Alaska Army and Air Guard rescue four hunters in back-to-back, same-day missions > Alaska National Guard > News

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Bethel UH-60L

An Alaska Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter based in Bethel, Alaska, lands in a flooded area to rescue two stranded hunters along the rapidly rising Gagaryah River approximately 200 miles from Bethel Sept. 16, 2024. The AKARNG received a request from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center after the hunters used a satellite communications device to call the Alaska State Troopers for assistance. The aircrew flew the uninjured hunters safely back to Bethel. (Courtesy Photo)

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240509-Z-SR689-1021

Alaska Air National Guard aviators assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, fly a HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter above the flightline at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, May 9, 2024. The 210th RS, along with the 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons, make up the 176th Wing Rescue Triad and are among the busiest combat search and rescue units in the Air Force. (Alaska National Guard photo by Seth LaCount)

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UH-60L Helicopter

Alaska Army National Guard aviators assigned to Joint Task Force – Aviation depart Bethel, Alaska, in a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter to recover service members from JTF – Bethel who were assisting the community of Nightmute, Alaska, with storm debris removal as part of Operation Merbok Response, Sept. 23, 2022. More than 130 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which includes members of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O'Neal)

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – The Alaska National Guard rescued four hunters Sept. 16 in two separate missions at the request of the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Rescue Coordination Center.

Midday Monday, the AKRCC received a request from the Alaska State Troopers to assist two hunters stranded on a sandbar along the Gagaryah River about 200 air miles from Bethel. The hunters used a satellite communication device to contact AST to request help.

The Alaska Army National Guard crew stationed in Bethel accepted the mission and launched a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter with a medic from the Bethel Fire Department on board. Using the GPS coordinates from the hunters’ satellite device, the aircrew flew directly to their location.

According to Chief Warrant Officer 3 Nick Lime, crew chief for the mission, heavy rain caused the river to rise rapidly and flood the surrounding area. He said the current became too strong for the hunters to swim or use their raft to get to safety.

“These guys did everything right. But Mother Nature just had them in a bad spot,” said Lime. “They moved to high ground three times but each time the river jumped the bank, kept rising and flooded their location.”

The aircrew landed at the hunters’ location, loaded the uninjured hunters onto the aircraft and flew back to Bethel where they were released to the Alaska State Troopers.

Later the same evening, the AKRCC received another request from AST to assist an injured hunter in the vicinity of Wells Bay in Prince William Sound.

LifeMed originally accepted the request; however, due to increasingly bad weather in the area, they were unable to safely conduct the mission.

The Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th Rescue Squadron accepted the mission and launched an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with a team of rescue personnel – Guardian Angels - from the 212th Rescue Squadron on board.

Also using GPS coordinates from a satellite communications device, the Pave Hawk crew flew directly to the location and landed near the injured hunter and his companion. After assessing the hunter’s injuries, the Guardian Angels prepared him for transport to Providence Alaska Medical Center where he and his companion were released to medical providers.

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Bethel UH-60L

An Alaska Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter based in Bethel, Alaska, lands in a flooded area to rescue two stranded hunters along the rapidly rising Gagaryah River approximately 200 miles from Bethel Sept. 16, 2024. The AKARNG received a request from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center after the hunters used a satellite communications device to call the Alaska State Troopers for assistance. The aircrew flew the uninjured hunters safely back to Bethel. (Courtesy Photo)

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Details

240509-Z-SR689-1021

Alaska Air National Guard aviators assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, fly a HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter above the flightline at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, May 9, 2024. The 210th RS, along with the 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons, make up the 176th Wing Rescue Triad and are among the busiest combat search and rescue units in the Air Force. (Alaska National Guard photo by Seth LaCount)

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

UH-60L Helicopter

Alaska Army National Guard aviators assigned to Joint Task Force – Aviation depart Bethel, Alaska, in a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter to recover service members from JTF – Bethel who were assisting the community of Nightmute, Alaska, with storm debris removal as part of Operation Merbok Response, Sept. 23, 2022. More than 130 members of the Alaska Organized Militia, which includes members of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were activated following a disaster declaration issued Sept. 17 after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O'Neal)

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – The Alaska National Guard rescued four hunters Sept. 16 in two separate missions at the request of the Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Rescue Coordination Center.

Midday Monday, the AKRCC received a request from the Alaska State Troopers to assist two hunters stranded on a sandbar along the Gagaryah River about 200 air miles from Bethel. The hunters used a satellite communication device to contact AST to request help.

The Alaska Army National Guard crew stationed in Bethel accepted the mission and launched a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter with a medic from the Bethel Fire Department on board. Using the GPS coordinates from the hunters’ satellite device, the aircrew flew directly to their location.

According to Chief Warrant Officer 3 Nick Lime, crew chief for the mission, heavy rain caused the river to rise rapidly and flood the surrounding area. He said the current became too strong for the hunters to swim or use their raft to get to safety.

“These guys did everything right. But Mother Nature just had them in a bad spot,” said Lime. “They moved to high ground three times but each time the river jumped the bank, kept rising and flooded their location.”

The aircrew landed at the hunters’ location, loaded the uninjured hunters onto the aircraft and flew back to Bethel where they were released to the Alaska State Troopers.

Later the same evening, the AKRCC received another request from AST to assist an injured hunter in the vicinity of Wells Bay in Prince William Sound.

LifeMed originally accepted the request; however, due to increasingly bad weather in the area, they were unable to safely conduct the mission.

The Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th Rescue Squadron accepted the mission and launched an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with a team of rescue personnel – Guardian Angels - from the 212th Rescue Squadron on board.

Also using GPS coordinates from a satellite communications device, the Pave Hawk crew flew directly to the location and landed near the injured hunter and his companion. After assessing the hunter’s injuries, the Guardian Angels prepared him for transport to Providence Alaska Medical Center where he and his companion were released to medical providers.