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Public Forums => Wrightwood History => Topic started by: GRAHAM_RANCH on Jul 30, 07, 06:34:16 PM
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December 23, 1964 was a little on the brisk side as a large group of grim men prepared for the search in the desert area near Twenty-Nine Palms. Horse trailer ramps raised dust as they dropped to the desert floor, and horses snorted and stomped as they were backed out of trailers and saddled. With the last hoof checked and cleaned with a hoof pick, the last rifle shoved into it's saddle boot and the last loaded revolver holstered and secured with the tie-down, the group was ready to go. Of in the distance, trucks and jeeps were started by those not wanting to ride, and suddenly a deputy was passing out information on the operation. Some of the riders stuffed the fliers in their shirt pockets, right behind the bag of Beechnut chewin' tobacco, while others waved off the invitation of the flyer...they're already memorized the particulars of the operation. There was a jailbreak, the hunt was on for the mythical criminal who had escaped from Glen Helen. He kidnapped his girlfriend, later murdered her and then escaped into the local mountains. Shots were already fired at one posse. As the group gathered for one last set of instructions, some looked regrettably as the fresh cup of hot coffee in their hands and tossed it aside. Others locked up their vehicles...there was no telling how long that they would be gone. Then they set off, on horseback and by vehicles, into the sharp desert rocks as the sun rose above the horizon. The "manhunt" had begun. The men caught up with the murderer after a day and a night in the chilly desert. The incident came to a climax...or a close, with his hanging! Reading the suspect his Miranda Rights and having a brief desert trial first, of course. The group was called the Rangers and within hours they were loaded up and heading home. They just finished their latest training scenario.
It was Nov 8, 1964, when Captain Leon Ellis, Commander of Victorville Substation of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department swore in the first members of the Wrightwood Rangers. On the day of the first swearing in were Wrightwood residents Julian Odom, Julian White, Chuck Webb, Chuck Lovers, Joe Templeton and William "Bill" Smith.
The Wrightwood Rangers became a unit of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Reserve and were a search and rescue team. Assigned to train them and assist them in their duties were area Inspector Floyd Tidwell (who later became sheriff), Captain Leon Ellis of the Victorville Substation, Commander Wally Watkins of the Sheriff's Reserves and then Wrightwood resident deputy Clennie Banks. Trained and experienced, these rangers joined the ranks of other such groups in Big bear, Apply Valley, Twenty-nine Palms, Victorville, Needles and Yucca Valley. Each group had their own unique functions, which included Underwater Teams, Aero Squad, Horse posse and Mountain Search and Rescue. Wrightwood Rangers and Big bear were the search and rescue. In 1958 Sheriff Frank Bland initiated the organization. The Wrightwood Rangers were the fifteenth to join the force. Like the other countywide units, Wrightwood Rangers were considered reservists and they all furnished their own gear, vehicles, uniforms and horses.
Like other Sheriff Reservists, they were on their way. After their swearing in, their next meeting place was very ironic....in the donut shop at Mary's Bakery. After talking to two old members of the Wrightwood Rangers, this author realized the importance of such a group, no matter the donut shop humor. Over the years their assignments covered several rescues in the rough San Gabriel Mountain area, which included locating and assisting missing and inured horsemen, hikers and skiers. They dealt with the seriousness of airplane crashes, accidental gunshot victims, and the unfortunate recovery of the dead. At times they made a personal assistance to the community itself in a way of hosting BBQ's, flood control work and helping clean up the old Community Building. Their area covered Upper and Lower Swarthout, Blue Ridge, Mount Baldy, Prairie Fork, Mt Baden Powell and Cajon Pass. Sometimes they mobilized and joined other such units in San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County.
On July 31, 1965, WW Rangers assist San Bernardino County Sheriff's when a hiker discovered the remains of a small airplane crash two miles south of Big Pines Ranger Station on Hwy 2, and 2000 feet northwest of Inspiration Point. The downed aircraft turned out to be a private plane that had been reported missing since December 31, 1964. The crew were airmen. After the arrival of the U.S. Air Force, the remains of pilot A/2C Allen L. Jaeger, and passenger M/Sgt. Gerald W. Henderson, were removed and taken away for proper burial.
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The Wrightwood Rangers included Chuck Lovers, Dick Troeger, Tom Carter, Bob Gates, Johnnie Johnson, Bryan Paulus and many others. Their scarce equipment included a 1945 Army Willie's jeep that sometimes worked, tow mules supplied by Dick Troeger named Becky and Julie, and some privately owned Citizen Band radios. The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department would not issued them radios, so for the sake of safety and communication, the Rangers started using the CB radio. Some of the radios did not last long, for Floyd Tidwell, who was then an inspector, did not like them much. Every time that he saw the team with one, he would smash the radio with a hammer. Perhaps he thought that the department could not monitor the Ranger's radio traffic. The team could not communicate with the sheriff department even if they wanted to, for they did not have a department radio until a couple years after they were formed. It was in January 1966 when Commander Big John Mc'Bribe, Dave Dobbs and Jack Perrin took over the Ranger's supervision after Sgt. Wally Watkins resigned. Finally, the Wrightwood Ranger's got the taste of new equipment in the form of two handheld radios and a hefty check for $50. Boy, was the team excited! Despite their lack of resources, the Wrightwood Ranger always met the tasks set before them, and the team was at its peak through the sixties.
According to the old Ranger's that the author talked to, things starting turning for the Wrightwood rangers. Many of the old "work horses" left for other things and they were replaced by some that were not physically healthy to meet the demands of their responsibilities. Some others became rangers because their buddy was on the team...and it became more like a club than an effective unit. The deputies that provided such valuable support for the Wrightwood Rangers in the past had transferred out to other assignments, and the one's that filled their spots were less than enthusiastic. Somewhere in the middle 1970's, the Wrightwood Ranger's faded out. The Victorville Rangers have a website that keeps updates on the other Ranger teams that still exist in San Bernardino County. Each team has their own link to the latest updates. Surprisingly, Wrightwood Ranger's have its own link, too (http://www.wpsar.org/). Their link leads to a website for Food receipts....ironic in a way, seeing that their first meeting place was at a bakery.
As a retired deputy, the author knows full well the valuable asset that Law Enforcement Reservists are, in every function that they fill. Without them nothing much gets done. The Wrightwood Rangers were started 43 years ago. We still thank them for their service...one and all.
**********This little note in history does not cover the complete story of the Wrightwoood Rangers. The author would like to hear from old Wrightwood Rangers that have memories of their activities while they were in. That way the historical society can provide a complete look at the people and the details of the Ranger's activities. Respectfully, TG
from The History of Big Pines "Bits N Pieces
Terry Graham, WW
Resources:
Wrightwood Mountaineer, Nov., 1964
Wrightwood Mountaineer, 1966
Interview with ex-rangers C. L and D. T.
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Both Chuck Lovers and Tom Carter were at the time of their enlistment as Rangers members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, both stationed at Engine 79s (Watershed Station in Valyermo).
The Rangers (according to your story) did a lot of their searching in the LACo (Lancaster) jurisdiction, and sometimes without notification. That is not the most important thing when lives are being saved, but it is worth mentioning.
Clennie Banks was an Indian, and a very good deputy sheriff. He was immediately after Ray or the second one after Ray. He was a good guy. He also took advantage of my good nature and worked my butt off from time to time (I loved going on some of those calls SBDCo got.
As you know, Floyd Tidwell later became sheriff of SBDCo. Frank Bland was from Needles, CA, and a good sheriff. He is the one who deputized me so that I could work SBDCo. I asked him when the commission would expire, and he said "Never, during his administration."
Both Julian Odom and Dick Troeger were great guys - I don't remember White. If Chuck Lovers could put up with them, that meant that they tended to business rather than playing games, so the "donut shop" thing was only because Wally "Wigwam" Watkins was married to Mary, the best pie baker in the U.S. of A.
Good Job on the story!
Chief Jack Graham, LASO, Ret.