An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
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.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | March 15, 2022

Alaska Army Guard rescues 2 injured people

By Victoria Granado, Alaska National Guard Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – The Alaska Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, rescued an injured skier and snowmachiner with a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter in separate incidents in Hatcher Pass March 12.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center received the initial requests for help from the Alaska State Troopers.

Master Sgt. David Alborne, senior controller in the AKRCC, reported the location of the first rescue mission was inaccessible by civilian medevac and the terrain required the AKARNG’s ski-equipped aircraft.

“In an area like that, there’s also the consideration of possibly needing a hoist when the crew gets there,” said Alborne.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 J.D. Miller, the pilot in command, said the flight was in “flat light,” with the terrain lacking definition, adding another challenge to locating a person in the mountainous area. He said he appreciates the skier being equipped for emergencies and having a two-way GPS communication device.

“The skier saw the situation very realistically and reacted responsibly,” said Miller. “They went out with a communication device and were prepared to stay overnight. Once they saw the weather turn, they took shelter.”

At approximately 9 a.m., the Black Hawk and crew reached the skier at the Southern Holden Hut in Hatcher Pass. The injured skier was prepared for transport and released to the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center at 9:30 a.m.

A couple of hours later, at 11:15 a.m., Alaska State Troopers asked the AKRCC for help rescuing a severely injured snowmachiner in Hatcher Pass. The conditions once again required a ski-equipped aircraft.

“For this rescue, we knew very early on that ground recovery would not be possible,” said Alborne. “A park ranger with the snowmachiners had already determined that the terrain was too technical and the person’s injuries too serious.”

The snowmachiners, still within cellphone range, were able to send photos of their location and the injured individual. According to Miller, the photos enabled the crew to formulate a more precise plan.

The Guard crew dropped off a paramedic from the Black Hawk 15 yards away and hovered overhead, allowing the paramedic, Sgt. 1st Class Damion Minchaca, to administer medical treatment without disturbance from the helicopter’s rotor wash. In that time, the park ranger and the two uninjured snowmachiners made a trail of packed snow, leveling out a path to transfer the patient to the landing zone.

Once stabilized, the patient was flown to the Providence Alaska Medical Center and released to civilian medical professionals at 1:51 p.m.

For the missions, the 207th Aviation Regiment and AKRCC received credit for two saves.

 

 

Related Articles
An Alaska Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook lands for the first time on Little Diomede, Alaska, with Big Diomede, Russia, visible in the background. The unit supported Operation Polar Dagger, a joint special operations mission across the Alaskan Arctic.
Alaska Guard Joins Polar Dagger Special Ops Exercise
By Maj. AnnMarie Annicelli, | Sept. 11, 2024
PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – The Alaska Army National Guard participated in Operation Polar Dagger Aug. 15-25, helping Special Operations Command North rapidly deploy and operate in the Arctic.Special Operations Command...

Alaska Army National Guard Spc. Avigale Trevino, a horizontal construction engineer assigned to the 910th Engineer Support Company, operates an excavator on the Alcantra road realignment project during annual training at the Alcantra Armory, Wasilla, Alaska, July 22, 2024. The engineers improved vehicle and personnel access to the armory.
Alaska National Guard Engineers Hone Construction Skills
By Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount, | Aug. 7, 2024
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 910th Engineer Support Company worked on horizontal and vertical construction engineering projects in the Anchorage and Matsu areas July 21 through Aug...

Alaska Army National Guard Spc. Jamal Murphy, left, from Kotlik, and Spc. Luke Barnes, from Palmer, both infantrymen with Bison Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, prepare to ground their gear after completing a 5-kilometer snowshoe ruck march near the Alaska Army National Guard Readiness Center in Bethel Feb. 3, 2024.
Alaska Army Guard Conducts Cold-Weather Readiness Training
By Balinda O’Neal, | Feb. 7, 2024
BETHEL, Alaska - Bison Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, demonstrated readiness and resilience during cold weather training in Bethel Feb. 2-4.This training marked a significant reunion for the Alaska Army...