![\"David](\"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/81\/2014\/10\/DSC29291.jpg\" "\\"_DSC2929\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nDavid Renfro, Army veteran and future firefighter, at the ACC Fire Academy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Being a hero, serving and protecting, it’s in David Renfro’s blood. Renfro grew up in South Austin, down the road from a local fire house. Every time he heard the sirens, destiny was calling.<\/p>\n
When Renfro graduated from Crockett High School in 2007 he joined the Army. He thrived in the team environment.<\/p>\n
“When they say they have your back, they actually mean it,” says Renfro.<\/p>\n
Renfro learned just how much they mean it while fighting on the front lines in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Are you ACC? Tell us your story<\/a><\/h4>\nHe served as a parachute infantryman with Company D, 1st<\/sup> Battalion, 501st<\/sup> Infantry Regiment, 4th<\/sup> Brigade Combat Team, 25th<\/sup> Infantry Division. While deployed to Combat Outpost Sabari in Khost province, Renfro and his squad \u00c2 battled enemy fire. Renfro took a hit, and \u00c2 his comrades pulled him to safety where medics quickly took over.<\/p>\nHe doesn’t like to talk about his injuries or his recovery, but the military didn’t forget. On December 17, 2009, Renfro was awarded the Purple Heart.<\/p>\n
When his service came to an end, Renfro struggled to find a place where he belonged and a team he could be a part of once again.<\/p>\n
“Once I got out, that void just couldn’t be filled with any other job,” says Renfro. “One of the things I learned in the military about myself is I’m a better person when I’m working in a team.”<\/p>\n
He found his way back to Austin and enrolled at Austin Community College, but quickly realized the classroom couldn’t fill that void alone.<\/p>\n
Instead, the sirens of his childhood quietly echoed in the back of his mind. Soon Renfro discovered ACC’s Fire Academy<\/a>. He enrolled and there he found a new group of comrades.<\/p>\n“There’s no other job to where you get to work on a team and depend on a team,” says Renfro.<\/p>\n
Renfro is back on the front lines; still a hero, still serving and protecting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Being a hero, serving and protecting, it’s in David Renfro’s blood. Renfro grew up in South Austin, down the road from a local fire house. Every time he heard the sirens, destiny was calling. When … Continue reading
He doesn’t like to talk about his injuries or his recovery, but the military didn’t forget. On December 17, 2009, Renfro was awarded the Purple Heart.<\/p>\n
When his service came to an end, Renfro struggled to find a place where he belonged and a team he could be a part of once again.<\/p>\n
“Once I got out, that void just couldn’t be filled with any other job,” says Renfro. “One of the things I learned in the military about myself is I’m a better person when I’m working in a team.”<\/p>\n
He found his way back to Austin and enrolled at Austin Community College, but quickly realized the classroom couldn’t fill that void alone.<\/p>\n
Instead, the sirens of his childhood quietly echoed in the back of his mind. Soon Renfro discovered ACC’s Fire Academy<\/a>. He enrolled and there he found a new group of comrades.<\/p>\n “There’s no other job to where you get to work on a team and depend on a team,” says Renfro.<\/p>\n Renfro is back on the front lines; still a hero, still serving and protecting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Being a hero, serving and protecting, it’s in David Renfro’s blood. Renfro grew up in South Austin, down the road from a local fire house. Every time he heard the sirens, destiny was calling. When … Continue reading