From bullet holes to baseball--Air Force Reserve Rescue pilot racks up points for heroics

  • Published
  • By Maj. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  While dodging bullets in Afghanistan, baseball was the farthest thing from Maj. Rod Stout's mind when flying rescue missions.

With a Bronze Star and 9 Air Medals for heroics behind the yoke of a chopper, Maj. Rod Stout, Air Force Reserve rescue pilot, 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., landed on the field of a Florida minor league baseball game May 16, to be honored by his home team, the Brevard County Manatees.

Fellow Citizen Airmen, including Command Chief Master Sgt. Bianchi and his wife Meredith, attended the event at the Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. to show their support.

Although excited to be enjoying America's favorite pastime with his family, Stout was passé about the recognition he'd be receiving.

"I've flown lots of harry missions--saved babies, little kids, guys with gunshot wounds to the head, but I've been doing this for a while," said Stout.

Stout has been flying with the military for 12 years.

On his last deployment to Afghanistan in 2011, Stout flew roughly 160 missions and is credited with saving 100 lives.

"I counted at least 10 times we could hear bullets going by, or the sound of a gun," said Lt. Col. Rob Haston, Stout's co-pilot during his last deployment.

According to Stout, during one mission, a bullet pierced the bottom of their HH-60G Pave Hawk and ricocheted through the cabin missing Stout and Haston, although a pararescueman on board was not so lucky. He was shot through the leg, and survived.

Stout is currently a 920th instructor pilot on Air Force Pave Hawk helicopters, and has been on multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11th.

The night ended with a 3-2 home-team win against the St. Lucie Mets.

For news and information on the 920th RQW, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.