Thanks for all the prayers guys, I just recieved this on our retired MSP network.................<><....
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
> Search ends for missing hunter
>
> Retired state police captain’s friends head home
>
> By Kim Ring TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
>
http://www.telegram.com/article/20081015/NEWS/810150509>
> 0D
>
>
> The search in Idaho for missing retired Massachusetts State Police
> Capt. Ronald S. Gray has been called off because bad weather is
> moving into the area.
>
> In a press release issued last night, Idaho County Sheriff Larry
> Dasenbrock indicated that weather and concern for the safety of the
> searchers and aircraft combing the rugged area since late last
> month has forced him to “with great reluctance” end the search for
> the North Brookfield resident.
>
> Retired Troopers Robert Benoit and Arthur Cournoyer, who worked
> with Mr. Gray, began heading home with their friend’s truck on Sunday.
>
> “Their hearts are heavy,” Patricia Cournoyer said.
>
> About a dozen others from Massachusetts have returned home or are
> making their way back.
>
> Mr. Benoit and Mr. Cournoyer took part in the search, heading out
> with guides and Idaho County Sheriff’s Posse members to look for
> Mr. Gray, who was last seen Sept. 19 when two companions headed
> home from an elk hunt and he opted to stay on. He was due to meet
> up at the outfitter’s camp Sept. 23, but the outfitter did not
> become concerned when he failed to show up because he’d been a few
> days late last year. The outfitter reported Mr. Gray as missing
> Sept. 26 and told the sheriff’s department he would look for Mr.
> Gray over the weekend.
>
> On Sept. 28, the outfitter requested assistance in the search and
> the sheriff’s department moved in with trained searchers from the
> posse, private and military helicopters, local guides and
> outfitters and eventually dog teams from Clearwater County.
>
> Friends have said Mr. Gray was equipped to survive in the
> mountainous area and was aware of caches of food placed by
> outfitters. He had equipment needed to build a fire, something
> searchers hoped they might spot from the air if he were signaling
> for help, though no smoke was ever seen.
>
> He was armed with hunting rifles and fishing gear, as well. There
> were reports that Mr. Gray might have injured his knee and may have
> been hampered by that injury.
>
> Searchers found one of his backpacks at a campsite Oct. 2 and
> searched the area near the camp, but turned up no sign of the
> missing hunter.
>
> Sheriff Dasenbrock said 1,000 square miles, from 2,000 to 7,000
> feet in elevation, was searched. The area is northeast of Kooskie,
> Idaho, and is about the size of Rhode Island.
>
> Mr. Gray is a Vietnam veteran who served20with the 1st Battalion,
> 9th Marines. Members of that group were known as The Walking Dead.
>
> According to the unit’s Web site, “The Battalion was engaged in
> combat for 47 months and 7 days, from June 15, 1965 to October 19,
> 1966 and December 11, 1966 to July 14, 1969. The Battalion
> sustained heavy casualties during its Vietnam service: 749 were
> Killed In Action (KIA) and 2 were Missing In Action (MIA).”
>
> Friends said his Marine and state police training made him a
> skilled outdoorsman. He was a dog handler with the former
> Metropolitan District Commission police and became a state trooper
> when the state police merged with the MDC, Capitol police and
> Registry of Motor Vehicles police in the early 1990s.
>
> While snow has blanketed the area and temperatures are dipping into
> the 20s, many hunters are still in the area and are keeping an eye
> out for Mr. Gray.
>
> Sheriff Dasenbrock indicated the search included about $20,000 in
> expenses for the helicopters and fuel. He said friends, family and
> well-wishers have donated just under $2,000 to help defray the costs.
>
> Donations are welcomed and may be sent to:
>
> Search & Rescue Fund for Ron Gray, Acct. #9500069
> North Brookfield Savings Bank
> 35 Summer St.
> N. Brookfield, Ma. 01535
> 508-867-7472
