‘Fallen heroes’ lauded during solemn tribute
From our weekly issue dated August 20, 2008
Honors, prayers and tears mixed with fond memories marked a special tribute to nine men who died in a fiery helicopter crash at a Northern California wildfire near Weaverville.
Framed by lofty, crossed aerial fire-fighting ladders and a huge U.S. flag, the arrival of a procession with some 30 fire agency vehicles and seven black cars initiated a solemn Iron 44 Tribute to those who died Aug. 5.
The memorial, held Friday, Aug. 15 at Jackson County Expo, was attended by approximately 3,000 persons. Firefighters from Merlin-based Grayback Forestry Inc., in wildland fire-fighting clothing, lined each side of the road as the procession entered. One of the Grayback employees who died in the accident was Caleb Renno, 21, of Cave Junction.
Catherine Renno, his mother, standing with his father, Bruce LeMay, said, “We don’t want you to remember our son in the tragedy of that day, in that helicopter burning. We don’t want to remember our sons there, because that was one small moment of their lives.
“We want to remember them,” she said, “for what they had done that day -- they held the line. They held the line when the wind picked up. And they held the line when the fire jumped.”
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She also noted, “The last time his dad and I had dinner with Caleb, all he talked about was how much he loved his crew and crew bosses. I pray they won’t be forgotten when the headlines leave.
“I pray for all the mothers whose hearts went into the deep abyss with me,” she said.
LeMay offered a prayer “for the fallen warriors.”
Renno was among seven Grayback firefighters who died when a Sikorksy S-61N operated by Carson Helicopter Inc., of Merlin, crashed in connection with the Buckhorn Fire of the Iron 44 Complex in Trinity County. After touching down, the craft burst into flames.
Coultas Improving
Among the injured is Cave Junction resident “Bill” Coultas, 44, who was a co-pilot aboard the helo. He suffered burns on approximately a third of his body. A note posted in Cave Junction at CJ Video Mart/Radio Shack, which Coultas owns with his wife, Chris, reads:
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“Thank you for your support at this time. Bill is now listed as being in stable condition and is improving every day. We appreciate your support. Thank you.” The note is from Chris Coultas and the Coultas children, Ricci and Matt. The injured flier is at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.
Besides Renno, other Grayback firefighters who died were Ashland residents Scott Charlson, 25, Edrik Gomez, 19, and David E. Steele, 19; Medford residents Bryan Rich, 29, and Shawn Blazer, 30; and Grants Pass resident Matthew Hammer, 23.
Others who died in the crash were pilot Roark Schwanenberg, 54, of Lostine, near La Grande; and Jim Ramage, 63, of Redding, a U.S. Forest Service aviation inspector.
Besides Coultas, three Grayback personnel survived. All from Medford, they are identified as Michael Brown, 20; Jonathan Frohreich, 18; and Rick Schroeder, 42.
Friday’s tribute, with Carl Wilson of Radio KAJO as master of ceremonies, opened with a law enforcement honor guard. Music was provided by a bagpipe and drum group.
At one point, as the group was finishing a rendition of Amazing Grace, a small airplane used to guide air tankers to drop zones flew past with a tanker following. A second tanker came behind and dropped nine streamers in memory of the dead.
Among the many highly emotional occurrences during the 90-minute tribute, Mike Wheelock, president of Grayback, spoke. His voice faltering, he said, “To the families, I am so sorry that we did not bring your loved ones home.
“Families and firefighters,” he said, “we will never, never forget the firefighters that were injured or lost lives on Iron 44.”
Another emotion-stirring moment was when members of the Grayback crew who survived the crash presented folded U.S. flags to the families of those who died. Additionally, they presented each a chromed fire-fighting tool, a Pulaski; plus shiny red hard hats for the firefighters, and bright white flight helmets for the families of the pilots.
Speakers included Abigail Kimbell, chief of the U.S. Forest Service; Oregon State Forester Marvin Brown; Steve Metheny, Carson executive vice president; U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Second District); and Tom Harbour, USFS director of Fire & Aviation Management.
The ceremony concluded as a Grayback firefighter rang a fire bell 15 times, with five rings each time. The ritual advises firefighters that one of their own is departed.
