**Meritorious and Valorous Service recognition to Senior Patrol Agents**

**James E. Bunner Jr. (Spokane Sector, Whitefish Montana Station, Snow
Mobile Trainer)**

**and Raymond M. Overholt (Tucson Sector, Nogales Station, BORSTAR)**

**while detailed to the Kyrgyz Republic from 13 - 28 March, 2004.**

While scouting snow machine training areas in the Naryn Oblast,
southeast of the Kyrgyz Republic on March 14, 2004, information was
received that a group of Americans had been trapped in deep snow for two
days in the Arpo Valley. The scout team consisted of Export Control and
Border Security (EXBS) program advisor Barry Johnson and Senior Patrol
Agent's (SPAs) James E. Bunner Jr. and Raymond M. Overholt. The
information received was categorized as life threatening and required
immediate action. SPAs Bunner and Overholt identified critical equipment
and supplies necessary for the rescue, assembled an impromptu Search and
Rescue Team (SRT) and departed within minutes. After traveling three
hours towards the site, the SRT encountered the Ak-Beet Pass, just
before Arpo Valley, blocked by deep snow and stuck trucks. SPAs Bunner
and Overholt immediately unloaded the snow machines, prepared them and
drove over the pass to the Border Guard Base at Masatyr. Utilizing
diplomatic skills, they convinced the hostile and skeptical guards to
allow them to pass into the valley. Night and incredibly difficult
conditions prevented the team from continuing the search and the SRT
returned to Naryn.

On March 15, the SRT departed before dawn for the valley. Once again the
team could not breach Ak-Beet Pass and had to travel over the pass,
leaving the support component of the SRT on the other side. SPAs Bunner
and Overholt, utilizing their vast search and rescue experience and
knowledge, systematically began the search of the Arpo Valley, which
measures approximately 60km by 30 km. Immediately determining that the
map position given by the hunter camp office in Naryn was inaccurate,
the Border Patrol Agents used every search and rescue technique to
locate the stranded hunters within three hours, an outstanding feat in
this remote area along the Chinese border; so vast and desolate.
Conditions during the search made it impossible to judge depth
perception, and the danger of driving off a cliff or into a ravine
heightened the physically demanding search, as did the 6-foot deep snow
and prevalent drifts. Seeing from afar that the hunters were placed
aboard an arriving Kyrgyz helicopter, the SRT returned to Naryn to
prepare for training. Almost back to Naryn, the team discovered that the
helicopter had crashed. Gathering resources and equipment, SPAs Bunner
and Overholt quickly transformed the search and rescue operation to
search and rescue operation with medical and evacuation emphasis.

With only a short rest, the SRT departed once again well before dawn on
March 16 for the four-hour trip to Arpo Valley. Arriving at the pass at
8:00 a.m., this time it was traversable, the team reached the base at
Masatyr and set up a command post. SPAs Bunner and Overholt immediately
set off on the search based on partial GPS coordinates. Utilizing the
best search and rescue techniques on the planet, the Border Patrol
Agents located the crash site within two hours by identifying tracks in
the snow of two people trying to walk out in the deep snow and tracking
them back to the helicopter, a phenomenal accomplishment.

The helicopter had impacted on a decreasing slope, and had rolled 4-5
times, ejecting several occupants. Upon arriving to the site, the SRT
found people scattered for hundreds of yards. Because of the vast EMT
and Search and Rescue experience of these specialists, they were quickly
able to perform triage, administer first aid, and identify an initial
order of evacuation. They encouraged the injured and significantly
raised morale among the casualties. Not one of the 24 people at the site
was uninjured. Two had perished on impact, at least seven had
life-threatening injuries and almost all had broken bones and head
injuries.

At around 11:00 a.m. on March 16, SPAs Bunner and Overholt began
transporting the injured by towing them on sleds to the 20km to the
Border Guard Base at Masatyr. The trip took over an hour with the
injured. Due to limited visibility and the condition of the snow, the
task of hauling injured, sometimes two at a time, was physically
exhausting. The return trip was only slightly faster, as water,
blankets, food, and eventually more medics, tents and wood were hauled
to the crash site.

At approximately 8:00 p.m., the 11th injured was brought out, reaching
the half waypoint. Although the night initially brought clearer weather,
the temperature dropped significantly. Later in the early morning hours,
a snowstorm set in blocking the trail with drifts and blinding the snow
machine drivers. On through the night they drove, caring for each
patient, ensuring all medical care possible was provided, then
transporting them out of the site. Never once did SPAs Bunner and
Overholt stop to rest or eat. The last injured was brought out at 5:30
a.m. on March 17. The Border Patrol Agents rested for an hour, and then
returned to the site to evacuate the bodies of the deceased, the medics
and other equipment. At approximately 12:00 p.m. operation concluded and
the SRT returned to Naryn.

Professionals through and through, SPAs Bunner and Overholt began the
delayed training the very next day, and have executed it flawlessly.

The actions of United States Border Patrol Agents James E. Bunner Jr.
and Raymond M. Overholt saved lives and their ability to locate the
crash site saved all 22 lives at the site because the Kyrgyz were unable
to launch a recovery operation 20km in deep snow, nor put a helicopter
into the air to reach the site for at least 9 days, meaning all would
have perished. These men are national heroes. These actions reflect
great credit upon themselves, their characters, and the United States
Border Patrol.