An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

NEWS | Dec. 27, 2021

Alaska Air National Guard Airmen rescue pregnant woman in distress at Kipnuk

By David Bedard 176th Wing Public Affairs

Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued a pregnant woman in distress Dec. 27 at Kipnuk about 100 miles southwest of Bethel.
 
Alaska Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Evan Budd, Alaska Rescue Coordination Center superintendent, said officials of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital requested assistance when a pregnant woman was injured in a snowmachine accident.
 
The 176th Wing launched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter and a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II rescue aircraft. Both aircraft had highly trained pararescue (PJs) Airmen onboard.
 
The HC-130 was the first aircraft on scene, dropping much-needed medical supplies to local medical professionals for use stabilizing the patient.
 
The HH-60 then landed on scene, disembarking two PJs who spent an hour stabilizing the patient before loading her onboard the Pave Hawk for evacuation to the Bethel Airport and transloaded her to the
HC-130.
 
The crew of the HC-130 then transported the woman to JBER where she was transloaded to a JBER Fire Emergency Services ambulance. Paramedics of the 673d Civil Engineer Squadron then transported the patient to the Alaska Native Medical Center.
 
Budd said teamwork between the 176th Wing units and the 673d CES was a critical dimension during the mission.
 
“The transload was key because the weather was so poor in the passes,” he said. “There were a lot of tough obstacles to overcome, but everyone came together and knocked this one out of the park.”
 
For the operation, 210th RQS, 211th RQS, 212th RQS and the AKRCC were awarded one save.
Alaska Army National Guard hosts multi-agency hoist symposium, expands partnerships, improves SAR coordination
July 29, 2025
The symposium, hosted by Alaska Army National Guard aviators assigned to Golf Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, included U.S. Coast Guard crews assigned to Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic out of Air Stations Kodiak and Sitka, Alaska Air National Guardsmen with the 176th Wing rescue squadrons, U.S. Army aviators from Fort Wainwright’s 1-52nd General Support Aviation Battalion, Alaska State Troopers, and civilian search and rescue professional volunteers from the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group.

Alaska Air National Guard rescues climber trapped on cliff near Seward
July 28, 2025
AKANG

AKARNG aviation maintenance Soldiers conduct HH-60M Black Hawk repairs
July 23, 2025
na

AKNG COP manager leads charge on AI integration in disaster response
July 11, 2025
na

Alaska Army Guard aviators rescue family of 6, stranded on Kuskokwim River during summer storm
July 1, 2025
na

Diamond Strong: 176th Wing LRS Airman earns NGB first sergeant of the year honors
June 30, 2025
na

Alaska Air National Guard rescues injured climber near Eklutna Lake
June 28, 2025
na

Ling succeeds Groat as Alaska state command chief
June 26, 2025
Chief Master Sgt. Kim T. Groat relinquishes the position of the State Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Alaska Air National Guard to Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey A. Ling during a change of responsibility ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, June 18, 2025. Brig. Gen. Brian D. Kile, the commander of the Alaska Air National Guard, presided over the ceremony.

Key leaders visit Shepard Point IRT site
June 26, 2025
na

Alaska National Guard leads ORCA WMD exercise in Juneau
June 16, 2025
The exercise is a full-scale all-hazards chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives joint and interagency training exercise testing and evaluating the operational capability of the whole-of-government emergency management system.