November 23, 2010
Dear 44th Squadron,
My children and I wish to thank you for your assistance in finding my husband,
Bruce Cummings near Johnson ridge on the 15th of November, 2010. I have been told without your persistence in signaling, Bruce may not have been found. Because of your excellence in flying my husbands brother was able to find the wreckage and his body.
Bruce loved to fly. He attained his pilots license when he was 17 while working at Martin Field in College Place. While in Alaska we flew many wonderful places together. After moving to Oregon, our flights took us on many adventures.
I do not know the events that took place that day...but It must have been horrific. The outcome was not what we had hoped for.
We had dreamed of living our lives together for another 30 years and raising our children and their grandchildren.
Because of your involvement and selfless effort we were able to recover our kind and loving father and husband from the mountain.
On behalf of my children, myself and my husband Bruce Cummings, please accept our deepest gratitude. I wish to also convey our respect and to say "thank you" to all who were involved in bringing my husband back for burial.
