Missing Gulf War veteran rescued on Veterans Day

A hunter out on a Veterans Day outing heard faint cries for help and brought rescuers to a missing Gulf War veteran, who told deputies he had survived about four days in the woods by eating dog food and drinking water from puddles and ice.

On Saturday, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office listed Timothy John Marsh, 51, as a missing endangered person, deputies said.

Marsh, a Gulf War veteran with the United States Army, was last believed to be traveling from Florence to Newport in his Ford F-250 pickup. He had not been seen since. Concern was heightened due to medical issues facing Marsh.

Around 8:30 a.m. Wednesdasy, Monte Taylor, 61, of Dallas was grouse hunting in the woods off of Homestead Road in rural Willamina. While on a landing and waiting for fog to clear, Taylor heard what he believed was a faint cry for help.

Over the course of the next half-hour or so, Taylor tried to pinpoint the origin, deputies said. He contacted the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office through dispatch advised what he was hearing.

Yamill County sheriff’s Sgt. Todd Whitlow, who oversees Yamhill County Search and Rescue, responded with Deputy Don Stackpole.

Through shouting back and forth for some time, they were able to ascertain the location of Marsh, who was across a canyon.

About a half-hour later, Stackpole and Search and Rescue member Keith Fritz, who responded after hearing about the incident on social media,located Marsh by his vehicle. Marsh was becoming hypothermic and was somewhat disoriented, suffering from fatigue, deputies said.

Marsh advised that his pickup had run out of fuel what he estimated to be about four days earlier. He said he and his dog had been surviving by eating dog food and getting water from puddles and ice.

He told deputies that he had walked as far as 4 1/2 miles that morning, and come to a dead end. He returned after recalling his Army training, which taught him his best chance at rescue was to remain with his vehicle.

“This is an amazing outcome and the best case scenario we could hope for, especially for a Veteran on Veteran’s Day.” said Yamhill County Sheriff Tim Svenson. “We’re so pleased Mr. Marsh was reunited with family today.”

Marsh was transported by Willamina EMS to the Willamette Valley Medical Center where he was treated and released later Wednesday afternoon.