One of the heroes that emerged from World War II wasn’t a soldier or a general; it wasn’t even human. It was the Jeep Brand 4x4, a vehicle created to provide reliable transportation across all types of terrain, carrying everything from generals to medical supplies. 

Jeeps were described by Scripps Howard WWII reporter Ernie Pyle as “faithful as a dog, as strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat. It constantly carried twice what it was designed for and still kept going.”

Once the war was over, the heroic vehicle earned a place in Bountiful’s history when resident Merk Christensen started the Bountiful Jeep Posse in 1946, dedicated to search and rescue. It’s been called the world’s first jeep posse and it’s served the community for nearly 80 years.

Bountiful resident Bobby Valentine has been with the posse for almost 24 years, starting in January 2000. He got involved with the search and rescue group through his wife, Carey.

“I got married into it,” he said. “My wife’s dad was in it and two of her uncles, and I think two or three of her cousins. They were talking and said I should come check it out. And so I did. It’s been great. I haven’t regretted a day of it. I love it.”

Over the years, the Bountiful Jeep Posse has evolved. Although some Jeeps are still used, most members own pickup trucks which handle difficult terrain with greater ease. The number of participants fluctuates, hovering at around 40 members after a high of 70 or more. 

Like Valentine, who drives for UPS, all of the posse members volunteer their time. The group’s focus has expanded to include emergency preparedness, traffic control during events and hunter safety classes. 

It also has a food storage program that allows posse members to feed up to 100 first responders in the case of an emergency, like an earthquake or fire. “Whenever they call us and say, hey, we need your help, we’re there.”

For more than 40 years, the Bountiful Jeep Posse has organized a Sub for Santa for members of the community. A fundraising event, that includes Bingo and a raffle, helps raise money to provide presents, clothes and food for 30 local families. 

“We’ve got some great people in our community that donate prizes as well as participate and donate their money. It’s a great cause,” Valentine said. “We try and do what we can and find out what they need, whether it’s clothing or toys or a Christmas tree, or maybe even some food items.”

The group also helps senior citizens who might need some help during the holidays. They work with the Bountiful Food Bank and local churches to find seniors in need and deliver food, shoes, presents and more. 

Just like its WWII predecessors, this Jeep posse is still helping those who are experiencing difficult times. For information about donating to the Bountiful Jeep Posse’s Sub for Santa, contact Valentine at 801-824-1520.

“We love the community and we like helping out,” he said. “So far, so good. We’re still here and the community is still willing to have us.”