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 NEWS
 Alaska National Guard “Guardian Angels” save 107 in Afghanistan By Air Force Maj. Guy Hayes
                Alaska National Guard
 CAMP  DENALI, Alaska - Guard members from the Alaska Air National Guard’s  212th Rescue Squadron recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan where  they are credited with saving 107 lives during combat search and rescue  missions. The  unit deployed for eight months, with individual Guardmembers supporting the  deployment in two to four month intervals. “Just  about everybody in the unit had the chance to deploy, and they represented the  Alaska Air National Guard very well,” said Air Force Maj. Joe Conroy, 212th  Rescue Squadron director of operations, Alaska Air National Guard. The  Guard members were on alert 24/7, ready to respond and prepared in part because  of the training they receive while providing medical support annually  throughout Alaska. “We  have a lot of patient contact in Alaska and that helps with dealing with  people’s injuries.” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chris Uriarte, pararescuemen,  212th Rescue Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard. “The medical portion  translates well.” “Here  in Alaska we are always on alert, and that’s definitely a benefit when you’re  deployed because you need to be ready and prepared to provide support when the  call comes in,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Bill Cenna, pararescuemen, 212th  Rescue Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard. Throughout  the course of the eight month deployment, the men of the 212th Rescue Squadron  spent their time transferring patients between medical facilities and engaged  in the fight providing support on the heat of the battlefield. “In  addition to standing alert or pulling patient transfer, we were also tasked to  support specific Army operations,” Uriarte said. “It got a little sporty during  those events.” Cenna  added, “It allowed us to be closer to the fight and have a launch time of two  minutes instead of 35 minutes. It makes a big difference when you’re that close  and are able to provide immediate support to the troops on the ground.” One  mission in particular occurred April 23 when Cenna, Uriarte and three other  Guardian Angels – Air Force Maj. Jesse Peterson, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shane  Hargis and Air Force Staff Sgt. Zachary Kline – were involved directly in a fight trying to save  the lives of two downed Army aviators. “We  were the closest asset when an Army helicopter went down,” Uriarte said. Uriarte  was onboard one of two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters flown by aircrew from the  33rd Rescue Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan. He was on the lead aircraft that went in to  retrieve two downed aviators during a barrage of incoming fire. “We  went in, put a three-man team on the ground and found the two aviators were  split-up,” Uriarte said. “We sent our  second two-man team over to the wreckage where the second guy was located to  pick him up. It ended up being a pretty long stay on the ground for the guys at  the crash site.” Cenna  was part of the two-man team on the second HH-60 Pave Hawk sent in to provide  support to the downed pilot at the crash site. He and Kline hoisted down 180  feet, much higher than their standard descents because of the mountainous  terrain. Peterson,  Uriarte and Hargis were able to rescue the first aviator, hoisting back into  the HH-60 to support Cenna and Kline as long as they could before returning to  base to swap out for a fresh crew. Meanwhile  Cenna and Kline had to traverse about 55 yards to get to the crash site,  unfortunately discovering the pilot had already died. They immediately prepared  to have the fallen hero hoisted up to the Pave Hawk. “The  helo was taking rounds, and one of the flight engineers was hit in the leg. He  was bleeding pretty badly, so they returned to base, and we stayed in the area  because we didn’t have the means to exfil immediately,” Cenna said. The  pair spent five more hours in the middle of a fire fight while on the ground  with the fallen hero, taking cover to avoid becoming casualties themselves and  calling in close air support to strike the enemy, who continued to fire on  their position. “We  were taking cover and trying to locate where rounds were coming from to direct  air support onto it,” Cenna said. “Aircraft kept trying to retrieve us, but  they kept getting shot at.” Kline  called in close air support and it came in the form of Apaches, A-10s and other  aircraft, which engaged targets right on top of their position. After  hours of continued fighting and dodging bullets, a Pave Hawk was finally able  to get back in and hoist the hero, Cenna, and Kline off the wreckage and back  to base for a mission debrief of the day’s activities. It  was a significant event they’d lived through, but 12 hours later, they were  back on duty providing the same support in hopes they could save another life. They  were living the creed they all agreed to when they became pararescuemen. A  creed that means putting others before yourself: "It is my duty as a  pararescueman to save lives and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all  times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these  duties before personal desires and comforts. These things I do, that others may  live." “Imagine  telling a fellow service member that you can't come get them out of harm’s way  because you're tired or better yet, imagine explaining that to their kids,”  Uriarte said. “Not a chance.” The  members of the Alaska Air National Guard’s 212th Rescue Squadron deployed to  Afghanistan August 2010 and returned May 2011.
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