Rescue Wing Airmen receive Life Saving Award from local community

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Natasha Dowridge
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Rescue Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., train both mentally and physically for a moment when they might be called for a combat or civil search and rescue mission.

For the pilots and crew of two HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, their time came unexpectedly early February 2012.

During a nighttime training flight in Central Florida, they diverted after receiving an emergency call about an overturned air boat in St. Johns River - four people were injured, one seriously.
The Rescue helicopters served as air ambulance and transported the injured boaters to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla. The link to the original news story is here.

It was this event that the Melbourne Regional Chamber of East Central Florida wanted to honor, by recognizing the pilots and crew at the 4th annual Valor Awards Aug. 30.

In recognition for their heroic save, the Rescue Airmen were awarded with the Life Saving Award. In total nine Rescue Airmen were recognized:

Col. Jeffrey L. Macrander, pilot
Lt. Col. Timothy S. Davis, pilot
Maj. Melvin L. Bonifacio, pilot
Maj. John M. Tatton, pilot
Senior Master Sgt. Randolph J. Wells, aerial gunner
Master Sgt. William R. Towers, aerial gunner
Tech. Sgt. John D. Jones, flight engineer
Tech. Sgt. David Y. Bahr, flight engineer
Tech. Sgt. Justin D. Sleeth, aerial gunner

This award is given to a public safety official or unit in recognition of acts taken in a life-threatening situation where an individual's life is in jeopardy, either medically or physically, said Cassie Hansen, Melbourne Regional Chamber of East Central Fla., Event Director.

Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th RQW Wing Commander, was the pilot of one of the two rescue helicopters that responded to the call.

"It's nice to be recognized by the community for just doing what we train to do," said Macrander. "These award ceremonies give us a chance to talk about the great people in the wing."

There were 24 award winners in total with stories ranging from detectives catching a serial killer to a policeman stopping a potential suicide. A committee made up of civilians determines the recipients for each of the award categories: Medal of Valor, Life Saving Award and the Medal of Merit.

The 920th RQW, formally the 301st Rescue Squadron, has been saving lives since January 1957 and have made more than 850 saves while in combat.

For more information about the 920th RQW, log on to the wing's Web Site: www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.