Missing Person ~ 911!

By Kate McPhail

As we read more and more about violent and self-destructive children in today’s society, we begin to think that ALL kids are wild and vicious. 911 ~ Missing Person! is about a unique group of teens ~ the members past and present of Marion County. Post 18, now called Team 18 is a Search and Rescue Team affiliated with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon. These young people spend many hours training in the field as well as classroom time. This is a volunteer program; the adult leaders also deserve a great deal of credit. Some of the 14-year-old recruits come into this program “at risk” for future incarceration, many leave to become police officers or paramedics. This program truly builds adults who are confident in their own ability to become leaders.

911 ~ Missing Person! is the based-on-fact story of one search. Join the members of Post 18 in their quest to find a missing 12-year old. Time is running out as Marion County Search and Rescue units are joined by other counties. Included is an appendix listing items for outdoor safety, tips for outdoor survival, and more information about Marion County, Oregon’s Search and Rescue Program.

Written for Young Adults, this book is a non-fiction story of an actual search and Rescue mission which took place in Oregon in the 1990s. It was written for two reasons: first, it was a personal search for the author, who had recently lost her 13 year old son to an accidental drowning accident. Looking for meaning and peace, she joined the Post 18 Search and Rescue Team, hoping to be able to help others. Secondly, this book was written in tribute to a selfless group of teens, who the author felt honored to work with.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kate McPhail
• Release date: Mar 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370635351

Kate McPhail

Kate McPhail was born in Oregon and grew up in Washington. She returned to Oregon in 1972. After obtaining a BS degree in Elementary Education, she taught in several Oregon private schools. She is also certified Master Level English and Writing tutor, has a MA in Professional Writing, and is certified as an educational Trainer through The Oregon Registry. While raising her four children, caring for 57 foster children, and hosting six foreign students, Kate participated in many children's organizations and was a member of the Post 18 chapter of Marion County Search and Rescue. She also held some professional titles: Childcare Center Director, Education and Environments Manager and Team Resource Supervisor (Site Director) at Head Start, and Family Advocate at a Woman's Prison. After working with children and families for over thirty years, Kate retired to become a full time author and entrepreneur.

Book preview

911 ~ Missing Person!

Kate McPhail

Dragons Wings Publishing

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2017 by Kathryn McPhail

All rights reserved.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

Dedicated to Post 18 and Rick, Sam, and Jerry

Special dedication to Jamie who told me I could do anything if I wanted it bad enough.

Thanks for all the great memories!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to my friends who have encouraged me to keep writing even when I thought I couldn’t!

CONTENTS

Missing!

Base Camp

The Search Begins

No Sign of Jon

Waiting

A Night’s Rest

Day Two

We See a Body . . .

In The Helicopter

Afterwards

Appendix One

Appendix Two

Appendix Three

About the Author

Other Books by Kate McPhail

1 MISSING!

My pager rattled, waking me from a sound sleep. I jumped, rolled over and looked at the clock. 4:00 A.M. Bleary-eyed, I checked the number. 555-3214 --the Search and Rescue emergency number-- it must be a search. I grabbed the phone and hit the auto dial, set for Explorer Post 18’s emergency response number. A cheerful voice answered, Good morning! This is Rick.

Biting back my initial reaction to his happiness at this unearthly hour, I mumbled, ’Mornin.’ What’s up?

Rick, the leader of one branch of the Marion County Search and Rescue (SAR) Team, said, We have a missing 12-year-old at Breitenbush; can you come?

Wide-awake now, I asked, When do I need to report?

We need to leave the bus barn at five, he answered.

Oh, and we may need you to drive, he added. I’m not sure if Jerry or Ken will make it. They were two more of the advisor team, which also included Rick, Sam, and me.

Hanging the phone up, I hurried to prepare. Five o’clock! I thought. That’s only 45 minutes from now. I knew the routine; I took the world’s fastest shower and dressed in warm wool pants (worn over shorts), a uniform shirt, a waterproof jacket, and my hiking boots. I braided my long hair and twisted it into a bun to keep it out of my face. Hurrying into the kitchen, I grabbed a breakfast bar and took two Lunchables out of the cupboard. Leaving a quick note for my family, who were still blissfully sleeping, I grabbed my always-ready 48-hour pack on the way out the door.

I had forgotten how heavy this thing was! It’s been awhile since we had any need for our full packs. In addition to a sleeping bag, these packs consist of all the supplies and food needed for a 48 hour stay ‘in the field’ if it turned into a long search. Lately, our searches had all been nearby -- close enough to sleep at home. On these searches, we carried only a 24-hour survival pack. I opened my car door and tossed my pack into the back seat.

Backing out of the driveway, I felt the familiar pounding of my heart as I shifted my emotions once more into search mode. I’d been an advisor for Explorer Post 18 for about a year now. We’d had some interesting searches in that time and I wondered if this would be another.

I sped down State Street, which was lightly traveled this early in the morning. My thoughts jumbled together as I drove quickly through the fog. I was glad