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Up O'Christie (2) O'Christie (3)
 

CAPT JERRY F O'CHRISTIE (2)

Search Halted For Campbell 4
Winds, Darkness End Hunt; Officers Gone Since Sunday

   FORT CAMPBELL. Ky. - High winds and darkness yesterday halted the search for four Fort Campbell officers, believed drowned Sunday on a. fishing trip at Kentucky lake.
   The search at the lake, in which more than 200 soldiers and coast-guardsmen have participated, will resume today.
   The four members of the 11th airborne division are:
   Capt. Jerry F. O'Christie, 32, Richmond. Va.
  Capt. Thomas A. Sims, 27. Wilmington. Del.
  First Lt. Cossie A. Exum, 24 Elmwood, Mass.
  Warrant Officer James E. Collier, 39, Batesville, Miss.
 2 Boats Found
   Searchers found two boat the four rented from Leatherwood boat dock which is several miles south of Highway 79 and on the east shore of the lake. It is about 50 miles west of Clarksville. One of the boats had been beached some distance from the dock and the other, filled with water, was found, partly submerged about a mile offshore.
   The Fort Campbell information office said Gene Mos of Clarksville, who was fishing from a boat in the vicinity, reported he had seen all four of the men in one boat shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday.
Boat Believed Beached
   It is believed two of the men had beached one of the boats and shifted to the other earlier in the day. Strong winds whipped up high waves in the lake late Sunday afternoon and it is thought these may have swamped the boat the four occupied.
   Helicopters and dragging operations operations have been employed in the search.

[The Tennessean, Nashville, TN, 09 Mar 1955, Wed, Page 8]
Batesville Man Missing On Outing
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., Mar. 29 (AP) Warrant Officer James Collier of Batesville, Miss., and two other men were listed as missing today after authorities reported finding the body of one of four men who went on a fishing: fishing: trip together.
   The body, found yesterday, was identified as that of Capt. Thomas Sims of Wilmington, Del.
   The other missing are Capt. Jerry O'Christie of Richmond, Va., and 1st Lt. Cossie Exum of Elmwood, Mass.
   The four-man party left Fort Campbell March 6 and was seen the next day after renting two boats at a dock near Parish Landing, Tenn., on Kentucky Lake.

The Greenwood Commonwealth, Greenwood, MS, 29 Mar 1955, Tue, Page 8]
ONE BODY FOUND
   FORT CAMPBELL. Ky.. March 29 (AP) The body of Capt. Thomas A. Sims. Wilmington. Del., one of four Army officers missing on a fishing trip, was recovered yesterday near Pine Bluff. Tenn.
   Still missing since the March 6 excursion are Captain Jerry O'Christie. Richmond, Va., 1st Lt. Cossie E..Exum Elmwood, Mass., and
Warrant Officer James E. Collier, Batesville. Miss.

[The Advocate-Messenger, Danville, KY, 29 Mar 1955, Tue, Page 3]

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