What could have very easily been a local tragedy ended up with a storybook ending, as Thomas Goodwin, a 54-year old man who went missing during a Civil War reenactment in Yelm on Saturday, Sept. 5, was found by a search team on Friday, Sept. 11.
Goodwin initially went missing during the evening hours of Saturday, Sept. 5, during a Civil War re-enactment near George Road on the outskirts of Yelm. Goodwin was last seen between 8 and 9 p.m. last Saturday.
He was on foot at the time he went missing and did not have a vehicle. He was described to those involved in the search party to be 5-foot 10-inches tall and 190 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes.
Additionally, Goodwin went missing wearing his Civil War re-enactment uniform — which included a gray top and blue pants.
The Washington Civil War Association was hosting a three-day event, titled, “Encounter at Evenson Farm,” which was set to take place from Saturday, Sept. 5, through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 7.
Later in the week, the City of Yelm Police Department shared the great news at 9:36 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, that deputies were dispatched to a location near George Road in connection with the missing Civil War reenactor.
“Goodwin has been located and is currently being evaluated,” City of Yelm Police Department wrote on Facebook on Friday, Sept. 11.
Goodwin’s wife, Julie, wrote on Facebook on Saturday, Sept. 12, to provide an update on her husband’s condition.
She noted that her husband suffered a stroke in the frontal lobe but joked that there’s officially proof that her husband has a brain. Julie added that Goodwin was severely dehydrated, covered in bug bites, sunburned, sore, hoarse, thirsty and hungry.
“He was confused and thought it was Sunday, the 6th,” Julie wrote on Facebook. “I am still in disbelief that he made it six days in the woods without food or water. I honestly don’t know how he did it.”
Julie also expressed her gratitude for everyone who helped bring her husband home.
“Whether you were boots on the ground searching the fields and woods, putting out flyers, going door to door, talking to people, keeping us in your thoughts and prayers, offering to help, putting together food, or donating money—thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Julie wrote. “I also want to give a huge shout-out to Flaming Pig BBQ in Tumwater for feeding everyone on Friday. If you’re ever in Tumwater and want some great BBQ, be sure to stop by! And thank you to TJ’s Grillin in Yelm for making sure Hunter and I were fed on Monday. They make a mean cheeseburger.”
She added that there are so many other people and organizations that she wants to thank, which included: “to Zucchini Creek: Doyle Family Farm, Yelm (Police Department), Thurston County (Search and Rescue), PSNS and so many others: I have NOT forgotten you! I owe you all so much gratitude.”
“We are just incredibly thankful that Tom is home, alive and doing great after spending six days in the woods without food or water,” Julie wrote.
