CAPITAL CLOSE-UP

Photo by Sr. Mbr. Amber Viventi, North Carolina Wing
human remains detection in both
land and water recovery. It was the
first time a dog had been a passenger
in his plane, he said.
“He did fine,” Viventi recalled.
“He was the best passenger I ever
had.”
Maj. Jason O’Brien flew Christy
Judah and her English springer
spaniel, Bailey, who is also certified
in the same areas as Mandy, as well
as being a first responder dog for
disasters. Both dogs are members of
the Brunswick Search and Rescue
Team Inc. out of Brunswick, N.C.
2nd Lt. Wayne Milbauer flew the
search and rescue equipment
because it would not fit in the other
planes.
“It was the first time I’d flown
with an animal,” he said.
Interestingly, Viventi said the
controller at Fayetteville asked him
where the three planes were headed.
When he told them they were in
route to help look for the missing
Boy Scout, whose plight had been
covered by the national news media,
the controller replied, “We wish you
guys luck.” Controllers usually
never say anything except official
instructions, he noted, but after that
exchange, every controller on the
rest of the journey wished the pilots
luck.
About an hour after the plane
landed and the dog teams were dispatched,
the missing Scout was
found. “We were elated,” said
Viventi. “I’d been on a half-dozen
search and rescue missions before,
but not with a good outcome.”
Maj. Jason O'Brien
flew Bailey, a
certified English
springer spaniel
search dog.
Capt. Dion Viventi flew trained
canine teams to help search for
Michael Ausberry, who wandered
away from his Scout campsite in
North Carolina.
“It was a good feeling,” added
O’Brien.
Judah had praise for the CAP
pilots. “I must compliment the
pilots and the Civil Air Patrol for
their willingness to assist in the
transport of both of these
Brunswick Search and Rescue
Team canine members and their
handlers. Their professionalism
and support were most appreciated
and a wonderful example of cooperation
and coordination.”
While the dogs they transported
were not the ones who found the
Scout, it didn’t matter, the CAP
members said. “It sure was satisfying
as a volunteer to be able to assist in
a successful search and rescue operation,”
said Viventi. “It was nice to
be able to fly home with good news
under our belts, knowing the Boy
Scout was found and his parents
were rejoicing.
“I guess that’s why I joined CAP
in the first place,” he said. ▲
Civil Air Patrol Volunteer 41 May-June 2007