When I took food yesterday to the VFW I was there just at dinner and they were singing the National Anthem, did my heart good to see all the Army men, workers and helpers standing there singing.  These people are being fed really well, three meals a day.  Sack lunches with sandwiches, cookies, fruit are taken to the field each day at noon.

 FEMA, American Red Cross, Salvation Army are here.  Jasper, Tx our neighbor 45 miles to the south, did a 10 county food drive.  Beaumont notified all their Government Offices and we have had donations from them also.  Wall Mart came over Sunday night and fed everyone.  All our Churches and just folks like me are bringing food daily.  The coordinator calls us and lets us  know what she needs.  When I work breakfast tomorrow morning I will take 6 dozen biscuits as they usually run out of this and sausage.  We are all doing what we can to help and appreciate your prayers and support.

 The weather has been better for the past four days and divers did retrieve one piece of the shuttle from the Lake Monday.  They are still searching for more in the lake.  Not to divulge anything you don't already know, they are also looking for the classified "black box" you hear about on the news.  The Command Post is not saying much anymore have kind of shut down talking.  We are very aware of the importance of finding all materials that will help them determine just what happened on re entry.

 The search for remains has moved north of Hemphill around Hwy 103 and 96.  This has been the one miracle to me that remains are being found The National Guard will be leaving here this weekend and the regular Army will be coming in.  You should be proud, as I am, of these fine, polite, very thankful young men who make up our National Guard.

 You might notice my e mail list is growing you have all sent my notes to your e mail lists and I am hearing from people as far away as Alaska. A lady in Florida e mailed me and thanked us from the Nasa family.   I love hearing from you all and will continue to keep you updated as news comes in.

Guess that is all for today, more later  I love hearing from you all. 

love pat Oden

Not much to report today, the weather played a large part in calling off some searches Thur. morning, but yesterday and again today even though it is below 30 degrees, the searchers are out once again.  More debris and human remains continue to be found daily.  Although remains have been found of all seven astronauts we are still recovering the remains.

 

The piece(s), now been determined there are more than one, in Toledo Bend Lake have not been recovered.  They have been spotted several times from the air but by the time the rescue teams get to that particular spot it has moved.  Our lake varies from 3 feet to 100 feet and it keeps shifting and the lake bottom is very murky.  They are very diligent in this search - today - got out at sunrise and will stay till dark.  I have seen several finder boats going down 83 each day, along with the FBI, etc.  Will keep you updated on this important find.

 

On a personal note I would like to tell you what I see everytime I go to the VFW.  Yesterday when I took food, I saw different faces helping, serving, etc.  A lot of these people were young (by my standards) in the 20's and 30's.  We must be doing something right in raising our children...we seldom see or hear this about our young people.....we hear only the "bad" things.  You should know that night before last VFW, with the help of this community, served 1000 people dinner.  We have more National Guard that arrived Thursday also.  These guys are also very young and when you meet them in town, at the grocery store, etc. they come up to you and thank you for taking such good care of them.  They are being housed mostly at the School Gym and have been taken more blankets, pillows, etc.  We are now washing the searchers clothes as the going has been tough -- wet and cold.

 

My new found friend, Chip, from Okla City, returned home Thur night as he left I told him to call me when he got home, he said that sounded like his Mom, and I said I am your other Mom.  I have told him he and his family are welcome in my home any time.  He may come back to search.  By the way, he did call me when he got home.  Chip is indicative of the type of men and women who are dedicated and come from all over the United States as they are compelled to help in this important task of collecting the debris.  We in Hemphill are very appreciative of these men and women as they too are heroes in our eyes.

 

Those of you who know me know I never met a stranger and I am making new friends daily and will continue to do what I can to help out.   Continue to pray for us and them as we go about this task that has been put before us in Hemphill and once again I am proud to be a small part of this.

 

love ya pat oden

Just so you all know, the Columbia as you know, exploded most over East  Texas.  At 8 a.m. my house shook like an earthquake was happening, and the rumbling sound was like none I have ever heard before.  I ran outside to see if I could tell what "exploded" or whatever.  The noise and shaking stopped, tapered off in about 2 min.  The rest of my neighbors began talking and calling and we found out on tv what had just happened.

 

As you know, a lot of the debris is in Nacogdoches, TX about 80 miles so/east of me,  debris has been found in Toledo Bend Lake near me, nothing fell as far as we know in our neighborhood Thank God.  But human remains have been found in and around Hemphill.  Our local funeral home, under the guidance of FBI, NASA, etc. has been collecting the remains.  So far as  I know a human torso, with flight uniform nearby, helmet, leg, and other body parts have been found around Hemphill.  The areas of search are very dense forests and so far the debris that has been found is near logging roads, etc. 

 

You may have already seen most of this on tv but wanted you to know first hand what is happening.

Pat Oden

Our little town is awash with NASA, FBI, etc.  You would not believe the many news trucks that are parked in town.  Our neighborhood has arisen to the task of feeding over 600 people every day in our VFW Post. Sunday I made 10 dozen cookies, yesterday took a cake, today more deserts and I have been asked to serve breakfast tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. which I will do.  Several men in Rebel Ridge are going out today to help search the forests, wish I could go too but can't leave Mother that long.

 

Yesterday the National Guard arrived in a helicopter that was so large they had to land in Pineland, where there is a landing strip. They are putting up tents in Hemphill  to stay in.  Downtown looks like Houston at rush hour there are so many news media, workers, etc.  I talked to some FBI yesterday and some news media they are all very complimentary of us (the people in Hemphill) which makes us all feel very good about what we are doing to help.  I might mention at this point that most of the people helping  are  those of us who have moved here.  For those of you who are familiar with Toledo Bend, the large car size piece they keep talking about is near Indian Mounds they have searched there for two days, today a finder such as the one that discovers deep objects is being brought in, and they were looking for another part between my house and the Island so it was that close to me.  They haven't even begun to search down here which they will do.  A large piece was found on Hwy 83 between Pineland and Hemphill and yesterday they found more human remains.  I am not trying to be morbid just thought you would like to know what is going on here. 

 

It is truly very emotional to be here seeing this all happen.  The only thing that makes it bearable is knowing that these 7 gave their life doing what they believed in and knew the dangers at the get go, and also God made sure no one on the ground was hurt which is truly a miracle given the sizes and number of debris found.  We have a new "Texas Star" that was made on the corner of the Dairy Queen lot as you turn to come down 83 to my house, it is painted blue and grey and yesterday people began putting floral moments around it with a large photo of all seven astronauts.  You are probably seeing more of Hemphill news than we are as news stations from both Houston, Dallas and even New York are here.  My son, Matt, says he has seen a lot more than I have.

 

It will be years before all debris is found, in fact given the site location some of it will never be found.  I will continue to try and keep you informed of what is happening here.  Love you all,  
Pat Oden

Yesterday I helped serve breakfast at our VFW to 200 National Guard troops from Beaumont who have joined the search here, plus TD Hiway officers, some from as far away as Odessa, Tx.  All to a man thanks us profusely for our help and concern for their well being during this emotional task.  And it is very emotional.  We have been asked to house some people as our lodging in/around Hemphill is very sparse.  I have a gentleman, a pilot, from Okla. City,  Okla. and he was so tired last night that he went to bed at 7:45 p.m.  His mother and wife have thanked me for taking care of him. I got him up at 5 this morning so he could continue with his team the search.  My neighbors have been searching also and two of them and their team found human remains day before yesterday.  The man staying with me found remains yesterday, this is the main objective right now.  This is important to all of us as we want the families of these astronauts to have closure. Most of the remains are being found in and near Hemphill, most in our dense National Forests, briar patches up to 6 feet tall and they must go thru these not around them. Very hard on these men but they are very dedicated and  rising to the occasion.

 

The weather has turned very cold and raining here today, by Saturday we may have freezing précip so the going will be tougher and harder on these brave men during their searches.  You would be proud of Hemphill residents as I am because they have all risen to the tasks of taking care of these men and women.  Yesterday the cone, found 3 miles west of Hemphill, was picked up and taken to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, LA.   So far the piece of the shuttle that landed in the Toledo Bend Lake near me, has not been recovered.   All of the news media, NASA and FBI thank everyone they talk to and say that they have been in on a lot of these kinds of missions and have never been treated so well.  These people are all in downtown Hemphill as their command post is at our Volunteer Fire Station.  We have access as town people to talk with them, which I have done every day. I was making video of one of the news conferences and started talking to a young NASA man.  I asked if I could video him and he said to me "I am not anybody important" I replied "to us you are very important".  As I was taking his photo I asked him his name and was he from NASA Houston, he replied No maam I am from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  With that remark I quit taking photo and walked over to him and hugged him and told him I knew how hard this must be on him, he started crying as I did.  Very emotional.   MAKES ME FEEL GOOD THAT I RETIRED TO THIS SMALL COMMUNITY.

 

More later

Pat Oden