Memorial for Stephen Bond

OCEAN SPRINGS -- Family, friends, city officials, and fellow officers paid tribute June 20 to police Officer Stephen Bond.

A memorial service, held at downtown First Baptist Church, was an official goodbye to the Ocean Springs policeman and former Marine.

Surviving family members include his Bond's wife, Angela, and their son Ethan, 7, and 9-month-old daughter Rhilee.

Family and law enforcement personnel have spent the past four weeks searching for Bond, 32, who has been missing since May 17, when a 21-foot boat capsized with him, two other Ocean Springs officers and their companions aboard -- reserve Officer Jonathan Navas and wife Whitney, Officer Michael Green and girlfriend Becky Welch .

Memorial Service Set for Missing Officer

June 16, 2009 www.gulflive.com/Mississippi Press

The five plunged into the Mississippi Sound when their boat toppled in stormy weather conditions. The four others were rescued after about 24 hours floating in the Mississippi Sound. Bond has not been found since they last saw him clinging to Navas' boat that overturned near Horn Island, where the officers and friends had attended the annual Horn Island Blowout.

An account has been established at Hancock Bank, and a fundraiser is set for July 11 to help the Bond family with expenses. Residents may call Ocean Springs at 875-2209 for information.

Community help for Bond family

Mississippi's Fallen

MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO HAVE DIED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN

• Sgt. Larry R. Arnold Sr., 46, Carriere, June 11, 2005.
• 
  
• Pfc. Stephen P. Baldwin, 19, Saltillo, May 9, 2005.
• 
  
• Spec. Bryan Edward Barron, 26, Biloxi, May 23, 2005.
• 
  
• Spec. Benjamin Brosh, 22, Gautier, April, 18, 2008
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Bradley, 39, Utica, May 29, 2003
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. Scott Bright, 36, Jackson, July 5, 2005
• 
  
• Spec. Larry K. Brown, 22, Jackson, April 5, 2003
• 
  
• Cpl. Henry L. Brown, 22, Natchez, April 8, 2003
• 
  
• Spec. Lerando J. Brown, 27, Gulfport, March 15, 2008
• 
  
• Spec. Joshua I. Bunch, 23, Hattiesburg, August 6, 2004
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. Jerry C. Burge, 39, Carriere, April 4, 2007
• 
  
• 1st Lt. Donald C. Carwile, 29, Oxford, August 15, 2008
• 
  
• Lance Cpl. Casey Lynne Casanova, McComb, May 3, 2008
• 
  
• Spec. James A. Chance III, 25, Kokomo, November 6, 2003.
• 
  
• 2nd Lt. Therrel S. Childers, 30, Harrison, March 21, 2003
• 
  
• Sgt. 1st Class Sean M. Cooley, 35, Ocean Springs, February 3, 2005.
• 
  
• Cpl. Justin Cooper, 22, Eupora, May 18, 2008.
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. Travis S. Cooper, 24, Macon, July 16, 2005.
• 
  
• Spec. Raphael S. Davis, 24, Tutwiler, December 2, 2003.
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. Jeffrey F. Dayton, 27, Caledonia, April 29, 2004
• 
  
• Lance Cpl. Roger W. Deeds, 24, Biloxi, November 16, 2005
• 
  
• Spec. Jeremia J. Digiovanni, 21, Tylertown, November 15, 2003
• 
  
• Capt. Kermit O. Evans, 31, Hollandale, December 3, 2006
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. Clint D. Ferrin, 31, Picayune, March 13, 2004
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. Brian L. Freeman, 27, Caledonia, November 7, 2005
• 
  
• Major Michael L. Green, 36, Gautier, January 7, 2008
• 
  
• Sgt. Taurean T. Harris, 22, Liberty, August 2, 2007
• 
  
• Pfc. Damian L. Heidelberg, 21, Batesville, November, 2003
• 
  
• Spec. Melvin L. Henley Jr., 26, Jackson, November 21, 2007
• 
  
• Sgt. Courtland A. Kennard, 22, Starkville, November 9, 2006
• 
  
• Sgt. Joshua S. Ladd, 20, Port Gibson, May 1, 2004
• 
  
• Sgt. Jonathan W. Lambert, 28, Newsite, June 1, 2003
• 
  
• Cpl. Dustin J. Lee, 20, Quitman, March 21, 2007
• 
  
• Spec. Terrance D. Lee Sr., 25, Moss Point, June 11, 2005
• 
  
• Sgt. Donnie Leo F. Levens, 25, Long Beach, February 17, 2006
• 
  
• Spec. Audrey Daron Lunsford, 29, Sardis, May 23, 2005
• 
  
• Pfc. Christopher D. Mabry, 19, Chunky, April 7, 2004
• 
  
• Pvt. Barry W. Mayo, 21, Ecru, March 5, 2007
• 
  
• Cpl. Robert T. McDavid, 29, Starkville, March 10, 2008
• 
  
• Master Sgt. Brian P. McAnulty, 39, Vicksburg, December 11, 2006
• 
  
• Spec. Robert A. McNail, 30, Meridian, February 11, 2005
• 
  
• Sgt. 1st Class Clarence D. McSwain, 31, Meridian, June 8, 2006
• 
  
• Cpl. Clifton B. Mounce, 22, Pontotoc, July 14, 2005
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. James D. Mowris, 37, Aurora, January 29, 2004
• 
  
• 1st Lt. Robert C. Oneto-Sikorski, 33, Bay St. Louis, October 31, 2005
• 
  
• Sgt. Timothy R. Osbey, 34, Magnolia, February 16, 2005
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. Saburant Parker, 43, Foxworth, May 23, 2005
• 
  
• Engineman 1st Class Vincent Parker, 38, Preston, Novoember 18, 2001
• 
  
• Sgt. Willard T. Partridge, 35, Natchez, August 20, 2005
• 
  
• Cpl. Michael Be. Presley, 21, Batesville, December 14, 2005
• 
  
• Spec. Robert S. Pugh, 25, Meridian, March 2, 2005
• 
  
• Spec. Joseph A. Rahaim, 22, Laurel, February 16, 2005
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Robinson, 36, Brandon, March 26, 2006
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. John T. Self, 29, Pontotoc, May 14, 2007
• 
  
• Sgt. 1st Class William C. Spillers, 39, Terry, February 17, 2007
• 
  
• Sgt. 1st Class George Stanciel, 40, Greenwood, August 19, 2008
• 
  
• 2nd Lt. Matthew R. Stovall, 25, Horn Lake, August 22, 2004
• 
  
• Lance Cpl. Marc L. Tucker, 24, Pontotac, June 8, 2005
• 
  
• Sgt. Daniel Ryan Varnado, 23, Saucier, May 23, 2005
• 
  
• Sgt. Jason W. Vaughn, 29, Iuka, May 10, 2007
• 
  
• Staff Sgt. Joe N. Wilson, 30, Crystal Springs, November 2, 2003

Coast Guard Rescues Officers, Companions

Ocean Springs Officer Missing After Week in Mississippi Sound 

OCEAN SPRINGS -- Law enforcement, family members and residents across South Mississippi went through a tremendous scare this past week when three police officers and their companions went missing May 17.

That scare continues today for the family of Officer Stephen Bond and the Ocean Springs Police Department. Nearly a week after the co-workers and friends failed to return from a Sunday afternoon boat trip to Horn Island, the whereabouts of Bond still are unknown. 

While Bond's wife, Susan, and mother, Susan Vallette, are holding onto hope that the 32-year-old man may be found on one of the islands stretching across the Mississippi Sound, the U.S. Coast Guard has called off its rescue mission, according to local news reports. 

Hope is fading and the likelihood of Bond being found alive lessens each day. Some officials have even speculated that the Sound's currents already may have taken Bond out to sea, probably toward Louisiana. 

Another storm that rolled through South Mississippi this weekend further hampered continued search efforts by the Jackson County Sheriff's Department and Ocean Springs police. 

Media reports said Bond was one of five people aboard a 21-foot boat when 5-foot waves flipped its passengers into churning waters caused by high winds from an approaching storm. They were on a sailing trip that included time at the annual Horn Island Blowout.

Reportedly, the Coast Guard rescued about nine more people from the Gulf Coast waters.  

The four boaters with Bond included reserve officer Jonathan Navas, 23, and his wife Whitney, patrol officer Michael Green, 31, and his girlfriend Becky Welch, 37. They spent Sunday night floating in the Sound before the Coast Guard rescued them Monday afternoon, May 18, near Horn Island. They were taken to Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, where all were treated and released by Thursday, May 21. 

While at Memorial they recounted their ordeal to media outlets:

(videos are subject to time limit)

Mike Green tells how boat capsized. (sunherald video)

Whitney Navas talks about time in water/rescue. (sunherald video)

Whitney Navas says they are blessed to be alive. (wlox-tv video)

Mike Green says they should have waited. (wlox-tv video)

Rare Look at Louisiana Native Guard

BILOXI -- Earlier this month the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art opened an exhibition of rare photographs of the Louisiana Native Guard, according to media reports.

The exhibition will remain open until Feb. 20.

Soldiers in the second regiment of the Native Guard, an African American unit that served during the Civil War, were responsible for guarding Confederate prisoners of war on Ship Island.

A New Orleans native believes the history of the Louisiana soliders who served in Mississippi could attract tourists, according to www.wlox.com

Photographs may be seen at www.georgeohr.org.