Post by anakvr on May 8, 2006 13:06:02 GMT -5
Yuman recognized for efforts in cave rescue at Fort Huachuca
BY PAM M. SMITH, YUMA SUN STAFF WRITER
A.J. Garcia, a Yuma native, was given an award of appreciation recently for his assistance in the rescue of a college student from a cave in March at the Army's Fort Huachuca.
Garcia, branch manager of All Star Services, an Army contractor, said in a telephone interview, "Maj. Gen. Barbara Fast told all of who participated that had it not been for the combined efforts of 179 people, the rescue of David Shipman would not have been a success."
Garcia continued, "The young man was in a cave on the side of a tall cliff. His two friends told us he had climbed up the cliff and was going into the cave. He went into the cave through a narrow entry and couldn't get out."
Shipman, who was an experienced spelunker, according to the Arizona Daily Star, fell 40 to 50 feet into a pit in the cave, suffering a concussion.
"It was impossible for the Black Hawk helicopter to get close to the cave because of trees and brush. Sonny Maldonado, also from All Star Services, and I helped remove brush and trees so the chopper crew could get close to rescue Shipman. Sonny and I had to hunker down to a tree to keep out of the strong wind from the chopper blades.”
Shipman was in the cave for nearly 24 hours. "We've heard that he may have memory loss up to the time he was in the cave,” Garcia said. “We're all hoping for the best."
Garcia was born and raised in Yuma. He graduated from Kofa High School in 1983, attended Arizona Western College and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
He worked for the motor vehicle department and was a caterer prior to moving to Fort Huachuca, where he has been for the past six years. His parents, Ramon and Socorro Garcia and children Tiffany, Tyler and Tyanna, all live in Yuma.
Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.
sun.yumasun.com/artman/publish/articles/story_24097.php
BY PAM M. SMITH, YUMA SUN STAFF WRITER
A.J. Garcia, a Yuma native, was given an award of appreciation recently for his assistance in the rescue of a college student from a cave in March at the Army's Fort Huachuca.
Garcia, branch manager of All Star Services, an Army contractor, said in a telephone interview, "Maj. Gen. Barbara Fast told all of who participated that had it not been for the combined efforts of 179 people, the rescue of David Shipman would not have been a success."
Garcia continued, "The young man was in a cave on the side of a tall cliff. His two friends told us he had climbed up the cliff and was going into the cave. He went into the cave through a narrow entry and couldn't get out."
Shipman, who was an experienced spelunker, according to the Arizona Daily Star, fell 40 to 50 feet into a pit in the cave, suffering a concussion.
"It was impossible for the Black Hawk helicopter to get close to the cave because of trees and brush. Sonny Maldonado, also from All Star Services, and I helped remove brush and trees so the chopper crew could get close to rescue Shipman. Sonny and I had to hunker down to a tree to keep out of the strong wind from the chopper blades.”
Shipman was in the cave for nearly 24 hours. "We've heard that he may have memory loss up to the time he was in the cave,” Garcia said. “We're all hoping for the best."
Garcia was born and raised in Yuma. He graduated from Kofa High School in 1983, attended Arizona Western College and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
He worked for the motor vehicle department and was a caterer prior to moving to Fort Huachuca, where he has been for the past six years. His parents, Ramon and Socorro Garcia and children Tiffany, Tyler and Tyanna, all live in Yuma.
Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.
sun.yumasun.com/artman/publish/articles/story_24097.php
Thanks for the follow up on the Arizona cave rescue.