Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            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
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Tennessee National Guard Rescues Hiker on Appalachian Trail By Tennessee Department of Military
 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A Tennessee Army National Guard medical flight crew evacuated a hiker in medical distress along the Appalachian Trail April 5. Shortly after midnight, the Tennessee Military Department and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were notified that a 27-year-old hiker needed to be rescued from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The hiker was in a remote area near the Silers Bald Shelter along the Tennessee-North Carolina border. TEMA approved the mission, and Tennessee National Guardsmen assigned to the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion in Knoxville assembled a flight crew, prepared a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, and launched to rescue the hiker. The aircrew left shortly after 2 a.m. and arrived near the Silers Bald Shelter 30 minutes later. The crew began searching for the victim in darkness as park rangers from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park radioed location coordinates to the aircraft and marked the pick-up site with a fire and strobe light. However, the thick cloud cover and darkness made it difficult to find the victim. The aircraft crew shifted locations, reduced altitude and continued searching while receiving directions from park rangers on the ground via radio. After a few more minutes, they located the strobe light and fire set by the rangers. Just before 3 a.m., the aircraft crew chief lowered a flight paramedic to the ground by hoist to do a quick medical assessment and prepare the hiker for transport. After a few minutes on the ground, the hiker and flight medic were hoisted into the hovering helicopter. The patient received aid while the aircraft flew to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. At approximately 3:30 a.m., the aircraft landed at UT Medical Center, where medical personnel received the patient. The Tennessee Army National Guard flight crew consisted of two pilots, Capt. Hulon Holmes and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Harold Ridings, crew chief Sgt. Gabriel Weston, and two flight paramedics, Sgt. 1st Class Giovanni DeZuani and Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Banta.
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Tennessee Army National Guard
 MEDEVAC
 Great Smoky Mountains National Park
 Appalachian Trail
 
 Tennessee National Guard Rescues Injured Hiker
 By Lt. Col. Darrin Haas,
  Tennessee Military Intelligence Company Completes Validation
 By William Jones,
  Tenn. National Guard unit Completes Horn of Africa Deployment
 By Tennessee National Guard
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 30 minutes ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 7 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 8 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil