The tech community has been holding its breath for over a week now, praying for a man that most of us have never met. James Kim, his wife, and his three daughters disappeared without a trace after Thanksgiving while driving in a dangerous and remote part of Oregon. We allowed ourselves hope earlier this week when we found out that rescuers had located the car, and miraculously, the wife and children were alive and in reasonably good shape. Kati Kim kept her children alive against all hope through her bravery and ingenuity.

Today, we learned that James’ body had been found. He set out on foot on Saturday, nine days after becoming lost, to try and find help. It’s a hard blow to take, even though most of us couldn’t have picked James out of a line up. He was one of our own, and we were pulling for him.

The media (indeed, even the media in our own little world of technology) and those who think they know better will argue about the merits of going off into unknown conditions in the middle of winter in Oregon. Sure, on paper, it might look like a much better plan to hunker down and wait for the cavalry, but we’ll likely never know what drove James to leave the car and his family. After nine days, this man must have decided that the cavalry wasn’t coming, and he had to take matters into his own hands.

He must have known that it was a dicey proposition at best, and he still left the car to search for help. He staked his life against the chance of saving those he loved, and ultimately, he died while trying to save his wife and his daughters. His family meant more to him than his own safety.

James faced up to the ultimate measure of a man, and he was not found wanting. I only hope that if I am ever measured in this way, I will have the courage to say the same.

Rest in peace, James. We’re all proud of you.

*follow up thought – Someone pointed out to me today that the reason we all rallied around this story was its "closeness to home". Sure, we all hear about and sympathize with all the bad things happening in the world, but we can completely personalize the idea of making a wrong turn and getting lost.. I think that makes a lot of sense.