Editorials
March 18, 2010
Search and rescue: Mercer CAP heroic during Navy crash
Local, state and federal officials are saluting the heroics of those brave men and women who participated in the safe rescue of 17 military personnel last month following a U.S. Navy helicopter crash.
A resolution introduced last week in the U.S. House of Representatives honors those West Virginians — including military members, first responders, civilian volunteers and other citizens — who helped coordinate and carry out the rescue mission.
The emergency responders included members of the Mercer County Civil Air Patrol unit, who ascended the deep, snow-covered terrain near the Pocahontas-Randolph county line to help rescue the 17 crew members. The resolution was jointly introduced by U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
According to Rahall, the heroic actions of the emergency personnel led to the successful rescue of all 17 military personnel who were on board a U.S. Navy helicopter — participating in the Operation Southbound Trooper X annual military exercise — when it went down on Feb. 18 along rugged, mountainous terrain.
The CAP members from Bluefield and Beckley were honored last week for their efforts during the search and rescue mission. According to Capt. Stephen Antolini, commander of the Mercer County CAP Composite Squadron, rescue crews traveled seven miles on snow mobiles, and walked another three-fourths of a mile to the scene of the crash through seven to eight feet of drifting snow.
In addition to the CAP units from Mercer and Raleigh counties, several members of the West Virginia Air and Army National Guard also joined in the rescue mission, according to Gov. Joe Manchin.
According to Manchin, the fact that no one perished in the crash is “remarkable.”
We join the governor in saluting those first responders, civilian volunteers, military members and citizens — including our own members of the Mercer County CAP Composite Squadron — for their efforts in this difficult search and rescue mission.
Thanks to these brave men and women, a story that could have proven tragic had a much better ending. Fortunately, emergency crews across our region — whether they serve on fire departments, rescue squads, police departments, CAP units or in the Army National Guard — stand ready to mobilize and respond at a moment’s notice when disaster strikes.
We thank and applaud all of our EMS crews across the region for their continued service and dedication to public safety.
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