The Hunt for the Death Valley Germans (2012)
I&#x27;m an active volunteer with Inyo County Search and Rescue. I was not around during the author&#x27;s search efforts but have heard much about this article over the years. I have heard about the harrowing story, the amazing accomplishments of his personal efforts, and the resulting missions that took place to give closure.<p>Unfortunately, I have heard more about this article because of the antagonistic rhetoric used while telling his tale and to sum up his personal beef with law enforcement personnel - and the &quot;sorry, not sorry&quot; follow-up message to attempt to make that rhetoric ok. To clean-up his rhetoric - he attempts to make clear that he respects any SAR team and his beef with with the Sheriff&#x27;s Office. He also makes it convenient to add that SAR teams operate under the Sheriff&#x27;s Office. I have known quite a few who have been offended by the author&#x27;s statements. These are folks who volunteer and who give a significant amount of their personal time to respond, to put themselves in sometimes very risky&#x2F;challenging situations to save lives and provide closure.<p>I have personally been on a number of very challenging searches and rescues in the vicinity of this incident - some of the toughest things I&#x27;ve faced in my life. This is my choice, I am a volunteer and am passionate about going into the mountains to help others as I would hope to be helped. I have known a number of truly good human beings who are passionate about giving of their personal time to help others get out of a difficult space and to help provide closure. In the end, none do it for anyone else&#x27;s approval. That said, being painted with antagonism when you have done nothing but give can feel like a punch to the gut.<p>I hope that you will take the fruits from this narrative and leave behind the saltiness. First responders, whether full-time professionals or part-time volunteers, have their quirks. But there are many good humans out there and we have to believe in that -- otherwise, life would be way too salty.