First Wave Of LA County Rescue Squad Returns From Nepal To Hugs, Kisses, Tears
PACOIMA (CBSLA.com) — The first wave of first responders with LA County's elite Search and Rescue Team began arriving back in the Southland Friday.
Not surprisingly, the members were greeted with a heroes welcome amid the many hugs, tears and kisses.
They went to Nepal three weeks ago on a moment's notice to help with search, rescue and recovery efforts. It is grueling work, mentally and physically.
CBS2's Dave Lopez was at team headquarters in Pacoima when the first wave came home. Eight members of the 57-member team came home Friday afternoon, 10 more this evening and the rest will arrive Saturday.
"I thought she was home [waiting for me,]" said one man, "Our plan was, I was going to meet her there. So, it's a nice surprise to see her here."
Among the group that came back Friday was Atilla Oner.
Lopez asked him if there were any people he tried to save but couldn't.
"No," he said. "We didn't have any casualties under our care."
For many of the rescue crew, it was their first time being away from home for any extended period.
Lopez asked them if it was harder to be away from home or harder to deal with some of the things they saw.
"It was tougher being away, toughing being away," said one man. "I mean, I have a great little family, being away from them, and being there and seeing what the people are going through, really makes you miss home."
CBS2's Peter Daut was in Pacoima when the second round of rescuers came home.
They, too, were greeted with a similar hero's welcome.
Firefighter and rescue team member Sara Rathbun spoke for many when she said she was grateful to be home.
"There aren't many mopeds here, traffic moves a lot faster, and we're now driving on the right side of the road again, so all those things and a good meal are what I'm looking forward to," said Rathbun, one of two women on the team.
Gerald Gonzales was part of the group that rescued a teenage boy who had been trapped under rubble for several days.
"It was pretty incredible. It was something I've never experienced before in my life," Gonzales said.
Earlier this week, he saved another woman buried under rubble in a building that collapses after an aftershock.
His children got emotional when they saw him for the first time in 21 days.
"It's okay," he said, "that they're emotional."