442nd Airmen assist with search for missing boy during October UTA

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danielle Wolf
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Reservists from the 442nd Fighter Wing joined local law enforcement and community members Oct. 4 to find a missing child.

"Sunday, during our morning briefing, active-duty security forces notified us that there was a missing 5-year-old boy with Down syndrome from Knob Noster and were requesting assistance with the search," said Tech. Sgt. Jeff Bousman, noncommissioned officer in charge of training for the 442nd Security Forces Squadron.

Civilian officials were requesting assistance from Whiteman Air Force Base. The child had gone missing 9 p.m., Oct. 3, and the Johnson County Sheriff's Department, Missouri Highway Patrol, fire department and local community joined to form a search party.

The land surrounding the child's home, which is where he was last seen, consisted of woods, waist-high grass and vines, a nearby water source and soybean fields. The Johnson County, Mo. sheriff's department, which initiated the search after the child's parents notified authorities of his disappearance, searched the nearby fields for several hours before resources, like batteries and flashlights, were extinguished, Sergeant Bousman said.

"(All Airmen) who were available that morning, enthusiastically wanted to volunteer their time and expertise to help," Sergeant Bousman said.

Col. Alan Teauseau, 442nd Mission Support Group commander, was notified that some of the group's security forces troops had volunteered to be part of the search team.

"I was informed by the security forces' first sergeant that the 509th Bomb Wing had asked us to help," Colonel Teauseau said. "So, I got with the command chief and talked to him about it. We had to make sure we were doing this legally and not getting in the way of the local authorities, so I talked to the (staff judge advocate) to make sure we weren't breaking any rules, then I notified the wing commander what our troops wanted to do."

After Colonel Teauseau worked out logistical concerns, he began organizing Citizen Airmen to assist with the search.

"We had a long list of people who wanted to help - even more people than the farm could really handle," he said. "Around 9 a.m. we sent out about 25 people then another 35 around 10 a.m. At this point we had volunteers from security forces, civil engineering and services flight."

Colonel Teauseau said MSG was prepared to send volunteers for a second shift, if necessary, to ensure he had fresh eyes searching for the boy at all times. Those who were not doing mission-essential work back at Whiteman, worked to support the Airmen who were volunteering in the field, he said.

"We had people back here who worked to support the searchers; they took them (meals ready-to-eat) and water," he said.

One of the most important things the MSG commander had to do however, was ensure the safety of his people.

"In terrain like that, we wanted to make sure we had full accountability of who we were sending out," he said. "We also made sure that Lt. Col. Murphy (chief of safety) was there to make sure that our people were taking all precautions to keep themselves safe."

Nearly 400 people assisted in the search for Joshua L. Bender.

"There were people out there searching by horseback, all-terrain vehicles, Polarises, and even a neighbor was searching from his crop duster right above the fields," Sergeant Bousman said.

For Sergeant Bousman, this was a mission that hit close to home.

"If you had a child missing, you'd want the help," he said. "I volunteered right away because I have a 5-year-old grandson, and if anything were to happen to him, I would hope the community would volunteer to help out. Having all these reservists volunteering like that shows the caliber of people we have working here. Hopefully it also shows the caliber of people working at Whiteman - even (Gen. Scott Vander Hamm, 509th Bomb Wing commander,) was out there assembling teams."

For several hours, volunteers formed lines and carefully searched the fields.

When the child was found alive and well around 1 p.m. Sunday, just 40 yards from the house in a field that had been previously searched, Sergeant Bousman said the crowd of searchers instantly started cheering.

"Working in one long line like that, we covered a lot of distance. The grass was three-to-four feet high in some areas and you needed that many people out there helping," Sergeant Bousman said. "Everyone out there was determined to find him. You always hope for the best - nobody wants anything bad to happen to a child."

"The whole wing showed a wonderful concern for a young boy and its willingness to help was outstanding," Colonel Teauseau said. "I didn't even have to sell the idea to anyone. We had many more people volunteering to help if we needed. It was an important mission and in the end, it's important that the boy was safe and that we have a good working relationship with the community. Hopefully this shows how much we really care about them."

Wing Commander Col. Mark Clemons agreed.

"This was a total team effort from all local authorities as well as folks from Team Whiteman," he said. "When our local communities need help we have the personnel, equipment and expertise to assist just about any challenge.

"As reservists, we live in these local communities, and as proud members of them, it is our duty to be involved and stay engaged with the communities and help out our neighbors. This was indeed a great day with a happy ending."