Confusion hampered search for Kims

The Sunday Oregonian ^ | 12/17/2006 | PETER SLEETH, STEVE SUO, MICHELLE ROBERTS AND ELIZABETH SUH

[surfer]

Unbelievable...long article filled with new information about the efforts of the Jame's Kim search.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Oregon ping...

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

These types of roads should be completely closed during the winter.

[Drango]

a search plagued by confusion, gaps in communication, and failures of leadership

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.

[Libertina]

Sad. I hope lessons were learned.

And by the way, the President is NOT responsible. And no, there was no "racism" involved. /s

[radar101]

You know why?

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

[woodbutcher]

Sorry it wasn't perfect but this look back, with 20/20 hindsight, seeking perfection, and assigning blame is out of place IMHO.

---

How do you improve SAR if you refuse to examine either the mistakes of the past or the performance of the key management individuals?

Everyone involved should go through a mandatory performace review.

Oh, no performace reviews? A family almost dies, one man did...and no performance reviews?

Even those who were part of the search admit to problems. That makes it an ideal time to make changes.

[AmericaUnite]

It's all so sad. When CNS service broke the story about the finding of WMD in Iraq, my lib brother poo-pooed it saying, "Who the heck is CNS anyway?" Since we don't speak anymore, maybe he's read about it now.

[surfer]

Guess you didn't read the article...

[Drango]

I agree a review of SAR is in order, it just shouldn't be done in the press.

[John Jorsett]

These types of roads should be completely closed during the winter.

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.

[L98Fiero]

"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.

[surfer]

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.

[Drango]

Guess you didn't read the article...

Your guess is wrong.

[KevinB]

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?

[surfer]

Actually BLM never locked the gate like they were supposed to. BLM has acknowledged this.

[tkathy]

So none of it is Kim's fault for utter stupidity?

[visualops]

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.

[woodbutcher]

I agree a review of SAR is in order, it just shouldn't be done in the press.

---

Really?

What would you know about this except for the press and except for surfer?

I can just see the deputy who refused a phone call because of a ball game and Sarah R. changing the way SAR operates, all on their own.

The deputy should have been fired in a move to prevent him from getting any retirement benefits. What a louse.

[visualops]

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?