Total force rescue warriors save man at sea

  • Published
  • By By Senior Airman Melissa Maraj
  • 355th Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Az. --  A man aboard a cargo ship, suffering from a near fatal health condition in the middle of the Pacific Ocean would have never believed he could be saved and survive. But he was — and he did.
In the early morning of July 1, a man aboard the Horizon Pacific, more than 500 miles off the California coast, suffered from what doctors believed were stroke like symptoms. He needed immediate care, but the ship was beyond the reach of the U.S. Coast Guard’s HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters.
That’s when members from the 943rd Rescue Group here were called in and deployed at the last minute to save the man’s life.
According to Capt. Eric Simon, 943rd RQG public affairs, the 943rd RQG was called upon because of their ability to fly long distances non-stop while using aerial refueling.
This capability is exactly what saved the man’s life.
Air Force pararescue personnel, who are specially trained in tactical emergency medicine for rescue missions in hostile environments, departed D-M in two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters — crossing open waters to reach the ship.
This seven-hour, high-risk mission required three aerial refuelings enroute and 30 minutes at the ship to stabilize and hoist the patient to the helicopter.
After four additional hours of flying time and one aerial refueling, the patient was transported to a medical center in California where he received treatment.
“We could not have accomplished this mission without the 79th Rescue Squadron from D-M refueling us out to the coast, and the 129th Rescue Group out of NAS Moffett, California who refueled us over the Pacific Ocean,” said Col. Robert Dunn, 943rd RQG commander. “In rescues like this one, involving long distances, the tankers are absolutely essential and a true testimonial to the ‘One Team, One Fight’ genre existing between the ARC and active-duty personnel.”
The 943rd is equipped with six HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters that are capable of conducting worldwide combat search and rescue operations.
“The 943rd also has a large pool of seasoned crewmembers, maintenance personnel and pararescuemen who have been in the rescue community for close to 20 years, which equates to a lot of experience,” said Colonel Dunn.
“The majority of crewmembers, that flew the mission, are combat veterans from Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, so they’re used to quick-draw missions like this one,” he said.
“This, along with a culture of ‘can do’ attitudes of the personnel who truly believe in the rescue motto ‘These things we do, so others may live,” contributed to mission’s success, Colonel Dunn said.
In total, the crew conducted more than 12 hours of flight time to complete this mission.
“Everybody from the maintenance personnel to the aircrews were on the top of their game for this mission,” said Maj. John Keeler, one of the HH-60 Pave Hawk pilots for the mission and Chief of Safety with the 943rd RQG.
“The commitment and professionalism everybody has for getting the mission completed quickly and safely is incredible,” Major Keeler said. “It‘s always a rewarding feeling to help others and be part of a such a great team.”
Had it not been for the quick and efficient response of military personnel more than seven hours away, the man could very well have seen his last day out at sea.