Members of the Society of Combat Search and Rescue take part in 58th SOW’s Heritage Day

  • Published
  • By Sheila Rupp
  • Nucleus Journalist
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  More than 50 members of the Society of Combat Search and Rescue gathered here for their 10th annual reunion, taking part in the 58th Special Operations Wing's Rescue Heritage Day. 

The Society of CSAR is a group of servicemembers with combat search and rescue experience that assemble to share their experiences with the public and current combat search and rescue servicemembers. 

"Because of our backgrounds, our objective is to make a forum for us to present to current active-duty combat search and rescue members about what the field was like then and they in turn tell us what it is like now," said Jim Beggerly, 2006-07 Society of CSAR president. 

The group holds symposiums annually, this year choosing Kirtland because of the base's involvement with combat search and rescue fields. 

"We're excited to be here at Kirtland because of its access to special ops folks that are directly involved in rescue, like the pararescue schoolhouse and the work that the 58th does," Mr. Beggerly said. 

Past symposiums included visits to Nellis AFB, Nev., Pope AFB, N.C., Moody AFB, Ga., Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. 

Many of the society's members are Vietnam-era rescue personnel who flew the H-3 Jolly and the A-1 Skyraider escorts. 

While here, society members visited the airpark static displays and the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School. Various members and guest speakers shared experiences and provided presentations on rescue narratives. Members of the 58th SOW presented on current combat search and rescue technology and technologies of the future. 

Mr. Beggerly said one of the highlights of this year's symposium was meeting with members of Team Kirtland's combat search and rescue community because of the camaraderie shared. 

"Our old motto of 'That others may live' still holds true today and to be able to talk with those that are living by that motto today is rewarding," Mr. Beggerly said.