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Rescue teams combed the waters of the Susquehanna River for the second day Thursday trying to find a former Iraq (web|news) i War veteran who went missing around there.
The boater has been identified as Christopher Johnson, 24, of Manor Township, Lancaster County. Johnson graduated from Penn Manor High School in 2002. He's a former Marine who lost an arm while serving in Iraq in 2004, according to York County Office of Emergency Management spokesman Brian Morrin. He was treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for about a year. Morrin said officials found two prosthetic arms inside Johnson's car at a boat dock in Manor Township.
Some members of Johnson's family took it upon themselves Thursday to continue the search.
"At this point it's still a rescue effort. We're looking for my cousin," said Johnson's cousin Jennifer Wilson. "There are boats up and down the river, friends as well as the rescue teams, just looking as fast as we can."
Johnson's boat was found along the river shore in Chanceford Township, York County around 10:30 Wednesday morning by students from Northeastern High School who were kayaking as part of a biology field trip. Johnson's cell phone and Yellow Labrador were in the boat. A teacher from the school said the keys were in the ignition and the motor was still running.
Morrin said Johnson had gone out on the river early Wednesday morning to go fishing. His two life vests were still in the boat.
Johnson's friend Emerson Douts said about 20 of Johnson's friends, including Johnson's fiance, were out on the water Thursday trying to find him. They were searching both the water and walking around some of the islands.
"It just really hasn't hit any of us," said Douts. "We're just hoping for the best and doing what we can."
Douts and about five of his friends had to be rescued themselves Thursday when their boat began to take on water.
Rescue officials had to briefly call off the search because of rough waters, wind and rain. No word yet if the search and rescue effort will continue Friday.
Johnson is attending culinary school at York Technical College. He's engaged to a woman living in the Lancaster County area. Johnson's friends said Johnson and his fiance went to high school together.
Christopher Johnson
(Photo Courtesy Department of Defense (web) )
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