[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12976-12977]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     REMEMBERING EDDY SIZEMORE, HERMAN `LEE' DOBBS, AND JESSE JONES

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I rise today to commemorate the 
victims of a tragic accident that occurred recently in Clay County, KY. 
Three heroes were lost when a medical helicopter came down in the 
parking lot of Paces Creek Elementary School outside the town of 
Manchester on June 6 of this year. Crewmembers Eddy Sizemore, the 
pilot, Herman ``Lee'' Dobbs, the flight paramedic, and Jesse Jones, the 
flight nurse, sadly died in this crash.
  The crew of this medical helicopter was returning back to their 
Manchester base after transporting a patient in urgent need of care to 
a hospital in London, KY. Medical helicopters help transport patients 
in remote areas to hospitals where they can receive all necessary 
medical attention. Sadly, these three crewmembers who worked to save 
others' lives lost their own.
  Pilot Eddy Sizemore was 61 years old and a native of Laurel County, 
KY. He was a former chief deputy in the Laurel County Sheriff's Office. 
He worked most of his life in law enforcement, and was a veteran of the 
U.S. Army; he served his country in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze 
Star Medal and the Purple Heart. He is remembered by his three 
daughters, Stacey Johnson, Kacey Bolton, and Jessica Sizemore; his son, 
Justin Sizemore; his father, Frank Sizemore; his brother, Jerry 
Sizemore; the mother and stepmother of his children, Pam Brock 
Sizemore; 10 grandchildren; and many other family members and friends.
  Flight paramedic Herman ``Lee'' Dobbs, of London, KY, was 40 years 
old. He had worked for Knox County EMS and had a love of horses that 
led to his being put in charge of a horseback search unit for the Knox 
County Special Operations Response Team. He is remembered by his wife, 
Emilee Dobbs; his parents, Herman Dobbs and Patsy Light Dobbs; his 
children, Jordan, Hayden, and Walker Dobbs; his sister, Lori Crawford; 
his brother, Chad Dobbs; his aunt, Sherri Blakely; his uncle, Dale 
Light; his mother-in-law, Candace Hutton; and many other family members 
and friends.
  Flight nurse Jesse Jones was 28 and from Bell County, KY. He 
graduated from Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College as a 
registered nurse in 2007 and then pursued his dream of becoming a 
flight nurse. He is remembered by his grandparents, Mac and Ruby Jones; 
his son, Tyson Lee Jones; his father, Eddie Gene Jones; his stepmother, 
Patricia Maye Jones; his brother, Wiley Gene Jones; and many other 
family members and friends.
  Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that an article that was 
published recently in a southeastern Kentucky publication describing 
the very moving memorial service held for the three crewmembers of the 
tragic Air Evac 109 flight be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

         [From the Whitley County Times-Tribune, June 17, 2013]

                      ``God Speed and Blue Skies''


                      Air Evac 109 Crew Remembered

                            (By Jeff Noble)

       Corbin.--After the funerals of three of their crew members 
     last week, it was time for Air Evac Lifeteam to remember Eddy 
     Sizemore, Jesse Jones and Lee Dobbs.
       On Saturday morning the company did just that, during an 
     emotional and moving memorial service in London.
       Outside the North Laurel High School Gymnasium, the weather 
     was sunny and the skies blue, when an estimated 300 persons--
     including the families of the three who died, as well as Air 
     Evac crews and first responders from Kentucky and other 
     states as far away as Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota and North 
     Carolina--came to say goodbye to their brothers who paid the 
     ultimate price while doing their duty.
       For all of them, the memory of what happened on that late 
     Thursday night, June 6, will forever be seared in their 
     hearts and minds.
       Sizemore was the pilot. Jones was the flight nurse. Dobbs 
     was the flight paramedic. All three died when their medical 
     helicopter crashed in the parking lot of Paces Creek 
     Elementary School in Clay County, just about 150 yards from 
     the helipad where the crew is based in Manchester.
       For the crews, it was their time to mourn. To persevere. 
     And to have closure.
       It was Pastor Donald Sims, of the City of Hope Community 
     Fellowship in Manchester, whose opening prayer began the 
     memorial service.
       ``Lord, be with the families, their friends, and bring 
     hope, healing and comfort to all who are here,'' he prayed.
       From the St. Louis suburb of O'Fallon, Missouri, came Air 
     Evac Lifeteam's president, Seth Myers. He was the first 
     speaker at the service, and told the audience and his 
     employees, ``It with a heavy heart that I stand here. To 
     honor the life of Eddy Sizemore, Lee Dobbs and Jesse Jones.''
       He spoke of the three who perished, and spoke of the many 
     first responders who came to pay their respects.
       ``I see uniforms of all colors. They all represent one 
     thing. That's the dedication to serve others. The attendance 
     today is a testament of these three people who served. They 
     loved doing what they did, and the crews working with them. 
     They helped to save lives and make a difference in peoples' 
     lives. They're gone from us today, but they'll never be 
     forgotten,'' Myers said.
       He then read a letter from a woman, thanking the crews for 
     their service.
       ``I can't imagine the emotions at this time, but you will 
     work as a team and persevere . . . For Eddy, Lee and Jesse, 
     their impact lives on in the life of every person they saved 
     . . . I challenge you to move forward. A Japanese proverb 
     said, `Fall down seven times, stand up eight.' Signed, Mandy 
     Curley,'' the letter said.
       Eulogies were given for all three members of the helicopter 
     crew by friends and family. Eddy Sizemore was remembered 
     first.
       ``My definition of a hero is someone laying down their life 
     helping someone they don't know. All three of those men did. 
     I'm alive and able to stand on this stage today, because of 
     Eddy's experience as a helicopter pilot. Eddy saved my 
     life,'' said Officer Chuck Johnson of the Laurel County 
     Sheriff's Department.
       Johnson recalled riding with Sizemore as a spotter during a 
     marijuana search in 2005 when both worked together with the 
     sheriff's office. They were in the air when the chopper hit 
     guy wires, then plunged to earth, hit the ground and skidded 
     96 feet on the blacktop. Johnson said it was Sizemore's 
     skills, and cool in the hot seat, that brought the chopper 
     down safely.
       ``I believe that God has a plan of a mission of all of us 
     here on Earth. On that day, our mission wasn't finished. On 
     June 6th, Eddy's mission was complete, and he was called 
     home,'' he pointed out.
       There was another side to Sizemore. A lighter side that 
     permeated the workplace, and gave Johnson and his co-workers 
     a wealth of what he affectionately called ``Eddy Stories.''
       ``He loved to sit and laugh and loved to cut up with us. 
     Eddy loved to keep people entertained. He also liked to cheat 
     at playing Rook during our times we worked the night shift 
     years ago with the Sheriff's Office . . . Eddy always had our 
     back. All of us who worked with him will continue to mourn. 
     There was only one Eddy Sizemore,'' Johnson said.
       Kathy Guyn spoke next. She remembered when Jesse Jones was 
     in her nursing classes at the Pineville campus of Southeast 
     Community and Technical College.
       ``He was the type of student everyone liked. Fun-loving, 
     and had a good time. Jesse was very intelligent. He wanted to 
     be a nurse. He made his patients feel very important, and 
     that they were the most important person in the hospital. He 
     loved to hunt. On more than one occasion he would remind me 
     and the other teachers that it was the beginning of deer 
     season. And he loved his family, especially his grandparents. 
     When he graduated, he told me he wanted to be a flight nurse. 
     He was meant to be in the skies. If I needed a flight nurse, 
     I would want Jesse Jones, because I know he was the best,'' 
     she stated.
       Eliza Brooks started her nursing career with Jones at 
     Pineville Community Hospital. She also spoke on behalf of 
     Jesse's family.
       ``He had an eagerness to learn more. My husband also worked 
     at the hospital, and he and Jesse became friends . . . We 
     would serve lasagna for Jesse every deer season, and on 
     Christmas, our family had a camouflage stocking for Jesse. To 
     the family, we want to thank you for sharing Jesse with us. 
     He loved all of you. He lived life every day to the fullest. 
     He was always loving, kind and compassionate. He knew what to 
     do, and never looked back. The sky was not the limit for 
     Jesse,'' she said, holding back tears.
       Letch Day, of Air Methods Corporation, gave the first of 
     two eulogies for Lee Dobbs, the last of the crew of three 
     that Day called ``Our fallen heroes, our fallen brothers.''
       ``To know Lee was an honor. He was a strong-willed person. 
     EMS was his job. It was his life. It was his passion. The one 
     letter to describe Lee was `C' character, caring, compassion, 
     commitment, companion, and childhood hero. His character was 
     what propelled him to excellence. He loved and cared for his 
     family. And he cared for his family and others with 
     compassion and commitment. He was to others a companion, and 
     to his children, a childhood hero to them,'' he said.

[[Page 12977]]

       Day then looked at Dobbs's three sons and told them, ``Your 
     Dad. He is a hero. Don't ever forget that.''
       Lee's own father, Herman Dobbs, took the stage next. His 
     voice cracked as he began to weep, while talking about the 
     son he lost almost two weeks ago.
       ``Knowing Lee as my son, he would have said, Dad, did you 
     tell the Jones family, and the Sizemore family, I'm sorry for 
     their loss? They were my partners.' That's what he'd want me 
     to say. He was my son. We tried to bring him up that way. I'm 
     just so thankful the Lord gave me a son like that,'' Dobbs 
     said, his voice choked with emotion.
       In the place where the North Laurel High Jaguars held 
     court, there were three wreaths on the stage--one each for 
     the three fallen crew members. In the middle of each wreath 
     was a picture of each of them. On each side of the stage was 
     a large video screen, which showed pictures and moments of 
     the lives of Lee, Eddy and Jesse. The seats on the gym floor 
     were reserved for family members and Air Evac employees. When 
     the doors opened at 10 a.m. for the service, the seats 
     quickly filled, with other Air Evac crews and first 
     responders joining the general public on the home side of the 
     bleacher seats.
       Two Air Methods Corporation employees from Missouri--Ray 
     Haven and his wife, Veronica--sang the inspirational song ``I 
     Will Rise.'' Ray played acoustic guitar, while he and 
     Veronica sang the duet.
       Towards the end of the service, three recorded songs were 
     played over the speakers while the audience watched the 
     visual montage of the three men they called ``their family.''
       One was the song ``You Never Let Go,'' followed by ``Shine 
     Your Light,'' a tribute to first responders by Robbie 
     Robertson, a former member of The Band. The set ended with an 
     encore of ``You Never Let Go.''
       When that ended, Brian Jackson, the program director of Air 
     Evac 109 in Manchester, came to the stage, accompanied by 
     nine crew members. Some of the crew shared stories and 
     lighthearted moments about their work with Lee, Jesse and 
     Eddy.
       Several in the audience got some good laughs from the 
     stories, which a nearby person in the bleacher seats said 
     they needed.
       Jackson told the crews and first responders, ``Thank you 
     for your prayers and your support during this time. It really 
     means a lot. We agree. They were brothers to us. They would 
     want me to tell you, `Crawl back on that ambulance. Crawl 
     back on that truck. Crawl back on that airplane. Do what you 
     do best.'''
       When the Manchester crew finished their final thoughts, 
     they pinned the wings on the wreaths of Dobbs, Sizemore and 
     Jones.
       Letch Day returned, and presented a framed print in memory 
     of the three crewmen to the Air Evac 109 base in Manchester.
       ``We're asking them to be our `Guardian Angels' in memory 
     of the job they did so well,'' he said.
       Jackson and the base crew proudly accepted the print.
       Kentucky state flags were presented to the families of the 
     three crewmen by Mike Poynter, the state EMS director. Air 
     Evac Lifeteam flags were also given to the three families, as 
     were three fire helmets brought to them in memory of their 
     fathers, by the Manchester Fire Department.
       The tones were heard over the speakers, and the Last Call 
     was given by a dispatcher. When that ended, a piper played 
     ``Amazing Grace'' on the bagpipes as the color guard left the 
     gymnasium. And the service ended.
       Nearly everyone who attended went outside to wait for an 
     aircraft flyover. Six helicopters and one airplane hovered 
     overhead for the next five minutes, each one's pilot and crew 
     showing in their own way their own respect and honor for 
     their fallen comrades.
       For those up in the air, and on the ground, this past 
     Saturday was their time to remember.
       It's a good bet that many of them will forever remember 
     those final words when they heard the crew's last call inside 
     the gymnasium.
       ``November One-One-Nine Alpha Echo is out of service. God 
     speed and blue skies.''

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