This blog is in memory of my Dad. I would love for you to share your memories of him here for all to enjoy. There are too many to count. Thank you for sharing...
The last time I saw Roger was Thursday night at our home just before he left on Friday morning to go pick up the helicopter in Idaho. Such a normal thing for him, we just got so used to him always coming back. He and I were sitting in the kitchen as I got dressed for work and talked about his new gun and "crazy laws" as he called them. Roger truely was one of a kind. I knew from the first time I met him (which was while hiding in Holly's apartment in College - long story) that he was Holly's first true love. I realized early on that he was my "competition". Roger loved life and took it all in. He packed a normal man's 10 lives into his 66 years. My children adored him and my wife now has a hole in her heart that will never fully heal.
It was a true joy knowing him and getting to share in what he often told me was the very best thing in his life, his daughter Holly.
Thanks Roger... I know you'll continue to fly high and watch over my children and your daughter. Till we meet again...
Roger was such a likeable man. You could know him and not like him. He was the kind of man you wanted to just sit and listen to. He had so many stories and life experiences. I am sooo sad but I take comfort in knowing he was doing what he loved when he passed. If all of us could be so lucky. He will be greatly missed. He was truly a special person who touched alot of peoples lives and made us each better because we knew him.
The last time I talked to Roger, we were discussing plans for him to visit us in MS. He could not believe that we had moved to this small town that he just happened to occasionally fly into while working. We laughed and joked, an effortless conversation as usual. He was always so easy to talk with, gave amazing fatherly advice (only when asked for, of course) and never passed judgement. We hung up the phone and I held on to the hope that I might get to see him in the Spring... I was so young when he first came into my life. When I was a child, I remember asking him what it was like to be in a helicopter, and he simply responded with an enthusiastic, "unforgettable!". When I was in elementary school he took us for a ride in his helicopter and I saw the world (our small town felt like the world anyway) through his eyes. All these years later, he and I would still joke about just how right he was! We don't have a lot of control over life sometimes and as we struggle to accept that, I am thankful for the twists and turns that kept him in my life. So long ago during a confusing time, as he gave me one of his bear hugs, he explained that for all intents and purposes we were family, and being my Uncle was his honor. He seemed to always have an answer for everything. Although blood never connected me to Roger, it didn't matter to us. We shared memories and laughter and tears and love...as he did with so many others. The happiest I ever remember seeing him, was at his 60th birthday party, surrounded by family and friends. At the end of the day, he sat down under a tree and all of the kids, including my son, piled on top of him. Children were just drawn to him. As he sat there with the biggest grin, all the kids in his lap, he laughed and said, "Life is great!" Again, I knew he was right, and I rushed to take a picture so that I would never forget.. Saying he was a great man doesn't even begin to sum this up for me. Who I am today was greatly affected by who he was and the positive influence he had in my life.
Even though the last time I saw Roger was probably 10+ years ago, he has always been someone that I was proud to have known. I remember as a young girl playing with Holly in the airplane hangar at the Quillayute hangar and always asking my parents if we could go back! I thought that place was so cool!!! But even as I got older and Roger popped in and out I always felt a connection with him and knew that he was a great friend to both my parents and myself. I wish my kids could have met him, that was the kind of man he was. I know that I will always remember him as Holly's dad, a man with a great smile, a helicopter pilot, and an angel in the sky....love you Roger....and my love to you Holly and family from ours....Chrysty
I was very young the 1st time I seen Roger at the Quillayute hangar & I remember being so thrilled because he was a helicopter pilot. That's what I wanted to be when I grew up & it fasinated me. I'm thankful for the few memories that I have of him because they have never left my heart. My prayers & thoughts are with you Holly - you have a one of a kind dad he'll FOREVER be missed! Take Care! Love & Friendship:) Jessi
Roger was one of those people that you looked at across the room and felt love. His face lit up with his smile and his eyes twinkled like I imagine Jesus' would. He was a man who exuded peace and love. He clearly adored Holly and his grandchildren. Although he was not always available, or predictable, his love was unquestionable for his little girl. I only knew Roger through Holly's eyes, but I feel like I really knew him from the many stories she's shared. Holly was proud of her dad, and it's clear now why. Roger lived his life dangerously, for the purpose of saving others.
I feel honored to have met Roger and known him through the eyes of my dear friend. I look forward to many more stories and memories. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this time of loss.
Roger has been part of the Kimball's lives since before I was old enough to remember. I was 3 or 4 when Holly used to come play at my house in Forks while our parents visited. Just last weekend Holly reminded me how she loved playing on our swing set & for some reason we watched 'The Elephant Man' during one visit. I too remember the Quillayute hanger, especially the smell of jet fuel. My dad would let us bring our roller skates & bikes to play there. The last time I saw Roger was just before Christmas 2006. Kristen & I met Holly & Abby for lunch @ the Food Co-op in Mt.Vernon and Roger was in town for a couple days. It is like no time passes between visits with Roger. Somehow he has a way to make you feel you are the most important, interesting person on earth. His smile is like no other: his cheeks pressing upward, bringing together the tan lined wrinkles around the corners of his sparkling eyes. He always seems to have tan, bronzed skin of recent travel to far away states that have something in the sky called sunshine. He has the softest, most comforting voice with neverending love to give. I am having a very hard time thinking or writing in 'past tense' right now. Our world won't be the same knowing he's not physically in it anymore. I love my life long friend Holly, and know you will continue to help me remember the times I was lucky to have spent close to your dad Roger. May the memories live on.
I’ve just returned to Idaho after attending the celebration for Roger. It was really wonderful to hear all the stories about Roger, especially since it was so easy to relate to so many of them. Even the ones from Roger’s childhood. There wasn’t a person in that room who couldn’t picture Roger sitting atop the clothesline post at 3 years old, or swinging on top of the evergreen tree. What’s more funny is that I picture the Roger as I knew him today, a 66 year old man doing these things, not a small child or young boy. That is because Roger was so young at heart. I know that most of us could relate to “Roger time”, and I’d be willing to bet that a good number of us, at times, felt impeded by it. I know it was a common frustration amongst the helitack crew, but most times, if not every time, it didn’t make one bit of difference. I strongly believe that Roger knew this and that in time, he figured that we would all come to realize that there is no need to rush everything. I think he was just that much ahead of us all. I am glad that I had the opportunity to fly with Roger as many times as I was able to in the last few years at the Musselshell. He is one of the very few pilots, from a list of many that I've flown with, that I’ve felt 100% comfortable with. Roger was a very skilled pilot and a man of many talents. It’s been a privilege to have been a part of his life and I am very sad to see him go.
What can I say about Roger Guy? He was my BIG brother, my best friend, my hero, my teacher, my first love (next to my Dad)and the one person who loved me unconditionally all my life. I always learned from him. I listened to so many people at the service for him about how he had effected their lives, but they didn't know him like my sister and I did. He was the terror that scared us every night at the top of the stairs and the big kid playing outside with all the kids in the "hood". We played Hide-n-seek, kick the can and Ollie-Ollie oxen free over the neighbor's garage. Rog was always there, playing like he was just a little kid still. Roger taught me to play piano, ride a bike, mow the yard, hide from Mom, milk a cow, play trombone and make the best igloo and snowball. He was an imp with my MOM and her "pet". He was seven years older and the best thing I remember was how we would go for a ride in his car in the summer on those days that he worked nights in Galion. We would drive somewhere and I would ask him if he knew where we were and he always said, "Sure, I know. Trust me." Several minutes later he would come to an intersection or stop sign and say, "I know where we are now." We had pancake eating contest almost every morning and he usually won. He was the one who told me that the bug my cat just ate was not going to kill him.
Throughout my life he has always been there when I needed him to protect me or guide me. I only remember one time that he came to me for my guidance and that a very difficult time for him. I hope that my words helped him then. The thing that impressed me most was that he listened.
We all know how he told his stories and his love of "weird", but he was also the most conservative person I have ever known. He was a spitting image of my Grandfather and he shared Gramps middle name. I think that Gramps was the reason that he was so accepting of everyone, especially those folks with some type of disability, as Gramps had only one hand. Roger learned that he could do anything he wanted to by watching Gramps do anything anyone with two hands could do.
Roger and I loved music, especially Ray Charles and James Taylor. He went off to college and left me his room, but only until he came home. I was allowed to play his records, but only if I put them back where he had them.
My sister and I are now the only ones left and we will always miss our "Big Brother", but he lives within us and as I've read your blogs, I know he will live in all of those that knew and loved him.
I appreciate so much the people who came to the celebration of his life and those who have contacted me, even though they could not come to the service. Someone told me that "Of course we had to come, he would have been there for us." That was my brother...if he loved you, he would go out of his way for you and if you didn't like him, he didn't waste time on you, because he didn't want to take the time away from those he loved. Time was so precious to him and he never wanted to leave you, but he had to go.
The one thing that my brother never taught me was how to drive. Thank you God. He was the best helo pilot I've ever known (even if he could not resist scaring me sometimes), but he was the worse driver I've ever riden with.
Love to all and especially to Holly, Terry and the precious babies, Abby and Roger Jack, that he loved so much. My love also to Holly Bliss Hershner and her great kids and the "twins", who will never know their Gramps like the rest of us did, but I'm sure that they will hear stories about him all their lives
Thank you for your comments and please let Roger stay with you as you go through your life.
Roger Hershner was many things to many people. To FSR crew #10, their families and the Olympic National Forest he was a hero! Roger Hershner was a grand story teller. This is a story about him. “All in a day’s work” Chimney Fire-1981 There are some things that firefighters never forget, the smell of wood smoke, the sound a crown fire makes, or the distinctive sound a Hughes 500 helicopter makes. Another thing that is never forgotten is the long lasting friendships and a sense of “family” that is forged sharing those kinds of experiences together. 28 years ago, not too far from Sequim, Roger unselfishly put himself in harm’s way to save the lives of 15 of my friends and coworkers. He would humbly tell you it was “all in a day’s work”. Over the last week I’ve talked to several members of that crew and there is not a doubt in any mind that he saved their lives and they asked that I share this story. That particular day, September 17, 1981, will not be forgotten by any of us and Rogers’s family and his grandkids will want to know what a wonderful legacy he has left for that fire crew and their families. The summer of 1981 was a busy one for FSR crew # 10, they responded to several project fires in Oregon and Washington. The crew was a tight knit, well organized crew and when they weren’t on fires they were involved with prescribed burning on the Shelton Ranger District. Roger was the pilot for the Forest helicopter and knew the Peninsula like few others. His calm demeanor and easy smile made him a hit with his helitak crew, all the firefighters and their supervisors. His skill and ability with a water bucket or slingload was incredibly accurate. The Chimney fire was a lightning caused fire located near Chimney Peak above the Enchanted Valley in the Olympic National Park. The fire started in early August and was discovered by our aerial detection fixed wing flight. I talked to the lady that found the fire and she remembers thinking that if Roger and the helitak crew had been dispatched when the fire was first discovered it would have been out in short order. The fire smoked and smoldered for several weeks. Fighting fire on the Olympics is like no other place. Steep slopes, combined with heavy fuel loading and dense canopies make for explosive fire behavior when conditions are right. A crown fire in the Olympics is a rare event. The Chimney fire was one of those rare events. The crew loaded in a 20-person bus and left Shelton that September morning at 330 AM arriving at Hurricane ridge at 730 AM. The smoke from the fire was visible but not out of the ordinary. We had several “rookies” with us and the crew organized so that they could be on the first flights in. At 9 AM Roger arrived and started ferrying firefighters in 3 at a time, with a 40 minute turn around. I was with the last load of firefighters at around noon, on a medium helicopter that had come over from Wenatchee. I was in back of the helicopter when the helitak foreman shouted back that the helicopter couldn’t land, the helispot had been burnt over! We returned to Hurricane Ridge. The next three hours we could only watch the developing smoke column from a distance. Hearing nothing on the radio I feared the worse for our crew. The following is an excerpt from crew boss Gary Larson’s report of those next three hours. “”After the fire overran the helispot I instructed the saw team squad, (Laney and Fitzpatrick), to clear out/dump snags in a small burned over area for a retreat area. Fire did not calm down after making run uphill below the helispot as expected.”(Several of the firefighters recall 300 foot flames and an unbelievable noise as the crown fire raced uphill.) “”Winds were erratic from all directions. Fire was hooking and spotting towards our position. Fire boss called and said he had an escape route to the South of us, uphill and over the ridge. He said he would wait for us on the fireline. Crew abandoned tools and raced south along the fireline. Spotting was occurring below us and intense fire ahead of us. I had doubts about escape route and called the fire boss to reconfirm. He said we could still make it. We came over a small ridge and discovered a finger of fire cutting us off from escape route. I called fire boss and crew retreated swiftly back to the burned over area. Fire was becoming intense below us along our retreat line. I requested a load of retardant along our escape route. Finally we reached the small burned over area. Retardant arrived timely and slowed fire progress. Fire boss suggested we still try to make it over the ridge. Other side was rocky cliffs and spot fires. Squad boss Casey unable to safely scout route as it was too smoky and snags were falling. I heard helicopter N77DJ on the radio on recon and requested his assistance.”” Roger was the pilot of that helicopter and knew immediately that the crew was in trouble and needed his help. He flew through intense heat, blinding smoke and erratic winds to try to locate the crew without a second thought for his own safety. Flying higher and higher, and being guided by the crew boss's directions, he finally located them high up on the hillside. He guided the crew downhill to a small clearing. He took command and organized an evacuation of the crew using the Bell 212 helicopter, and a stripped down Hughes 500 that was from the Forks area flying cedar shake bolts. (Two of the firefighters remember running down to the clearing and jumping in to a helicopter with no doors or seats and then holding on for dear life.) How Roger was able to take control of the situation, fly the helicopter and order other helicopters to help, all at the same time, was unbelievable. The crew was evacuated to a safe area and I was never so relieved to see them when the rest of my squad was united with the crew later that afternoon. Hugs all around! We spent the night spiked out in a meadow, well away from the fire, not able to sleep, talking about what we all had been through. The next day we were flown back to Hurricane Ridge, drove to Port Angeles and the crew spent the evening with Roger, “debriefing”. I don’t think Roger flew for us the next year, but I know the story was told and retold many times. I stayed in touch with Roger these many years and saw him occasionally. He always took little credit for what he had done that day. Throughout the entire situation Roger was the calm in the eye of a storm. He truly is a hero in all are hearts and will be remembered forever. Thanks for letting me share this story.
FSR Crew #10 of the Olympic National Forest Gary Larson- Crew Boss Don Casey- Squad Boss Dave Laney-Saw team Tom Fitzpatrick-Saw team Joe Bentley R. Bunch Sue Ramsauer R. McDonald T. Coppolino W. Schroeder Ken VanBuskirk- Squad Boss Rick Saney Maxwell Pat Grover Kitty Dorling L. Williams Dave Watterson Lance Bailey T Junso Tom Hoke
Roger Hershner worked the last 5 fire seasons for Hillcrest Aircraft Company, which had the fire contracts on the Clearwater/Nez Perce Fire Zone in north/central Idaho. I flew with Roger many times in all kinds of situations the past 5 years. I often took him for granted, and am just now realizing how much I will miss having him as our pilot. Not only were his flying skills extraordinary, he was highly trusted by all of our passengers. His bucket drops saved the day many times. He never missed. He made flying loads on a 150 ft. longline look easy, and I know its not. I will miss his stories and presence at Musselshell forever. He was such a good guy, I remember him helping out one of the crewmembers with maintenance of their vehicle. She needed a headlight bulb changed, and within half hour Roger had taken off the grille, installed the bulb, and had it all back together for her. She described Roger as being like the Grandfather she never had. I remember sitting around the campfire after a crew barbeque one night looking up at the stars. Roger taught us all a bunch of constellations, and showed us how to find the Andromeda Galaxy, the farthest object visible to the human eye. We all got a great astronomy lesson that night, and stayed up well past midnight looking, learning, tipping back a few beers. I will always remember Roger when I look at the night sky, for the rest of my life.
Today is the first day in almost two weeks, I haven't cried. However, I still feel the pain and emptiness I have in my heart from such a significant loss in my life much too early. I wasn't prepared for this. Although I have lived all of my life with this fear, I had become comfortable. My Dad was the best pilot I knew, of course, and he could do anything. Wasn't he invincible? I still believed it. He was an amazing man and a very loving father. He was probably the most loving father I'd ever met...truly. Sometimes I would get annoyed at how loving and affectionate he was. He gave me the best bear hugs and always made sure he told me he loved me. He would give me compliments often about the type of woman I'd become, the mother I was and how proud he was of what I had grown to be. I knew he loved me. He made it known. There were many times I had gone not seeing my Dad for months due to his job. However, he always called to check in or surprise me when I was least expecting it by just showing up! He loved doing that. My Dad was very intertwined in my life. My children adored their Papa Roger. Abbie and him were very close. My Dad would help her with her homework, teach her about the stars (as he did me) and spend time getting to know her. RJ would greet his Papa with a running hug when he came through the door and always notice if Papa looked different ..."Papa, where are your whiskers?" I feel right now that I am in desperate need to hold onto memories of him. I need to teach my children about the type of man he was and always will be in my heart. I don't know how to feel or act in this time of deep grief. All I've been told is I have to breath through it. So, that is what I am doing now. It'll get easier to live through but the feeling of emptiness where my Dad should be in my life will always be...Please help to preserve these great memories of my dad and spread the word about this blog. It had been a long time since I had been on a job with him and I know he knew many people. He loved work at Musselshell and I wished I could've been there with him. Thank you to those who have posted already...I'm sure we can keep this blog going for a long time with so many memories...
I know that the loss of Roger won't hit me for a while, but every time that I hear or see a helicopter, a strange cloud formation, a bright star, or a ponytail I think about him. I loved Roger, he was a great influence in my life and gave me the greatest gift in life... Love, of a family and a friend.
I am so thankful for his daughter Holly and her family. She is a living extension of her great dad. I am blessed to have such a caring and giving family.
Thank you to everyone who shared stories, memories and their love for Roger.
I will hold him close to my heart and remember him always.
Roger and I were very close in the '80's. Okay, let's be specific...he was my boyfriend. We both worked at UNM Hospital. We had some spectacular times together. I remember Holly as a little preteen, and her visits to NM were always cause for added fun and adventure...star gazing at Chaco Canyon, riding back roads up near Taos, exploring rock formations... He took my brother up for his first helicopter ride when they both came for my law school graduation in 1992, after I'd moved to Oregon. It was funny to see my brother so nervous...we had a great laugh over it. He flew me out to the Grand Canyon [got some great pictures of that trip]; and a couple times I almost lost my stomach when he flew out over the edge of a mountain or descended too rapidly for my neophyte taste. He was a a true adventurer. He supported my academic achievements, went camping with me and my cultural resources law school class on a local reservation, and of course everybody who met him on that trip and others loved him from the get go. Even when we moved past boyfriend/girlfriend, he was a true and dependable friend. Kristen C [Lael]
Roger was my inspiration an set a standard for helicopter pilots unsurpassed in the years since i worked with him on a Helitack crew for CDF (CAL FIRE) in 91. I some how clearly rememeber flying with him on two of those links you posted above; that trip to Cone peak lookout for CDF and the highway 68 fire near Carmel. Roger joined us out at Bitterwater (Now Bear Valley) Helitack to replace Jim Chandler who survived a crash while dusting almonds during the prior "off season" but with severe brain injury. Roger was the first pilot CDF hired who had aquired enough flight hours without having to ever fly combat missions during the viet nam war. I remember him taking me up in a Hughs 500 T just before we parted ways. He allowed me to fly the ship for a few minutes to demonstrate that "the hughs 500 compared to the UH 1-f we were using was like the difference between driving a Ferrari and driving an old school bus hahaha i also remember the Mexican prison escape which i always thought just listening to him tell the story was far better than the movie they made about it! The last time i wotked with Roger was right after the Oakland Hills fire and i remember him asking if i'd like to join him on a mission to fly to washington state to harvest "another huge Christmas tree for the white House" i declined as i had already made plans to visit Hawaii where my Fire service continued until 2009. I remember several cliffside and High surf rescues i truly wished i had Roger flying. Roger was a lovable amazing friend All in Love, Thanks -Brian Sullivan
Well, today it has officially been three years since I lost my Dad. Although the pain of losing him has not lessened, the way I deal with that pain is different now. I enjoy sharing memories with my children, loved ones and friends. Tonight at bedtime, my kids and I were sharing our fondest memories of Papa Roger. Abbie remembers playing "Santa" with him and how she would go get a toy and bring it to him to inspect, as she was his little elf. He grew his long-white beard out during the holidays for the kids to enjoy. RJ remembers him playing with him while he was in the bathtub. Such precious memories I didn't even know they had or even experienced!
My Dad was a beautiful soul. He touched many people with his loving, kind spirit. He would do anything to help out a family member or friend. This week I got a wonderful message from a long lost friend of mine. She wrote to tell me that her grandfather I had met 12 or 13 years ago had still asked about me every so often. He told her that I had a beautiful soul and that when you meet someone like that they leave a lasting impression...well, it made me think of my Dad. Both of my parents raised me to be kind and caring to everyone. That is how they both are. My Dad exemplified that through his ability to make friends with just about anyone who walked this planet. He made a lasting impression on many and I am happy to follow in those footsteps.
I miss my Dad terribly. However, I am blessed with many memories, photos, and little "gifts" I receive just when I need them the most. Over the past three years, it seems that when I have needed my Dad the most, one of his long time friends calls me or finds me on facebook. I am so blessed by these moments. They mean so much to me. I know he has a hand in them and that makes them even more special. Thank you to those who take the time to write down your thoughts and memories. I hope to find more of his friends and hear about the lasting impressions he made on them. To all with Love and kindness and great big bear hugs, Holly
The last time I saw Roger was Thursday night at our home just before he left on Friday morning to go pick up the helicopter in Idaho. Such a normal thing for him, we just got so used to him always coming back. He and I were sitting in the kitchen as I got dressed for work and talked about his new gun and "crazy laws" as he called them. Roger truely was one of a kind. I knew from the first time I met him (which was while hiding in Holly's apartment in College - long story) that he was Holly's first true love. I realized early on that he was my "competition". Roger loved life and took it all in. He packed a normal man's 10 lives into his 66 years. My children adored him and my wife now has a hole in her heart that will never fully heal.
ReplyDeleteIt was a true joy knowing him and getting to share in what he often told me was the very best thing in his life, his daughter Holly.
Thanks Roger... I know you'll continue to fly high and watch over my children and your daughter. Till we meet again...
Your son-in-law
Terry
Roger was such a likeable man. You could know him and not like him. He was the kind of man you wanted to just sit and listen to. He had so many stories and life experiences. I am sooo sad but I take comfort in knowing he was doing what he loved when he passed. If all of us could be so lucky. He will be greatly missed. He was truly a special person who touched alot of peoples lives and made us each better because we knew him.
ReplyDeleteVanessa
The last time I talked to Roger, we were discussing plans for him to visit us in MS. He could not believe that we had moved to this small town that he just happened to occasionally fly into while working. We laughed and joked, an effortless conversation as usual. He was always so easy to talk with, gave amazing fatherly advice (only when asked for, of course) and never passed judgement. We hung up the phone and I held on to the hope that I might get to see him in the Spring...
ReplyDeleteI was so young when he first came into my life. When I was a child, I remember asking him what it was like to be in a helicopter, and he simply responded with an enthusiastic, "unforgettable!". When I was in elementary school he took us for a ride in his helicopter and I saw the world (our small town felt like the world anyway) through his eyes. All these years later, he and I would still joke about just how right he was!
We don't have a lot of control over life sometimes and as we struggle to accept that, I am thankful for the twists and turns that kept him in my life. So long ago during a confusing time, as he gave me one of his bear hugs, he explained that for all intents and purposes we were family, and being my Uncle was his honor. He seemed to always have an answer for everything. Although blood never connected me to Roger, it didn't matter to us. We shared memories and laughter and tears and love...as he did with so many others.
The happiest I ever remember seeing him, was at his 60th birthday party, surrounded by family and friends. At the end of the day, he sat down under a tree and all of the kids, including my son, piled on top of him. Children were just drawn to him. As he sat there with the biggest grin, all the kids in his lap, he laughed and said, "Life is great!" Again, I knew he was right, and I rushed to take a picture so that I would never forget..
Saying he was a great man doesn't even begin to sum this up for me. Who I am today was greatly affected by who he was and the positive influence he had in my life.
I love you Uncle Roger!
Heather
P.S. I love you, too, Girls!!
Even though the last time I saw Roger was probably 10+ years ago, he has always been someone that I was proud to have known. I remember as a young girl playing with Holly in the airplane hangar at the Quillayute hangar and always asking my parents if we could go back! I thought that place was so cool!!! But even as I got older and Roger popped in and out I always felt a connection with him and knew that he was a great friend to both my parents and myself. I wish my kids could have met him, that was the kind of man he was. I know that I will always remember him as Holly's dad, a man with a great smile, a helicopter pilot, and an angel in the sky....love you Roger....and my love to you Holly and family from ours....Chrysty
ReplyDeleteI was very young the 1st time I seen Roger at the Quillayute hangar & I remember being so thrilled because he was a helicopter pilot. That's what I wanted to be when I grew up & it fasinated me. I'm thankful for the few memories that I have of him because they have never left my heart. My prayers & thoughts are with you Holly - you have a one of a kind dad he'll FOREVER be missed!
ReplyDeleteTake Care!
Love & Friendship:) Jessi
Roger was one of those people that you looked at across the room and felt love. His face lit up with his smile and his eyes twinkled like I imagine Jesus' would. He was a man who exuded peace and love. He clearly adored Holly and his grandchildren. Although he was not always available, or predictable, his love was unquestionable for his little girl. I only knew Roger through Holly's eyes, but I feel like I really knew him from the many stories she's shared. Holly was proud of her dad, and it's clear now why. Roger lived his life dangerously, for the purpose of saving others.
ReplyDeleteI feel honored to have met Roger and known him through the eyes of my dear friend. I look forward to many more stories and memories. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this time of loss.
Much love, Anne
Roger has been part of the Kimball's lives since before I was old enough to remember. I was 3 or 4 when Holly used to come play at my house in Forks while our parents visited. Just last weekend Holly reminded me how she loved playing on our swing set & for some reason we watched 'The Elephant Man' during one visit. I too remember the Quillayute hanger, especially the smell of jet fuel. My dad would let us bring our roller skates & bikes to play there. The last time I saw Roger was just before Christmas 2006. Kristen & I met Holly & Abby for lunch @ the Food Co-op in Mt.Vernon and Roger was in town for a couple days. It is like no time passes between visits with Roger. Somehow he has a way to make you feel you are the most important, interesting person on earth. His smile is like no other: his cheeks pressing upward, bringing together the tan lined wrinkles around the corners of his sparkling eyes. He always seems to have tan, bronzed skin of recent travel to far away states that have something in the sky called sunshine. He has the softest, most comforting voice with neverending love to give. I am having a very hard time thinking or writing in 'past tense' right now. Our world won't be the same knowing he's not physically in it anymore. I love my life long friend Holly, and know you will continue to help me remember the times I was lucky to have spent close to your dad Roger. May the memories live on.
ReplyDeleteI’ve just returned to Idaho after attending the celebration for Roger. It was really wonderful to hear all the stories about Roger, especially since it was so easy to relate to so many of them. Even the ones from Roger’s childhood. There wasn’t a person in that room who couldn’t picture Roger sitting atop the clothesline post at 3 years old, or swinging on top of the evergreen tree. What’s more funny is that I picture the Roger as I knew him today, a 66 year old man doing these things, not a small child or young boy. That is because Roger was so young at heart.
ReplyDeleteI know that most of us could relate to “Roger time”, and I’d be willing to bet that a good number of us, at times, felt impeded by it. I know it was a common frustration amongst the helitack crew, but most times, if not every time, it didn’t make one bit of difference. I strongly believe that Roger knew this and that in time, he figured that we would all come to realize that there is no need to rush everything. I think he was just that much ahead of us all.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to fly with Roger as many times as I was able to in the last few years at the Musselshell. He is one of the very few pilots, from a list of many that I've flown with, that I’ve felt 100% comfortable with. Roger was a very skilled pilot and a man of many talents. It’s been a privilege to have been a part of his life and I am very sad to see him go.
More later…..
Doug Colaprete
Assistant Helitack Foreman
Musselshell Helitack
What can I say about Roger Guy? He was my BIG brother, my best friend, my hero, my teacher, my first love (next to my Dad)and the one person who loved me unconditionally all my life. I always learned from him. I listened to so many people at the service for him about how he had effected their lives, but they didn't know him like my sister and I did. He was the terror that scared us every night at the top of the stairs and the big kid playing outside with all the kids in the "hood". We played Hide-n-seek, kick the can and Ollie-Ollie oxen free over the neighbor's garage. Rog was always there, playing like he was just a little kid still. Roger taught me to play piano, ride a bike, mow the yard, hide from Mom, milk a cow, play trombone and make the best igloo and snowball. He was an imp with my MOM and her "pet". He was seven years older and the best thing I remember was how we would go for a ride in his car in the summer on those days that he worked nights in Galion. We would drive somewhere and I would ask him if he knew where we were and he always said, "Sure, I know. Trust me." Several minutes later he would come to an intersection or stop sign and say, "I know where we are now." We had pancake eating contest almost every morning and he usually won. He was the one who told me that the bug my cat just ate was not going to kill him.
ReplyDeleteThroughout my life he has always been there when I needed him to protect me or guide me. I only remember one time that he came to me for my guidance and that a very difficult time for him. I hope that my words helped him then. The thing that impressed me most was that he listened.
We all know how he told his stories and his love of "weird", but he was also the most conservative person I have ever known. He was a spitting image of my Grandfather and he shared Gramps middle name. I think that Gramps was the reason that he was so accepting of everyone, especially those folks with some type of disability, as Gramps had only one hand. Roger learned that he could do anything he wanted to by watching Gramps do anything anyone with two hands could do.
Roger and I loved music, especially Ray Charles and James Taylor. He went off to college and left me his room, but only until he came home. I was allowed to play his records, but only if I put them back where he had them.
My sister and I are now the only ones left and we will always miss our "Big Brother", but he lives within us and as I've read your blogs, I know he will live in all of those that knew and loved him.
I appreciate so much the people who came to the celebration of his life and those who have contacted me, even though they could not come to the service. Someone told me that "Of course we had to come, he would have been there for us." That was my brother...if he loved you, he would go out of his way for you and if you didn't like him, he didn't waste time on you, because he didn't want to take the time away from those he loved. Time was so precious to him and he never wanted to leave you, but he had to go.
The one thing that my brother never taught me was how to drive. Thank you God. He was the best helo pilot I've ever known (even if he could not resist scaring me sometimes), but he was the worse driver I've ever riden with.
Love to all and especially to Holly, Terry and the precious babies, Abby and Roger Jack, that he loved so much. My love also to Holly Bliss Hershner and her great kids and the "twins", who will never know their Gramps like the rest of us did, but I'm sure that they will hear stories about him all their lives
Thank you for your comments and please let Roger stay with you as you go through your life.
Gail Hershner Richardson
grr1123@aol.com
Roger Hershner was many things to many people. To FSR crew #10, their families and the Olympic National Forest he was a hero! Roger Hershner was a grand story teller. This is a story about him.
ReplyDelete“All in a day’s work”
Chimney Fire-1981
There are some things that firefighters never forget, the smell of wood smoke, the sound a crown fire makes, or the distinctive sound a Hughes 500 helicopter makes. Another thing that is never forgotten is the long lasting friendships and a sense of “family” that is forged sharing those kinds of experiences together.
28 years ago, not too far from Sequim, Roger unselfishly put himself in harm’s way to save the lives of 15 of my friends and coworkers. He would humbly tell you it was “all in a day’s work”. Over the last week I’ve talked to several members of that crew and there is not a doubt in any mind that he saved their lives and they asked that I share this story.
That particular day, September 17, 1981, will not be forgotten by any of us and Rogers’s family and his grandkids will want to know what a wonderful legacy he has left for that fire crew and their families.
The summer of 1981 was a busy one for FSR crew # 10, they responded to several project fires in Oregon and Washington. The crew was a tight knit, well organized crew and when they weren’t on fires they were involved with prescribed burning on the Shelton Ranger District. Roger was the pilot for the Forest helicopter and knew the Peninsula like few others. His calm demeanor and easy smile made him a hit with his helitak crew, all the firefighters and their supervisors. His skill and ability with a water bucket or slingload was incredibly accurate.
The Chimney fire was a lightning caused fire located near Chimney Peak above the Enchanted Valley in the Olympic National Park. The fire started in early August and was discovered by our aerial detection fixed wing flight. I talked to the lady that found the fire and she remembers thinking that if Roger and the helitak crew had been dispatched when the fire was first discovered it would have been out in short order. The fire smoked and smoldered for several weeks. Fighting fire on the Olympics is like no other place. Steep slopes, combined with heavy fuel loading and dense canopies make for explosive fire behavior when conditions are right. A crown fire in the Olympics is a rare event. The Chimney fire was one of those rare events.
The crew loaded in a 20-person bus and left Shelton that September morning at 330 AM arriving at Hurricane ridge at 730 AM. The smoke from the fire was visible but not out of the ordinary. We had several “rookies” with us and the crew organized so that they could be on the first flights in. At 9 AM Roger arrived and started ferrying firefighters in 3 at a time, with a 40 minute turn around. I was with the last load of firefighters at around noon, on a medium helicopter that had come over from Wenatchee.
I was in back of the helicopter when the helitak foreman shouted back that the helicopter couldn’t land, the helispot had been burnt over! We returned to Hurricane Ridge. The next three hours we could only watch the developing smoke column from a distance. Hearing nothing on the radio I feared the worse for our crew.
The following is an excerpt from crew boss Gary Larson’s report of those next three hours. “”After the fire overran the helispot I instructed the saw team squad, (Laney and Fitzpatrick), to clear out/dump snags in a small burned over area for a retreat area. Fire did not calm down after making run uphill below the helispot as expected.”(Several of the firefighters recall 300 foot flames and an unbelievable noise as the crown fire raced uphill.) “”Winds were erratic from all directions. Fire was hooking and spotting towards our position. Fire boss called and said he had an escape route to the South of us, uphill and over the ridge. He said he would wait for us on the fireline. Crew abandoned tools and raced south along the fireline. Spotting was occurring below us and intense fire ahead of us. I had doubts about escape route and called the fire boss to reconfirm. He said we could still make it. We came over a small ridge and discovered a finger of fire cutting us off from escape route. I called fire boss and crew retreated swiftly back to the burned over area. Fire was becoming intense below us along our retreat line. I requested a load of retardant along our escape route. Finally we reached the small burned over area. Retardant arrived timely and slowed fire progress. Fire boss suggested we still try to make it over the ridge. Other side was rocky cliffs and spot fires. Squad boss Casey unable to safely scout route as it was too smoky and snags were falling. I heard helicopter N77DJ on the radio on recon and requested his assistance.””
Roger was the pilot of that helicopter and knew immediately that the crew was in trouble and needed his help. He flew through intense heat, blinding smoke and erratic winds to try to locate the crew without a second thought for his own safety. Flying higher and higher, and being guided by the crew boss's directions, he finally located them high up on the hillside. He guided the crew downhill to a small clearing. He took command and organized an evacuation of the crew using the Bell 212 helicopter, and a stripped down Hughes 500 that was from the Forks area flying cedar shake bolts. (Two of the firefighters remember running down to the clearing and jumping in to a helicopter with no doors or seats and then holding on for dear life.) How Roger was able to take control of the situation, fly the helicopter and order other helicopters to help, all at the same time, was unbelievable.
The crew was evacuated to a safe area and I was never so relieved to see them when the rest of my squad was united with the crew later that afternoon. Hugs all around! We spent the night spiked out in a meadow, well away from the fire, not able to sleep, talking about what we all had been through. The next day we were flown back to Hurricane Ridge, drove to Port Angeles and the crew spent the evening with Roger, “debriefing”. I don’t think Roger flew for us the next year, but I know the story was told and retold many times. I stayed in touch with Roger these many years and saw him occasionally. He always took little credit for what he had done that day. Throughout the entire situation Roger was the calm in the eye of a storm. He truly is a hero in all are hearts and will be remembered forever. Thanks for letting me share this story.
FSR Crew #10 of the Olympic National Forest
Gary Larson- Crew Boss
Don Casey- Squad Boss
Dave Laney-Saw team
Tom Fitzpatrick-Saw team
Joe Bentley
R. Bunch
Sue Ramsauer
R. McDonald
T. Coppolino
W. Schroeder
Ken VanBuskirk- Squad Boss
Rick Saney
Maxwell
Pat Grover
Kitty Dorling
L. Williams
Dave Watterson
Lance Bailey
T Junso
Tom Hoke
Roger Hershner worked the last 5 fire seasons for Hillcrest Aircraft Company, which had the fire contracts on the Clearwater/Nez Perce Fire Zone in north/central Idaho. I flew with Roger many times in all kinds of situations the past 5 years. I often took him for granted, and am just now realizing how much I will miss having him as our pilot. Not only were his flying skills extraordinary, he was highly trusted by all of our passengers. His bucket drops saved the day many times. He never missed. He made flying loads on a 150 ft. longline look easy, and I know its not. I will miss his stories and presence at Musselshell forever. He was such a good guy, I remember him helping out one of the crewmembers with maintenance of their vehicle. She needed a headlight bulb changed, and within half hour Roger had taken off the grille, installed the bulb, and had it all back together for her. She described Roger as being like the Grandfather she never had. I remember sitting around the campfire after a crew barbeque one night looking up at the stars. Roger taught us all a bunch of constellations, and showed us how to find the Andromeda Galaxy, the farthest object visible to the human eye. We all got a great astronomy lesson that night, and stayed up well past midnight looking, learning, tipping back a few beers. I will always remember Roger when I look at the night sky, for the rest of my life.
ReplyDeleteToday is the first day in almost two weeks, I haven't cried. However, I still feel the pain and emptiness I have in my heart from such a significant loss in my life much too early. I wasn't prepared for this. Although I have lived all of my life with this fear, I had become comfortable. My Dad was the best pilot I knew, of course, and he could do anything. Wasn't he invincible? I still believed it. He was an amazing man and a very loving father. He was probably the most loving father I'd ever met...truly. Sometimes I would get annoyed at how loving and affectionate he was. He gave me the best bear hugs and always made sure he told me he loved me. He would give me compliments often about the type of woman I'd become, the mother I was and how proud he was of what I had grown to be. I knew he loved me. He made it known. There were many times I had gone not seeing my Dad for months due to his job. However, he always called to check in or surprise me when I was least expecting it by just showing up! He loved doing that. My Dad was very intertwined in my life. My children adored their Papa Roger. Abbie and him were very close. My Dad would help her with her homework, teach her about the stars (as he did me) and spend time getting to know her. RJ would greet his Papa with a running hug when he came through the door and always notice if Papa looked different ..."Papa, where are your whiskers?" I feel right now that I am in desperate need to hold onto memories of him. I need to teach my children about the type of man he was and always will be in my heart. I don't know how to feel or act in this time of deep grief. All I've been told is I have to breath through it. So, that is what I am doing now. It'll get easier to live through but the feeling of emptiness where my Dad should be in my life will always be...Please help to preserve these great memories of my dad and spread the word about this blog. It had been a long time since I had been on a job with him and I know he knew many people. He loved work at Musselshell and I wished I could've been there with him. Thank you to those who have posted already...I'm sure we can keep this blog going for a long time with so many memories...
ReplyDeleteSaw this morning and immediately thought of your dad. Vanb http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/23/bremerton-on-short-list-to-receive-6-million-for/
ReplyDeleteI know that the loss of Roger won't hit me for a while, but every time that I hear or see a helicopter, a strange cloud formation, a bright star, or a ponytail I think about him. I loved Roger, he was a great influence in my life and gave me the greatest gift in life... Love, of a family and a friend.
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful for his daughter Holly and her family. She is a living extension of her great dad. I am blessed to have such a caring and giving family.
Thank you to everyone who shared stories, memories and their love for Roger.
I will hold him close to my heart and remember him always.
XO
Ava Whitlock
ahoneybliss@yahoo.com
Happy Birthday Roger....
ReplyDeleteAloha.
Love to the Holly's
Ava
Roger and I were very close in the '80's. Okay, let's be specific...he was my boyfriend. We both worked at UNM Hospital. We had some spectacular times together. I remember Holly as a little preteen, and her visits to NM were always cause for added fun and adventure...star gazing at Chaco Canyon, riding back roads up near Taos, exploring rock formations... He took my brother up for his first helicopter ride when they both came for my law school graduation in 1992, after I'd moved to Oregon. It was funny to see my brother so nervous...we had a great laugh over it. He flew me out to the Grand Canyon [got some great pictures of that trip]; and a couple times I almost lost my stomach when he flew out over the edge of a mountain or descended too rapidly for my neophyte taste. He was a a true adventurer. He supported my academic achievements, went camping with me and my cultural resources law school class on a local reservation, and of course everybody who met him on that trip and others loved him from the get go. Even when we moved past boyfriend/girlfriend, he was a true and dependable friend. Kristen C [Lael]
ReplyDeleteRoger was my inspiration an set a standard for helicopter pilots unsurpassed in the years since i worked with him on a Helitack crew for CDF (CAL FIRE) in 91. I some how clearly rememeber flying with him on two of those links you posted above; that trip to Cone peak lookout for CDF and the highway 68 fire near Carmel. Roger joined us out at Bitterwater (Now Bear Valley) Helitack to replace Jim Chandler who survived a crash while dusting almonds during the prior "off season" but with severe brain injury. Roger was the first pilot CDF hired who had aquired enough flight hours without having to ever fly combat missions during the viet nam war. I remember him taking me up in a Hughs 500 T just before we parted ways. He allowed me to fly the ship for a few minutes to demonstrate that "the hughs 500 compared to the UH 1-f we were using was like the difference between driving a Ferrari and driving an old school bus hahaha i also remember the Mexican prison escape which i always thought just listening to him tell the story was far better than the movie they made about it! The last time i wotked with Roger was right after the Oakland Hills fire and i remember him asking if i'd like to join him on a mission to fly to washington state to harvest "another huge Christmas tree for the white House" i declined as i had already made plans to visit Hawaii where my Fire service continued until 2009. I remember several cliffside and High surf rescues i truly wished i had Roger flying. Roger was a lovable amazing friend All in Love, Thanks -Brian Sullivan
ReplyDeleteWell, today it has officially been three years since I lost my Dad. Although the pain of losing him has not lessened, the way I deal with that pain is different now. I enjoy sharing memories with my children, loved ones and friends. Tonight at bedtime, my kids and I were sharing our fondest memories of Papa Roger. Abbie remembers playing "Santa" with him and how she would go get a toy and bring it to him to inspect, as she was his little elf. He grew his long-white beard out during the holidays for the kids to enjoy. RJ remembers him playing with him while he was in the bathtub. Such precious memories I didn't even know they had or even experienced!
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was a beautiful soul. He touched many people with his loving, kind spirit. He would do anything to help out a family member or friend. This week I got a wonderful message from a long lost friend of mine. She wrote to tell me that her grandfather I had met 12 or 13 years ago had still asked about me every so often. He told her that I had a beautiful soul and that when you meet someone like that they leave a lasting impression...well, it made me think of my Dad. Both of my parents raised me to be kind and caring to everyone. That is how they both are. My Dad exemplified that through his ability to make friends with just about anyone who walked this planet. He made a lasting impression on many and I am happy to follow in those footsteps.
I miss my Dad terribly. However, I am blessed with many memories, photos, and little "gifts" I receive just when I need them the most. Over the past three years, it seems that when I have needed my Dad the most, one of his long time friends calls me or finds me on facebook. I am so blessed by these moments. They mean so much to me. I know he has a hand in them and that makes them even more special. Thank you to those who take the time to write down your thoughts and memories. I hope to find more of his friends and hear about the lasting impressions he made on them. To all with Love and kindness and great big bear hugs, Holly