Re: Chairmen of the Politically Incorrect (continued)

Walt · Post by **Walt** » Sun Jun 14, 2026 4:40 pm

Maybe this story is too much for some people and inappropriate altogether, but....

I was driving an ambulance in the early 70s and got a call to go to an airplane crash at the Albuquerque airport. My attendant and I arrived there, TV reporters and law enforcement were already there along with federal investigators. A twin engine plane transporting eight Los Alamos Nat'l Labs employees (scientists) and the pilot had departed the runway and made a sharp turn to the left. A ground services member had apparently neglected to properly fasten a baggage compartment door in which a large heavy box had been stowed. As the plane turned, the box slid over, knocked the compartment door open and fell into the left propeller. Less than a couple hundred feet in the air, the plane cartwheeled to the ground and burned. Being full of fuel it made quite a fire. Airplane and bodies were still smoking and many of the onlookers were discreetly or not so discreetly barfing their guts out. I will shorten the story to say that no one offered to help; we pulled seat parts out of bodies, then wrapped them in sheets, stacked them like cordwood in the back of a large ambulance and transported them to the morgue of the county hospital.

A lot of families lost their loved ones that day. I will never forget it.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 2:14 am

Yeah, Id say you earned your pay that day Walt. Not only the sight, but the smell. You don't forget that either.
Just bad all around. I would hate to be that ground crew guy that left that door unlatched.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 9:49 am

You got the easy part. Get there when there's temporary survivors.

Walt · Post by **Walt** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 1:56 pm

Jeepnik, although I don't agree with you that I did the easy part, I assure you that I have experienced my share of "temporary survivors".

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Mon Jun 15, 2026 7:56 pm

Walt wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2026 1:56 pm Jeepnik, although I don't agree with you that I did the easy part, I assure you that I have experienced my share of "temporary survivors".

Maybe I didn't say it right, but I'm sure you're aware that sometimes it's better to get their later. Their are ugly things in this world, that thankfully, most of the people in it will never see.

Walt · Post by **Walt** » Tue Jun 16, 2026 8:37 am

Yep, I sure agree with you there. Thanks

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu Jun 18, 2026 7:52 am

I'm glad I never had a job involving the survivors and non survivers of tragic accidents etc, as a teenager working in a garage that recovered the bloody wrecks from the highway was bad enough. Hats off to all first responders .

Walt · Post by **Walt** » Thu Jun 18, 2026 12:15 pm

There may be some times when it's better to get there later; better for self.... But first responders have a moral obligation to arrive at a scene as quickly as possible to render aid, to convert temporary survivors to real survivors. Don't forget the school shootings at Uvalde, TX where the school police chief prevented fellow officers from immediately engaging the shooter and even more lives were lost.
I understand what he was doing; trying to protect the officers. But, first responders are sworn to place themselves in danger in order to protect others. That's their job.

And I sometimes wonder if in this day and age it would be beneficial to expose more people to the realities of life even if it bruises their tender psyche; it's a tough life; a fragile life.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Thu Jun 18, 2026 2:32 pm

I would never suggest one be slow in responding. And obviously we do all we can. But, sometimes what we did only prolonged suffering. We couldn't know that at the time. But every run takes its toll Some more than others.

The sights, sounds and especially the smells are burn deeply and forever in our minds. All we can do is thank God most folks never have to know what it costs us.