About 6 years ago I had Heart Surgery but had a stroke half way thru the Surgery. The Medically Suspended my Mining Card. They let me keep my Mine Rescue Certification. Now I moved back to Wisconsin but in the last 6 years still involved in 2 Mine rescues. This past may I had another Heart Valve replacement and in June had to undergo another Heart Surgery. Got a letter Yesterday that MSHA ( Mine Safety and Health Administration ) Fully Suspended all of my Certifications. No longer allowed in Coal Mining in any way. Guess I will just have to take my Pension and SSI and Hunt Fish Trap and enjoy the Grand Kids. Still SUCKS!!!!

Sucks to loose that part of your personal identity. Most men experience a feeling of loss after they retire.

Only those that were too invested in their jobs/careers and that job was mostly what made them feel important.

I truly miss the comraderie of working with my officers, but I miss no part of the actual job. Being a law enforcement officer is not what made me or made me feel important.

What mining card was medically suspended? Who issued this card? Who suspended it? State, federal, or did a coal company say you couldn’t return to work?

All mine rescue personnel are required to pass an annual physical under 30 CFR §49.7 and 49.17. I can understand why one would ineligible for serving on a mine rescue team with health issues. But I’m unaware of any other mining certifications, or cards….state or federal, that are contingent upon one’s health.

My WV State Mining Card was issued before we had to test. I was Grand Fathered in. MSHA can and will issue a Hearing and can and will suspend your card just as they can and will suspend them for Safety Violations.

You came back to Trapperman after 2 years of not posting just to tell us your feelings are hurt?

Jurassic Park, that was totally unnecessary. The man has been through a lot. Do better.

You haven't been in a mine, other than the 2 rescues, in the last 6 years?

Congratulations on retirement, it may not have came the way you hoped but you made it much longer than many. I hope you have an excellent retirement and find renewed purpose on your new path.

Not that it is any of your Business but I have spent the last few years going thru Rehab and Physical therapy. It is what happens when you have Heart Disease!!!!

Hunt, trap, fish and Grandkids! Awesome!
Retirement is great....enjoy!

Totally unnecessary but still pretty funny...........

NO. After the Heart Valve/Stroke spent some time in Florida learning to walk and talk again. Then finished Rehab and Physical therapy in St. Agnes Medical. Then was doing better and got to spend a few years Trapping and Hunting then had another Heart attack. Then last May had Open Heart Surgery in St. Lukes in Milwaukee. Then in June they had to open me back up to fix the Valve that started Hemmoraging they put in in May. Going to do some water Trapping this year at a Marsh close by. Am completely through with Coal Mining. Time to TRY to get used to Retirement.

In other professions, they use the old washed up, has beens for instructors and draw on their many years of experience. I wouldn't think you would need a health card to be an istructor. It is kind of a shame to let all that experience go to waste and not use it to help others.

Now that you mentioned it...

I feel better about myself...and have purpose...PF would be proud

Take it easy trapping Bud.
Stick to the rats and mink and forget the beaver trapping.
Hauling a couple big beaver up the bank wont be good for you if you got heart issues.

Well in that case, I take it back!

I was asked about that. The fact is that after making my wife live in a recliner in my Hospital room for 37 days in Morgantown WV she asked just one thing. When I was done working Rehab and Physical Therapy she wanted us to move back to Wisconsin so we could spend time with the kids and Grand Kids. So we kept our Farm in Clay and bought a 5 bedroom 3 Bath home in Fond du lac Wi. Great Neighborhood and 3 blocks from St Agnes Hospital. The Grand kids are located in Green Bay/Oconto County and Milwaukee. Fond du lac is half way between and Lori has at least one set of the Grand kids every weekend.

That is why I have been building back up on my Mink and Muskrat Traps. Been buying on here from a couple of guys. My Grand son went on a small line last year. He is 12 years old this year and is going to spend his Christmas Vacation trapping with me. I have found a Marsh that does not look like it has been trapped in a while.Then next Summer I promised him we would go back to WV again and spend the Summer Gigging like we did last summer and his Dad(My son) and Mom are OK with him Noodling Catfish. Last Summer he absolutely loved frog gigging.

Sounds like a great plan