Search and rescue personnel who took part in the search for a lost elk hunter from Eugene over the weekend are praising the cooperative efforts of the agencies involved.
Richard Braatz, 59, and his son, Michael Braatz, 28, both from Eugene, were elk hunting on Friday in the area around Low Ridge and the Mill Creek Watershed. According to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, after Richard Braatz hiked several hundred feet down a steep ridge, he decided to stop and camp alone for the night instead of climbing back up the mountain with his son.
He later became disoriented and failed to meet back with his son the next day. Braatz lost cell phone service and was unable to communicate with his son, who contacted the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO).
The UCSO Search and Rescue team, along with the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, the U.S. Forest Service, the city of Walla Walla, and the Oregon Army National Guard, Bravo Company, 1-168 from Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Pendleton, rescued Braatz on the night of Nov. 2. He had reported that he’d fallen and hurt his back.
“Thanks to the combined efforts of all of the emergency responders, sheriff’s office personnel and search and rescue teams, the mission was a success,” said Lt. Col. Alan Gronewold, Commanding Officer, 2-641 Aviation Regiment and a pilot during the mission on the CH-47 “Chinook” helicopter. “It is an honor to serve Oregonians in their time of need. Our team of citizen-soldiers was ready and capable to fly the mission and ultimately help save the missing hunter.”
Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan said he was grateful for the help from the other agencies.
“The interagency cooperation and assistance displayed during this incident was exceptional in every aspect, and together we were effective in rescuing Mr. Braatz from further injury or worse,” he said. “We are very fortunate to have such capable and professional personnel and partners, and we cannot thank them enough.”
