under the sun
?V.
THE BRUNSWKICfe'BEACON
THURSDAY. APRIL 25. 1991
Shallotte Rescue Veteran Retires After 20 Years
BY DOUG RUTTF-R
Shallotlc Volunteer Rescue Squad has
lost one of its veterans to retire
ment ? one who is particularly proud
of his driving record.
"In all my years with the rescue squad, 1
never dented an ambulance," said Minor
Hewett, who retired recently after more
than 20 years of service.
Hewett, the guest of honor at a retirement
party last month, joined the rescue squad in
June 1970, when the organization was still
in its infancy.
The Shallotte native said a few friends
begged him to join ihe squad, which had
only 10 or 12 members at the time.
He gave them the typical excuse at
first ? no time ? but joined the volunteer
group and was an active member until his
recent retirement.
Henry Carter, who helped start the rescue
squad and now dispatches emergency calls
with his wife, Betty, showed Hewett the ins
and outs of rescue work. Now Carter says
he would rather take Hewett on a run than
anybody else.
Hewett is particularly useful when the
rescue squad is called to look for drowning
victims. "I've fished just about every one of
them rivers," he said. "I know my way
around the water."
When he started out 20 years ago, Hewett
said he couldn't stand going to traffic acci
dents. "Now I can go to a wreck and it
doesn't bother me too much," he said. "I got
used to it Somebody's got to do it"
Uneasy at First, Hewett said he developed
a stomach for rescue work over the years.
However, one thing he's never gotten used
to is the sight of an injured baby.
Hewett said his worst experience as a res
cue worker occurred back in the spring of
1983. Two children were killed when the
car they were riding in pulled off U.S. 17
just south of Shallotte, slid down an em
bankment and flipped into a creek.
The northbound car had pulled off the
road to let a Calabash Volunteer Rescue
Squad ambulance pass. The driver lost con
trol of the car on the rain-slicked road
shoulder, and the vehicle overturned into six
feet of water.
Two youngsters were trapped in the car
and drowned. The tragic accident claimed
the life of an eight-month-old infant and his
14-month-old double first cousin.
"I could not help crying about them
young'uns," Hewett recalled, hanging his
head. "That was rough. I've seen an awfui
mess while I was in it We've seen some
rough times."
Hewett prefers to talk about the people
he's been able to help. When asked how
STAI-f PHOTO BY DOUG H UTTER
IN HIS RED UNIFORM Minor Hewett stands ready for an ambulance run at the Shallotte Volunteer Rescue Squad
Building.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
FRIENDS AND RELATIVES pose at a March 9 retirement party for Minor
Hewett (front center), who served Shallotte Volunteer Rescue Squad more than
20 years.
"If they need me, I'll still go and
help them out. "
? Minor Hewett
Veteran Rescue Volunteer
many hours he's volunteered over the years,
Hewett just chuckled and shook his head.
"I've spent a lot of hours on the road be
tween Shallotte and Wilmington," he said.
"But I don't mind. I know I'm out there try
ing to help people. It gives you a good feel
ing."
The 58-year-old said he saw Shalloue
Volunteer Rescue Squad go through a lot of
changes during his two decades of service.
For one thing, the squad used to cover a
much larger territory. Heweu said there
were no rescue squads at Holden Beach,
Calabash or Waccamaw when he started.
Also, he said training for rescue squad
volunteers is more advanced now than ever.
A knowledge of first aid was the only re
quirement when he became involved. Now
volunteers have to take medical-related
courses and pass exams before they can of
fer certain types of assistance.
Hcwett said no amount of training can
prepare someone for real rescue work. "You
don't learn that overnight," he said. "You
don't learn it in the class."
Carter is quick to agree. "Nothing will
take the place of what you learn on the
scene itself," he says.
Although rescue work has changed a lot
over the years, Hewett said there always
have been people who gripe about the time
it takes an ambulance to respond.
"Sometimes it's aggravating, but that's
something you've got to put up with," he
said. "Even though we're all volunteer and
do the best we can, there's always going to
be them that complain."
Another constant in the volunteer rescue
squad business is the need for money. Local
squads have always depended on donations
to operate, and they need contributions now
more than ever with costs increasing every
year.
Hewett recalls when he used to "shake
the bucket" for quarters and dimes. "I have
laid right in the middle of the road to stop
cars," he said. "I sure have... to raise money
to keep things going."
Shallottc Volunteer Rescue Squad used to
sell food and drinks to keep the ambulances
rolling, and other local squads still sponsor
barbecue or chicken dinners to raise money.
"We'd do anything to get a dollar to keep
us going," Hewett said. "I'll tell you thai."
After all of his years of service, Hewett
said he's not quite ready to tune out the res
cue squad entirely.
"If they need me, I'll still go and help
them out," he admitted. "I enjoyed every
minute of it, and if I had to do it all over
again I'd get right back in it."
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