A Tribute to a Heroic Father

Sadly James Kim, the CNET editor was found dead, as he was trying to get help for his family stranded in the snow. My condolences and prayers for his family.

http://people.aol.com/people/article/0,26334,1566956,00.html

James Kim, who had been missing in the Oregon wilderness, was found dead Wednesday.

"At 12:03 p.m. the body of James Kim was located down in the canyon of Big Windy Creek," said Josephine County undersheriff Brian Anderson, who had to stop speaking because he was moved to tears during a press conference in Merlin, Ore.

Kim, 35, along with his wife Kati, 30, and daughters Penelope, 4, and Sabine, 7 months, were stranded on Nov. 25 after their car got stuck in the snow during a trip from Seattle to their home in San Francisco.

"Arrangements are being made to have him removed from the area," said Lt. Gregg Hastings, who added, "We want the Kim family to know that we appreciate all of their support. They have been true champions throughout this whole ordeal, and we just want them to know that our thoughts and our prayers have been with them from day one."

For the first three days they were stuck they used the car's heater at night to keep warm. When the gas ran out, they used the battery alone. After the battery died, they burned tires to generate heat.

For food, they had only scant provisions in their 2005 Saab station wagon: just some baby food and Cheez Whiz.

Katie and her two daughters were rescued on Monday when she was spotted by a helicopter waving an open umbrella on which she had affixed reflective tape spelling out SOS.

Two days before they were saved, Kim, dressed in a jacket, two pairs of pants, sweater and sneakers, set off to seek help for his loved ones.

Rescuers searching for Kim found items such as bits of an Oregon map and some clothing that he had apparently dropped along the way as he searched for help.

Kim was a senior editor at the Web site CNET, where he reviewed the newest electronic gadgets.

Kati's father, Dr. Philip Fleming, said on the Today show earlier this week: "He's a very heroic father."