February 27 found Bob attending a SAR training session in the snow. Goal of the session was to get some new members trained up for missions. We started from home about 7am and I was back in the driveway at 5. Showered and was just about to pour a wine, when the call came in that we had a overdue xc skier. Age 13. I was asked to go to our Emergency Ops Center to assist in the management team. Within an hour we moved the operations of the search up to the mountain, about 45 miles out. Arrived on scene as resources started to pour in. Mainly snowmobiles and a tracked vehicle. I was dark by then. Over the next two nights and the third day, I was tasked as the family liaison for the search. On Monday around noon, he was located, and I had the ugly task of notifying the family at the scene. About 110 people up there on Monday. We actually had to turn volunteers away because of control issues. They all just wanted to help. We got home about 6 that night after demobilization.
I have put a lot of effort into SAR and filled many roles. This by far was the hardest, but would do again tomorrow if asked.
Betsy was involved also. On Monday, she picked up 90 sack lunches and delivered them to us. She arrived about 10 after the find so people were already starting to leave. Still, about 80 of them disappeared.
So, now it is march and are starting spring projects. Betsy is cleaning house to get ready for a Bunco party on Sat night. I would rather hit the road. ;-(
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Bob and Betsy, anyone that finds themselves in the back country or even RV boon docking is indebted to you two. It is comforting to know that folks like you are available to take a bit of the risk out our getting in over our heads. I wish that all your efforts could be successful.
Back in the late '60s I had the good fortune to be in a position to lend a hand as a copilot in picking up a F-4 crew off the coast of North Vietnam who had the misfortune of being shot down. At the time we were flying SH-3A "Big Mother" helos.
Later on, in south Texas, I headed up a SAR unit at NAS Beeville flying UH-1N's, twin engine Hueys, for two years. We not only did SAR but also Medivacs to Corpus and San Antonio.
Were you connected to SAR in the Navy? I wonder if we ever crossed paths. Gordon
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