My dad is Sgt. Keith McKenzie and I am proud to be his daughter! His job took him away from me a lot when I was younger but I know it was to do good in the world such as this!!
Torey Warren I want you to know your dad inspired me to Volunteer in Fire/Rescue. I've been in since 2001. This video Changed me as a child, to want to help people.
Torey your father was one of the best Flight Medic's I had ever had the pleasure to fly with back in the day, we both served in the 507th together later to be called "Lone Star Dustoff" post Desert Storm; I was one of his Crew-Chiefs that flew with him. Kenny Weinrich was the Crew-Chief who flew with him on that memorable day. If you have a chance and see or talk with your father, tell him to contact me sometime. Ron "Sal" Salsbury, hunterron66@gmail.com. I also agree, you should be very proud to have such a heroic father like him in your life.
Torey Warren mam this video changed my life as a kid. Your Daddy is a hero! This video along with a few other things inspired me to become a fireman. I gave it 18.5 years and seen so many pass, but we rescued and saved many. I’d love to write Ray Masterman bc I understand the look on his face. Your Daddy is an awesome Soldier and Man!
@kempsun I was one of the last people to be pulled from the trees. I spent 6hrs sitting in that tree with 4 other people. When he came through the top of that tree breaking limbs out of the way to get to us, it was amazing. His courageous effort was unbelievable. I sat there at the memorial 1yr after, and when the sound of the helicopter passed over, I started crying. Every time I hear that sound, a tear rolls down my cheek, and I think of him coming through those trees. I thank God for him. WK
I just want you to know that I'm so sorry that it happened to you I'm sorry to happen to all of you I keep on watching this movie over and over again it's so sad it breaks my heart. I'm still trying to figure out whatever happened to the missing guy John bankston you would think that his body would have turned up sooner or later but it never did and I'm still trying to figure out what happened to him but anyway I'm glad you're okay my prayers go out to the 33 that was saved and an extra special prayer for the ones that wasn't saved may they rest in peace
My father was one of the men who pulled kids out of the river that day! He tells his story so those will be remembered and hopes to someday meet up with someone to see how they are doing.
To kempsun....Kevin Absher one of the kids you pulled from the river is my best friend. He is doing great. He is a pastor of his own church. thanks for risking you life to save his.
The Army MAST unit in this video, the 507th Air Ambulance out of Fort Sam Houston (HQ & 1st platoon), Texas, was my old unit. I worked as an Army flight medic there from July 1982 - July 1986. I know those crews celebrated those they saved but mourned every one they weren't able to.
According to Shatner's talk, the camp was severely threatened by the floodwaters, and had the waters rose another foot or two, it would have been swept away.
They should've stayed at camp until the flood waters had lowered, instead of taking the risk. If they had, all of those children would be with their families now. It's a tragedy that so many lives were unnecessarily lost.
rachelchunter I have to agree. I don't understand it, and after looking at the area on a satallite photo, i REALLY don't understand it. Unless there are some new road, since installed, that wasn't even the only route out. It was sure the fastest, but I mean, even if that bridge had washed out, there were still other options. Hell, even if things had gotten REALLY bad, aside from the numerous, huge fields you could land a C-17 in, there's a turf airfield barely a mile away. I really hate to say it, but those kids died needlessly.
rachelchunter yeah i went to the same camp last year and have been the past 5 years. the camp mentors disobeyed and decided that they would drive the children anyway. it’s very sad
I grew up living along that river (which eventually destroyed the house that I grew up in, 11 years after this flood). My family & I were on vacation in Florida and saw this on the news. We freaked out and rushed back home, to see if our house was flooded. Thankfully, we didn't get flooded out that year, but nonetheless, it's tough for me to go back & watch this. We lived not too far downstream from where this happened; I'm wondering how many of the victims floated right past our house. But I'm still thankful that the majority of the bus passengers were rescued. I used to see Chopper 5 pretty often, and I'm glad they were able to assist in the rescues.
The most haunting thing to me is the fact that one of the children's body was never found. John Clinton Bankston (name changed to Brad in the movie) was 17 at time and credited for pulling many into the trees, saving their lives. If you google comfort texas bus tragedy and go to the 1st link you will see his grave and it's heartbreaking. It says born January 27th 1970, Lost in Guadalupe River July 17th 1987, Date found __ __ __. I cannot shake the image.
You know something I've seen this movie a hundred times and I read about it and Google it and everything and I'm still trying to find out what happened to John bankston Jr whose name was changed to Brad in the movie you would think this body would have showed up after so many days but it's just like he disappeared everybody else bodies turned up but his I even looked at the Guadalupe River through Google to see how far it stretches and I still can't figure out what could have happened to that man's body they buried him without nobody never did get closer never did get to say goodbye it's heartbreaking and very confusing
It’s been 3 years and 3 decades since this happened. It’s a pity that 10 children including Melanie and Leslie lost their lives. But the 33 people are in their late 40s, early 50s. This was creepy. July 17 was the day I was supposed to be born, so this happened 12 days before my 5th birthday. I feel sorry for those who lost their lives. Thank goodness I wasn’t there, I was living in Arizona at the time. Thank goodness those who have lost their lives aren’t suffering the coronavirus. I suppose those who were rescued told their children this story.
This is, without a doubt, the saddest episode of Rescue 911. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. I just hope they've found peace and comfort after their tragic loss. This shows that sometimes, not all rescues have a happy ending... But thanks to all first responders, past and current.
I've been in Vol Fire/Rescue since 2001. I remember watching this video as a child and realizing I need to help people and make a difference. This video breaks my heart.
I was just over there at the Memorial a few days ago....they replaced the low-water bridge with one that is much higher, with guardrails. 25 years now......
Douglas Jessen saw it on Google maps, with that tragedy, that bridge had to be replaced, I wonder what engineers were thinking back then to put a low water crossing there,knowing the river could flood
The San Antonio CBS affiliate KENS 5 Helicopter, "Chopper 5" featured on the CBS series, Rescue 911(1989-1996) was an as350(Airbus H125) Astar news helicopter. David Villarreal was a camera guy at KENS 5 back then. The story was more than 3 decades ago.
i heard the story so many times i attended the school where this event happened the pictures are still up on the wall in the hallway and i know a lot of these peoples relatives sue henderson told my class the whole story and it really touched a lot of hearts
I was only 2 when it happened. I feel so sad. I can't take the image of that girl who was ALMOST saved out of my mind. Now,can you imagine her relatives watching to this and knowing she was close to be saved but wasn't?? It's so sad...
4:37 damn, he was so close to her, if he would of jumped earlier or the pilot held it more steadily he could of possibly have saved her. This is the girl that passed away when she was swept away.
I checked out those gravesites online, and the one which got my attention the most was that of Stacey and Tonya Smith, as on their stone it was inscribed what wonderful young women they were, and it had their pictures. I first learned about them when I saw the movie on the tragedy and saw what their parents and brother experienced that day.
That's so sad R.I.P. all those people who died those people where so stupid to take them out like that they could have waited 1 more day to take them home! so sad!
actually it was Pot O Gold and the camp is still there my dad goes every summer. they have a Memorial stone at the entrance of the camp with the names of all the people who lost their lives that day.
scenes used in intro and as an animated returning image 1. the rescuer reaching victims on the trees 2 the male and female rescuers carrying the victim to ambulance 3. the rescuer jumping out of the helicopter to save the female swimmer 4 finally: the Green helicopter with the cross is used as an animated image upon returning of the show.
Oh god that is so sad. Please let them rest in peace. I hope this never happens again. My heart goes out to their familes. that is just so tragic, i wouldn't know how i could be one of those rescuers.
The final episode was Episode 714. This was the first segment on the first episode (it re-aired on Episode 117, which is where this version I have uploaded came from). The other segments from the first episode were "Houston Trauma Docu" (re-aired on Episode 211), "Arlington" (re-aired on Episode 116), and "Baby Fire Rescue" (re-aired on Episode 114).
I remember they searched for John Bankston for three weeks back then, with construction equipment and all.... he has never been found to this day, 25 years later...
I was an Operations Officer in the Ft. Sam Houston 6th U.S. Army Garrison G3 that fateful day. The orders for those Army Medevacs from the 507th Medical Company (AA) came across our desk. San Antonio was in the 6th U.S. Army civil area of operations. Ironically, the area had experienced extreme drought conditions previously and potable water was getting scarce. In fact, it was rationed. Anyway just weighing in.
yes truly sad i know how they must feel i almost had drowned with my friends ........ felling the sensation of breath ....... lossing strengh ......... thinking evryone that means something for u .... hard to describe how desperate i was ...... fourtunately i could take me and my friends out of water ...... really ... dont know how
I attended BSCA but didnt attend the camp because i was to spend the summer with my grandparents. While they were watching the news they asked "isnt this the school you go to?" I was saddened to see my friends caught in this terrible tragedy. The untold story is that Scott Chatham, John Bankston (body never found), and Mike Lane (eventually found dead), jumped back in to save many of our friends. An absolutely terrible tragedy....
I went to BSCA too but didn't go because I was so young, I was only in first grade. I had Mrs. Smith for Kindergarten and 2nd grade though and remember being so sad for her when this happened
You are absolutely correct....you can't believe everything you read or see. I've heard Whitey and Lavonda's story of that fateful day MANY times and the story never changes. You don't have to have been there to feel their stories come to life. It was no ones fault. God allowed this to happen so that others' lives could be touched by this story. And as far as the ones that lost their lives during this flood...well, God needed them more in Heaven than he did here on earth. Love ya PPHP. ~SRT
Your right the Lord Jesus had a plan. It could have bein through this tradgedy that during the funeral for the lives lost some lost soul could come to know Jesus as their savior. I also have a video on youtube it is titled Robert Gildea preaches. I put the video on youtube to reach the youth of America with touretes syndrome with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. People with touretes can understand the Gospel touretes is nueralogical not mental. Your friend in Jesus Robert Gildea Elmira NY Romans 6:23
does anyone know anything about "bus number 7 it's the best bus we love the preacher, and the preacher loves us" I heard it in a story someone told on here
Pray for those who lost their lives, pray for those who helped save those that were saved, and pray for John Bankston to be found so that he may rest in peace.
His body was never found until this day is still not found and I'm trying to understand where did he disappear to everybody else body was found but he is and makes you wonder
60 mph flood waters?!?! at 3:05- 3:08 that's probably the most horrible thing I've ever heard or had to comprehend on rescue 911. But why did they immediately give up on one of their daughters?
Remember that this was a church camp so every one of those kids that drown was instantly taken to heaven. I really feel for that young man Gene Marsh Gene if you ever see this comment that last fight you had with your deceased girlfriend Lesley do not feel bad that you never got the chance to apologize she knows and forgives you I hope you have found some peace in your life and moved on.
Poor guy got into an argument with his girlfriend and then she died and he never got to apologize. I know exactly what that does to a person as I had the same thing happen
Lagenia Keenum estava fazendo 15 anos nesse dia.Triste.Se alguém puder me modtrar as legendas...Os Texanos tem um sotaque muito carregado...muito dificil de entender tudo.Please someone there in EUA put the legends,because it's very tough to understand.
Sometimes through tragedy comes blessings. If you've never heard these folks' story all the way through you will know that God sure did work in these people's lives as well as the families, rescue workers, and complete total strangers who are still hearing about the story today. The ones who died, did so because it was their time. God needed them more in heaven than he did here on Earth. God has a plan for everyone, this was just part of these people's plan he had for them.
