date of Death: March 8, 1969

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
FALLEN FIREFIGHTER

NAME: Douglas E. Whitehead                                                                                         Age: 48

RANK: Firefighter                                                                                                            Bagde#: N/A                       

Station: Maryland City Volunteer Fire Department, Station #27

Circumstances of Death:
Firefighter Whitehead tripped over a supply line while hooking up to a fire hydrant at a dwelling fire in Prince George's County.  He was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for an ankle injury and chest pain. He was released and later died at his residence. The cause of death was listed as a ruptured aorta. Firefighter Whitehead helped organize the Maryland City Volunteer Fire Department and was a Veteran of the United States Navy, Serving during WWII.

Burial Location: Baltimore National Cemetery 5501 Frederick Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21228 (Baltimore County adc map 42-C-20) Section #12 near USCM Memorial, 3rd from street near large tree.

PLAQUES, MEMORIALS, DEDICATIONS, ETC.:

     *  Anne Arundel County Fallen Firefighters Memorial, Millersville.
     *  Maryland Fire and Rescue Memorial, Annapolis, MD

News Article: Capital 3/13/1969

Maryland City Fireman Dies Suddenly

Douglas E. Whitehead
Area firemen gathered at Donaldson Funeral Home for a memorial service honoring Douglas Eugene Whitehead, the Maryland City Volunter firemena who died suddenly on Saturday, March 8, 1969.

Chief Norris Beard of Laurel Volunteer Fire Department eulogized the former Laurel fireman. "WHen Doug was a member firefighter with us," he said, "he was big in stature, big in heart, of which he feely gave and he was of one of the first to offer his skills and knowledge of firefighting to a commuinty that was in need of this kind of service." "Instilled in his hear was the motto Service For Others, the greatest gift a man can have."

Funeral services forthe 48 year-old Laurel native were held on Wednesday, March 12, at 12:45 p.m. at the Maryland City Community Methodist Church, on Brock Bridge Road. Internment followed in Baltimore National Cemetary.

Mr. Whitehead was a graduate of Laurel High School and a member of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department from 1939 to 1946. He served with the Navy in the European and Pacific Theaters of Operations during World War II. He was employed as a mechanical technician with (article cut off).

News Article: Laurel News Leader 3/13/1969

Firefighter dies after flames gut Laurel house

A Maryland City Volunteer Fireman died Saturday 10 hours after he was injured while fighting a fire in Laurel.

Douglas E. Whitehead, 48 in Maryland City, was pronouced dead Saturday night at Leland Memorial Hospital in Riverdale.

Dr. John Kehoe, county medical examiner, attributed death to lacerations of the aorta, the main artery leading into the heart, and hemopericardium, a condition where blood collects withing the sac enclosing the heart.

Firemen from Laurel and Maryland City were called to 114 Second St. in Laurel at 1:11 p.m. Saturday where a frame house occupied by Army Spec. 5 Charles Moss, his wife Margaret and their three children.

Fire officials said the house owned by Walter Cole ofr Pautxent Dr. in Laurel, was totally  destroyed when a gas water heater was ignighted by fumes.

Neither Moss nor his children were injured, Mrs. Moss suffered minor burns.

Maryland City Fire Chief Don Walker told the County News Monday that Whitehead sustained a fall a tthe scene of the fire and injured his leg. He also complained of chest pains.

He was taken to Prince Georges General Hospital by the Laurel Rescue Squad where he was examined and treated for a pulled ligament in his ankle.

Walker said Whitehead was given "a mild dedative to calm his nerves" at the hospital and released.

The chief said he was called to the Whitehead home about 11 p.m. Saturday by Mrs. Whitehead. He said when he arrived Whitehead had collapsed.

He was takento Leland where he was pronounced dead.

A Laurel native and graduate of Laurel High School, Whitehead was a former member of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department. He was employed as a mechanical technician.

He joined the Maryland City Fire Department and helpe organize the company. He and his family moved to the development in 1961.

Funeral services were held yesturday at the Maryland City Community Methodist Church with Re. David Embrey of fficiating. Burial was in Baltimore National Cemetary.

Besides his wife, Lueinda, and three children Joyce, Stewart and Cheryl, he survived by his partnet. Mr. and Mrss. Lester Whitehead of Laurel and a brother Glen also of Laurel.

Funeral arrangements were handled by the Donaldson Funeral Home.

News Article: Captial

Fire Death Probed

Anne Arundel County fire officals are conducting an investigation into the death las Saturday night of a firefighter who died after receiving treament earlier in the day at a Prince Georges county hospital.

Douglas E. Whitehead, 48 a volunteer fireman who helped organized the Maryland City Company, died in his home after being injured while fighting a fire in Laurel. He resided at 8315 Sudlersville South, Maryland City.

Chief of the Maryland City Volunteer Fire Company Donald Walker said that Whitehead was tending a hydrant when he tripped over a hose and fell.

He complained of chest injuries and was taken to Prince George's General Hospital, Riverdale where he was reported to have been treated for a sprained ankle and given two shots of mild sedatives for the pain, Chief Walker said, Hospital officals reportedly listened to Whitehead's heart before he was released.

Later in the afternoon, Chief Walker visited with Whitehead at his home and said that exept for being groggy from the deatives he appeared all right.

News Article: Unknown source.

Engine Carries Flag-Draped Casket

Firemen in Tribute To Fallen Comrade

Maryland City fireman Douglas E. Whitehead mad many runs on Engine 27, but yesturday was his last.

He died after fighting a fire in Laurel las week and the Maryland City Company's engine carried a flag drapped casket bearing his body on a long and slow ride to the National Cemetary in Baltimore yesturday.

Volunteer firefighters from Laurel, Savage, Jessup, Odenton, Ft. Meade, Burtonsville, and other companies stood at attention with the men of Maryland City beside their sun-sparkled engines outside the Maryladn City Methodist Church to honor him.

And all along the route form the church to the cemetary, fire companies turned out to stand at attention, salute the flag drapping the casket and ring their engine's bell in traditional fireman's farewell to ta fallen friend.

The last alarm Whitehead answered came Saturday afternoon when a two-story frame house at 114 Second Street in Laurel caught fire. Joining with Laurel and Savage companies the Maryland City firemen fought the blaze which gutted the home of SP-5 Charles Moss, his wife and three children.

Hampering the firemen's efforts to battle the blaze was the fire plug neares the burning home which proved to be completely waterless after the men connected hoses to it.

Fighting the loss of precious minutes while flames ravaged the building the firemen hurriedly laid hoses to Main St. and Rt. 1 fireplugs where they pumped the water they needed.

Whitehead according to his brother Glenn, was one of the first firemen on the scene and worked at laying out hose. Glenn Whitehead of Laurel, reported that his brother "was on the one and a half in line and it kinked on him. and he tried to jump it" to straighten it out.

Douglas Whitehead injured his leg and was taken to Prince George's Hospital, treated and relaease. He died later that day, reportedly from rupture of a large blood vessel in his chest.

"He really loved the fire department," said Whitehead's Widow Lucinda of her husband. "His fire service has been a wonderful thing," she said yesturday.

He leaves two daughters Cheryl Ann 11, and  Joyce. Steward was the first "fire cadet" of the Maryland City Company, formed two years ago. He wanted to be a volunteer fireman like his father. Mrs. Whitehead said.

Glenn Whitehead described his brother as having his whole heart and soul in the fire service.