I was called by the Red Cross in San Francisco to assist with the first flight into SFO. I spent well over a month as a SPSVO volunteer, with the blessing of my employer, the City of San Mateo. I met every flight that landed at SFO and most at Travis AFB, as well as several at World's base in Oakland. I was on the Pan Am 747 with the medical team the night that President Ford met the flight at SFO.

I was on the airplane with the triage team to assess the health of the children and to assist the LAPS in getting the plane unloaded quickly.

The experience changed my life forever. To carry a 12-13 year girl with an artificial leg off a World Flight in Oakland and have our picture on the front page of the SF Chronicle the next morning was a bit overwhelming. The entire operation was based on the premise that it was the kids, and not the individuals, that made up the team.

I would love to make contact with Alex Stalcup, MD, with whom I flew to Hawaii to come back on Ed Daly'S 727.

It was an exciting time, that I would do again in a minute. I hope there is never again a need to do what we did!

Ross Bowling
Fresno, CA
Email: rossbowling@mac.com