Posted on 12/17/2006 6:23:57 AM PST by surfer
Searchers failed to exploit vital clues in the hunt for the family of James Kim, including several crucial pieces of evidence that surfaced in the final hours of his life, when he was freezing, alone and lost in the woods.
An examination by The Oregonian found a search plagued by confusion, gaps in communication, and failures of leadership in Josephine County, where the Kim family was found.
Lt. Brian Powers, the Oregon State Police commander in the region, said the lack of a central command prompted him to take control Sunday, Dec. 3, the day before Kati Kim and her two daughters were found alive. At the time, the search was sprawling over four counties, each with legal authority to conduct its own operations.
"I knew we had information gaps that weren't being filled, and I just felt like the Oregon State Police could provide something to that effort to make sure that family gets found," Powers said. "If that effort meant knocking down some jurisdictional lines . . . I guess that is what it was."
In the end, the family was found by a volunteer pilot, one of several key breakthroughs achieved by people not connected to the official search. The confirmation that the family was south of Roseburg came from a citizen tipster; and the cell phone evidence narrowing the search was provided by amateur detectives at an Oregon wireless carrier.
Many of the key missteps came in Josephine County. The search-and-rescue coordinator now acknowledges she was overwhelmed by the demands of the search. She failed to call for help from the National Guard, which meant that heat-detecting helicopters stayed on the ground in the crucial two nights James Kim slept in the forest. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at oregonlive.com ...
Oregon ping...
These types of roads should be completely closed during the winter.
I'm thankful for the volunteers and paid employees who put so much effort into rescue attempt. Sorry it wasn't perfect but this look back, with 20/20 hindsight, seeking perfection, and assigning blame is out of place IMHO.
Sad. I hope lessons were learned.
And by the way, the President is NOT responsible. And no, there was no "racism" involved. /s
Because ..If you DO SOMETHING, you can be CRITICIZED, and your climb up the career ladder will stop at that rung if you "Make a mistake".
Look at "Doers". Police Military. There are thousands just sitting out there, waiting to critique their every minute moves.
SO.. Mr. Kim went toes up because people in government, especially at the Administration level, have had previous lessons about doing something, and having it not turn out right.
Critics
The galleries are full of critics. They play no ball, they fight no fights. They make no mistakes because they attempt nothing. Down in the arena are the doers. They make mistakes because they try many things. The person who makes no mistakes lacks boldness and the spirit of adventure. He is the one who never tries anything. His is the brake on the wheel of progress. And yet it cannot be truly said he makes no mistakes, because his biggest mistake is the very fact that he tries nothing, does nothing, except criticize those who do things.
General David M. Shoup, 23rd Commandant, USMC
Sorry it wasn't perfect but this look back, with 20/20 hindsight, seeking perfection, and assigning blame is out of place IMHO.
Guess you didn't read the article...
I agree a review of SAR is in order, it just shouldn't be done in the press.
The road the Kims were on WAS closed for the Winter in November. Some dirtbag cut the lock and left the gate open. The Kims got confused and turned onto it by accident.
"Because ..If you DO SOMETHING, you can be CRITICIZED, and your climb up the career ladder will stop at that rung if you "Make a mistake"."
So true. Exactly why I'm starting my own business.
Good post. Doers always take the heat from the non-doers.
We all make mistakes...
But you know a professional especially in the military if they feel they will jeopardize the mission they will withdraw.
There are people involved in this story that should have done that...they should have been screaming for help from other with expertise (and they could have) but they didn't.
Read the entire article...please.
Sara R. herself is pathetic not that she shouldn't be allowed to make mistakes...but she made decisions that are just unbelievable...and they directly contributed to the death of someone. That is the way it work...you screw up...you pay...James Kim screwed up and he paid...a pretty high price I might add...now it is time for others to pay.
Your guess is wrong.
I've done some boneheaded things in my life, but I can't imagine taking my family up a road in the mountains during the winter with signs indicating it was impassable and having to move rocks out of the way to get through. Turning back was always an option. I'm sorry he died, but what the hell was he thinking?
Actually BLM never locked the gate like they were supposed to. BLM has acknowledged this.
So none of it is Kim's fault for utter stupidity?
You have to wonder how a person gets the job of search and rescue coordinator who "gets overwhelmed" by a...search and rescue mission! Why it wouldn't almost immediately occur to you to use heat-seeking search apparatus when looking for people in the wintry hinterlands is almost beyond comprehension.
It's vital to learn from mistakes. To not look back and note what was handled poorly would be incredibly stupid and short-sighted. What happens the next time someone is lost/stranded in the winter?
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