The body of seven-year-old John Gregory Spicer was pulled from the Mud River Friday morning, producing both relief as well as tremendous sorrow for family members and numerous volunteers who say the six-day search became very personal to them.

Tears fell from the eyes of everyone present when the boy was finally located underneath a log in three feet of water by Logan County Search & Rescue workers. Little John's body, when pulled out, was much like his father's, who was found just two days earlier 20 to 30 feet from his sons.

According to Brandon's mother and John's grandmother, Sandra Forman, both looked like sleeping angels peaceful with their eyes closed.

Volunteers had dammed the raging river in several spots throughout the search, causing the waters to drop some four to six feet, which helped rescuers locate the bodies.

Search teams began looking for the father and son almost immediately after reports came in that the truck carrying them crashed into the river Saturday night. Witnesses said they heard a call for help coming from the black water soon after the truck went in that lasted only a moment before the river's raging voice silenced it.

According to the family, Spicer and his son were out looking at Christmas lights. "Brandon was told by a friend that there were really nice Christmas lights out in that area," said John Forman, step-father to Brandon.

"He actually took a wrong turn and ended up on Coopertown Road. He wasn't familiar with this road and it's curves," said Forman, who added he gets angry when he thinks about how his son and grandson's lives could have been saved if there were just a guardrail in place where they went over.

According to Terry Cole, leader of the Logan County Search & Rescue Unit, there used to be trees in the spot where Spicer and his son plummeted into the river, but the trees were cleared when water lines were run. Now there is nothing to keep vehicles from going over the edge. Cole says there have been four accidents at the bridge within the last 18 months, none of them fatal until now.

"The search is over now and I'm glad they found them," said Mr. Forman, who attempted to hold the tears back. Forman is still trying to cope with the loss of his daughter three years ago in a motorcycle accident. "I just worry about my wife."

Forman and his wife both are very grateful to all those who helped find Brandon and John. The pour-out of love and concern was unbelievable to the couple. "I just want to thank everyone for their dedication and determination in the search for our son and grandson," said Mr. Forman. "They could have quit at anytime but they didn't. Our love and respect go out to them all."

Both Rodney Harkleroad and Terry Cole, directors of the Logan County Search & Rescue Unit and of local emergency services, say there are too many people to mention.

"From Saturday, Dec. 11 to Friday, Dec. 17, the community literally came together. It was absolutely amazing to see the men and women of our county and area counties pull together to help another," said Cole, who added that agencies out of central and southcentral Kentucky answered that call for help as well.

Cole said he would especially like to thank the Logan County Search & Rescue Unit, the Warren County Search & Rescue Unit and the Lewisburg and Russellville Rural Fire Departments for countless manhours of service during the search. "I am astounded at these individuals and their devotion. When all the other agencies had to go, these men and women stayed till midnight every night," said Cole, who also added that he understood when people had to go, some coming as far as Frankfort.

"I want to thank the many businesses that donated food and equipment, to Scotty's and Matlow Construction, who brought their backhoes and trackhoes, to Logan Aluminum for loaning their Cascade truck which helped keep the divers' air tanks full, to the Red Cross, to all the employers out there who let their employees off to help search for these individuals, to the cadaver dogs and their handlers, to the numerous divers who braved the freezing water temperatures, to Junior Chick for donating hay rolls which dammed up the river in front of the area where the Spicers went into the river, to the state police and to Sheriff Wallace Whittaker for being out there every day and night.," said Cole.

"This was a very difficult time for everyone involved, but it proves that our community cares and are out there in numbers to help when needed."