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Winston Salem Squadron provides crucial assistance

The 4 members from Winston -Salem Squadron
From Left to Right C/1st Lt Zack Mikat, C/MSgt Eric Compton, 1st Lt Jason Cheek,C/ Capt.Sean Peting and LtCol Andy Wiggs Vice Commander, North Carolina Wing (click image to view full size)
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to find an elderly man who wandered off from local nursing facility

By 1st Lt. Bryan Weil
NCWG PAO

5/8/2014–Burlington, NC– 

Article submitted by 1st Lt Jason Cheek MER-NC-082 Deputy Commander, Cadets.  

On March 23, 2014 at approximately 0100 hours an alert was sent out for available ground personnel to participate in a missing persons search for an elderly male who had wandered off from a nursing facility in Wake County the afternoon prior.

At 0830 the next morning a ground search team from the Winston-Salem Composite Squadron, MER-NC-082, led by 1st Lt Jason Cheek with C/Capt Sean Peting, C/1st Lt Zack Mikat and C/MSgt Eric Compton departed Winston-Salem to link up with personnel from North Carolina Wing and Burlington Composite Squadron at the last known point the gentleman had been seen.

The search of the surrounding area began around 1030 and at around 1230 local time, the 84 year old gentleman who had wandered off was located approximately 1/2 mile through the woods from the facility where he resided.

The man was hypothermic and barely conscious, and with the assistance of local fire and EMS personnel, he was evaluated and carried out of the woods via a stokes basket to awaiting EMS personnel for transport to a local medical facility.

Because of impending inclement weather moving into the area, expediency was necessary to give the man the greatest chance for survival. Due to the rapid response of volunteers from Civil Air Patrol working in conjunction with the Wake County Sheriff's Office and local Fire and EMS personnel, the man was found prior to the weather and safely evacuated to the hospital and eventually back to his home.

The Vice Commander of the North Carolina Wing Lt.Col Andy Wiggs came to the next regular Thursday night squadron meeting to make the life saving awards. The four members/cadets participating in the find, received a framed certificate and A Civil Air Patrol red life saving ribbon.

Major Gene Clodfelter, the squadron Public affairs officer stated "It has been several years since a life saving mission has occurred. We train constantly as we never know when this kind of event may happen. If you are not already trained it is to late when an event like this happens or a plane goes down."