Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Remembering Rangers.

When you think of a National Park Ranger, what is your 1st thought? Your 1st visual image. Most of us probably think of a Ranger like these folks: greeting us to the park, or out on patrol.
My old outfit, The National Park Service (NPS), says that nine Park Rangers have been slain (murdered or manslaughter) while in performance of their duties (protecting people, places & resources). The first was James Carey at Hot Springs NP (Arkansas) in 1927. As Supervisory Special Agent (ret.) Paul Berkowitz, who is updating his work: U.S. Rangers – The Law of the Land has indicated, others slain in the line of duty include: "1938 – Karl Jacobsen who was shot by a poacher at Acadia (Maine). The shooter was convicted of manslaughter. Also, Theodore Barnett was shot by a poacher in 1940 at Glacier NP (Montana). He survived for a time, but… died years later as a result of complications from the gunshot... in 1974 Gregory Wayt was leading a walk w/ park visitors when he was shot/killed by a juvenile who lived just outside the boundary at Casa Grande (National Monument, Arizona). That juvenile was also convicted of manslaughter... Something on the order of 25 others have died in the performance of LE duties...” Unfortunately, the “Thin Green Line” gets thinner too often. So, many Rangers worldwide find themselves daily in “Harm’s Way” being overwhelmed by superior weaponry and the element of surprise.
           During my earliest days as a Park Ranger I heard about the killing of Ranger Ken Patrick (1970) at Point Reyes National Seashore (California) by poachers. Of course the most recent was Ranger Margaret Anderson in Mount Rainier NP (Washington).
Assaults on Park Rangers are all too common, as we’re usually working alone, “often miles from others that can assist (backup). Recently, Park Rangers trailed only the U.S. Border Patrol in the number of assaults upon our Federal officers. All-too-often young Rangers are taken prematurely from us. One Ranger that was murdered while not on-duty was a good friend and colleague. Cliff Nelson was an outstanding teacher (Montana's "Teacher of the Year" once) and “seasonal” Park Ranger that worked summers for the NPS (many of us started our careers that way). Meme & I always looked forward to his holiday seasonal greetings because they were short-stories written by his middle-school students from Seeley Lake, Montana. The night before the museum truck arrived at Little Bighorn to pickup sensitive materials for treatment (it was 1976 and bomb threats had been received), Cliff was asked to safeguard the materials in his in-park apartment. We were all in a high state of alert, probably wound-a-little-too-tight actually, when I heard a knock at the door. As I opened the portal, Cliff stepped in wearing Custer’s buckskins; my roomie and I howled & laughed – it was the perfect medicine. They also were a good fit, I must say… Cliff was murdered via shotgun blast by an assassin that waited for his return from a field trip one night after he took students to pizza & a movie in Missoula (which he often did). Anyway, here is to you Cliff (and ALL those that have given above-and-beyond “The Call”)…
1975 - Cliff Nelson, 2nd from right

From the NPS Morning Report:
“Wednesday, October 2, 1996 --- Clifford Nelson, a veteran seasonal ranger/interpreter who has worked at the park (Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument) since 1968, was found shot to death in his home in Seeley Lake, Montana, on Monday, September 30th.  The homicide is under investigation; no arrests have yet been reported.  Cliff was very proud to represent the National Park Service during the many years he worked at the park, and had just completed another season.  He was an outstanding story teller and loved to share his knowledge of the battle with visitors.  Cliff personified the image of the ranger/interpreter, and touched the lives of all who knew him.  A memorial service was held Monday evening at Seeley-Swan High School, where he taught when not working in the park.  A special scholarship fund has been established in his honor.
Contributions may be sent in care of the Cliff Nelson Scholarship Fund, First Valley Bank,
PO Box 720, Seeley Lake, MT
59868.  [Gerard Baker, Superintendent, LIBI]

Tuesday, October 8, 1996 -- Detectives investigating the murder of career seasonal ranger Cliff Nelson have determined that he was killed by birdshot from a 12-gauge shotgun, and that two 12-gauge shotgun blasts were also fired at the high school where he taught on the same evening.  Two local residents in their late teens or early twenties, both of whom had had problems with Nelson when in junior high, are suspects in the case.  The
two had been drinking heavily on the night of the murder and were seen in the area of his home.  At this point, authorities have only a circumstantial case, with no good physical evidence to tie the two to the scene.  The memorial service for Nelson was attended by 1200 people. [Information from Missoula newspapers, via Phil Young, SA, IMFA]

Monday, October 21, 1996 --- Sheriff's deputies have arrested Rambo Hooser, 19, and Matt Livingston, 21, of Seeley Lake, Montana, for the shotgun slaying of career seasonal ranger Cliff Nelson.  They have been charged with the homicide and with shooting at the high school where Nelson taught and are being held on $500,000 bond.  A 12 gauge shotgun was seized from Hooser's vehicle.  An informant has told investigators that Hooser had threatened to kill Nelson.  Hooser, a logger, had been expelled from Seeley
Lake
elementary school years ago after a conflict with Nelson and subsequently failed to graduate from high school.  [Phil Young, SA, IMFA]”

Me 1975 - "Living History" talk


Follow-up FYI: there wasn’t much in the way of physical evidence (shotgun ballistics just aren’t a forensic scientist’s friend), subsequently there never was a conviction in this case: http://www.seeleyswanpathfinder.com/pfnews/rambotrial/acquital.html

5 comments:

  1. Phillip...I just came across your blog tonight as my two sons and I were talking about my Uncle Cliff. I must say the story of Uncle Cliff wearing Custer's buckskins brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. What a wonderful memory to share with my sons who never had the honor of meeting this kind and gentle man. So, thank you, for giving me a new memory about a man who is greatly missed by all who loved him.

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  2. Thank you Hilary so very much for letting me know. I have sent this to a couple of folks that remember well what a great person your Uncle Cliff was... Phil

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  3. Thank you for recognizing my Uncle, Greg Wayt.
    -Ryan Wayt

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  4. It was found out to be neither or them are the actual killer and i think that information is crucial considering matt livngston was found innocent

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  5. From what I can find, it seems this tragic case remains unresolved:
    https://www.montanarightnow.com/missoula/montana-murder-mysteries-cliff-nelson/article_f3f24b1a-e3c6-11e9-81da-27e898f1cccc.html

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