This is why we train: 58th SOW rescues injured hunter

  • Published
  • By By Maj. Chris Escajeda
  • 58th Special Operations Wing
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  While the primary mission of the 58th Special Operations Wing is training aircrew in the art of combat search and rescue, special operations and nuclear surety aviation, sometimes we get tasked to actually do what the rescue community lives for - saving lives.

Aircrews from Kirtland AFB have performed this task effectively through the years, participating in more than 300 rescue operations and saving more than 225 lives.

On the morning of Nov. 6, the Joint Personnel Recovery Center in Tampa, Fla., received a call from law enforcement agencies in southern Colorado, seeking assistance to recover a wounded hunter in the rugged San Juan Mountains near Pagosa Springs. The individual had accidentally cut himself while field dressing a deer.

Initial reports detailed a grim outlook; the man had cut his leg so severely that his fellow hunters had to apply a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. Unable to get their friend to safety due to the harsh terrain, the group had no choice but to call for help.

The JPRC quickly alerted the nearest military unit able to conduct the rescue effort - the 58th Special Operations Wing. Within 45 minutes of receiving the tasking, an HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter from the 512th Rescue Squadron, Air Force Rescue 202, was airborne and enroute to the critically injured hunter.

The crew consisted of Maj. Chris Escajeda, Maj. Warren Rohlfs, Master Sgts. Jeff Rice and Robert Dinsmore. Additionally, the crew included pararescuemen, Master Sgt. Todd Popovic and Tech. Sgt. Fred Funches from Det. 1 342nd Training Squadron (PJ school). Providing overhead search, communications, and aerial refueling support was an HC-130 from the 550th Special Operations Squadron, Air Force Rescue 830. On board were Maj. Craig Fronczek, Capt. Rob Robison, Maj. Don Aspden, Maj. James Guerin, Maj. Brent Nestor, Capt. Mark Littlejohn, Master Sgt. Brian Smith, Tech. Sgt. Ernest Taylor and Staff Sgt. Chris Rodenbeck.

Arriving on scene a little over an hour after takeoff, Air Force Rescue 202 quickly located a small clearing with two hunters waving orange flags. After careful consideration of the terrain, wind and power requirements, the aircrew executed a steep approach into the confined area, which was surrounded by 100-foot aspen trees. The PJ's disembarked the helicopter to assess the situation. After realizing the wounded man was a quarter mile down the trail, the PJs followed the hunters to his location while the helicopter took off and provided overhead support.

Once the PJs had stabilized the injured hunter he was loaded onto a stretcher, which had been lowered from the helicopter. Holding the HH-60G Pavehawk at a 150-foot hover just above the treetops, the aircrew lowered the hoist again and began extracting the wounded man and two pararescuemen. Once all personnel were safely onboard, the crew headed for Durango, Colo.

Upon reaching Durango and realizing a safe landing could not be made at the hospital, Air Force Rescue 202 decided to land at nearby Animas Air Park and have an ambulance meet the crew on the ground. Due to flawless coordination from Air Force Rescue 830, the injured man was loaded onto the ambulance and on his way to the hospital within 5 minutes after landing.

Later, upon a safe return to Kirtland AFB, the crews of Air Force Rescue 202 and Air Force Rescue 830 knew they lived up to the motto of Air Force Rescue professionals ... "These Things We Do That Others May Live."