An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

National GuardAlways Ready Always There

National Guard

                - 

Search

Search
Search

-  Home		 
-  News    -  Guard News         
  -  Overseas Operations         
  -  State Partnership Program         
  -  News Features         
  -  RSS Feeds         
  -  Press Releases         
  -  Transcripts 
-  Features    -  Features by Year         
  -  Posture Statement         
  -  State Partnership Program         
  -  Special Features 
-  About the Guard    -  How We Began         
  -  Air National Guard         
  -  Army National Guard      -  DEERS Soldier Journey         
    -  Leader Development Program 
  -  History and Heritage         
  -  I am the Guard         
  -  NGB Official March 
-  Leadership    -  CNGB         
  -  VCNGB         
  -  SEA         
  -  DANG         
  -  DARNG         
  -  Joint Staff      -  J-1         
    -  J-2         
    -  J-3         
    -  J-4         
    -  J-5         
    -  J-6         
    -  J-7         
    -  J-8         
    -  Personal Staff        -  Inspector General         
      -  General Counsel         
      -  Public Affairs         
      -  Executive Support Services         
      -  Legislative Liaison 
    -  Special Staff        -  National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel         
      -  Office of the Provost Marshal         
      -  Office of the Joint Surgeon         
      -  Director of Acquisitions         
      -  Small Business Programs         
      -  Chaplain         
      -  Senior Leader Management Office         
      -  Diversity Equity Inclusion 
    -  Comptroller 
-  Resources    -  National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance         
  -  Community Engagement         
  -  FOIA         
  -  Fact Sheets         
  -  Helpful Links         
  -  Image Gallery      -  News Images         
    -  Graphics         
    -  Historical Paintings 
  -  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion         
  -  Legislative Liaison         
  -  Small Business Programs         
  -  Social Media         
  -  State Websites         
  -  Videos      -  Featured Videos         
    -  On Every Front         
    -  2019 Videos         
    -  2020 Videos         
    -  2021 Videos 
  -  Suicide Prevention         
  -  Family Programs         
  -  Environmental         
  -  Trial Defense Service         
  -  Holistic Wellness Challenge 
-  Contact Us		 

Home : News : Article View

PHOTO INFORMATION

** Download

** Details

** Share

# Silicon Valley-based Air Guard unit logs 1,015th rescue

By Capt. Roderick Bersamina129th Rescue Wing

MOFFETT AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. - The California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing on Tuesday saved the life of a seriously ill 14-year-old boy on board a cruise liner, the Star Princess, approximately 450 miles off the coast of San Diego.

Early Tuesday morning, with the U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force Rescue Coordination Center assistance (AFRCC) coordination, the 129th Rescue Wing launched two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, each with a 4-man aircrew and a 2-man Guardian Angel (GA) Pararescue team to the cruise ship.

"The coordination between the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Marine Corps highlights the flexibility and interoperability that we regularly demonstrate when accomplishing our combat rescue mission downrange," said Col. Taft Aujero, 129th Rescue Wing Commander. It is a privilege to be a part of the California National Guard where we hold a dual responsibility to the state of California as well as to the Department of Defense to provide combat search and rescue operations over land or water in both hostile and permissive environments worldwide."

In coordination with the Marine Aerial Refueling Transport Squadron 352 (VMGR 352), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar, a KC-130J aircraft also departed to support with aerial refueling operations. Additionally, the 129th Rescue Wing launched one MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft, with a total of 6 aircrew and a 4-man GA team, approximately 1:50 p.m. to provide refueling and support to the helicopters for the return flight.

"Working closely with the Guardian Angel team, we accomplished our medical objective which was to safely transport the patient from the cruise liner back to shore to Scripps Memorial Hospital," said Lt. Col. Kathryn Hodge, mission medical director and flight surgeon onboard one of the helicopters. "What it takes to coordinate something like this is a massive undertaking and it has to be done safely. Literally hundreds of people are involved."

The GA team hoisted down to the cruise liner from a Pave Hawk helicopter and stabilized the patient before hoisting him on to the helicopter to depart for the mainland. The patient's father was also hoisted to the helicopter. The GA team and Dr. Hodge continued to care for their patient while inside the helicopter until they arrived at Scripps Memorial Hospital.

"It's always good and you feel really rewarded at the end of the day. But that's not why we do it. We do it so that others may live and to save lives however we can," said Master Sgt. Sean Kirsch, Guardian Angel Pararescueman. "When you bring a critical 14-year-old American boy home to receive better medical care and he makes it there and he's in stable shape or better than when you pick him up, it is pretty rewarding."

The 129th Rescue Wing is credited with saving the lives of more than 1,000 people. From arid deserts and snow-covered mountain tops to urban and rural settings, 129th Rescue Wing air Guard members can reach any destination by land, air or sea. Equipped with MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft, HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters and Guardian Angel teams (Pararescuemen and Combat Rescue Officers), the 129th Rescue Wing conducts combat search and rescue missions, as well as the rescue of distressed persons on board ships, lost or injured hikers and medical evacuations across the West Coast.

**                    SHARE                

**                    PRINT