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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1153 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1153

Recognizing the heroic efforts of the West Virginia National Guard and 
 local responders for their work rescuing 17 individuals from a downed 
     military helicopter on a rugged, snow-covered mountain on the 
                    Pocahontas-Randolph county line.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 2010

 Mr. Rahall (for himself, Mr. Mollohan, and Mrs. Capito) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing the heroic efforts of the West Virginia National Guard and 
 local responders for their work rescuing 17 individuals from a downed 
     military helicopter on a rugged, snow-covered mountain on the 
                    Pocahontas-Randolph county line.

Whereas the West Virginia National Guard and local responders safely and 
        successfully rescued 17 individuals from a downed military helicopter on 
        a rugged, snow-covered mountain on the Pocahontas-Randolph county line;
Whereas, on February 18, 2010, the West Virginia Army National Guard HH-60 
        Blackhawk helicopter, gallantly piloted by Bluefield, West Virginia, 
        native Major Kevin Hazuka, located the downed aircraft in extremely 
        adverse weather conditions;
Whereas two West Virginia Army National Guard Flight Medics, SSG Nicole Hopkins 
        and SPC Casey Dunfee, were lowered to the landing site to assess the 
        situation and to provide assistance to the injured through the night 
        while emergency response and rescue teams worked their way to the 
        survivors;
Whereas a C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 130th Airlift Wing of the West 
        Virginia Air National Guard orbited the crash site to facilitate 
        communications;
Whereas Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort provided two snowcats and personnel that 
        were invaluable to the safe evacuation of the injured;
Whereas local West Virginia civilians generously donated the use of their 
        snowmobiles that enabled first responders to reach the site;
Whereas a Shavers Fork Volunteer Fire and Rescue Unit went as far as they could 
        with special equipment and snowmobiles along a railroad grade to where 
        it was still about a 45-minute trek in 5 feet of snow, straight up the 
        side of a mountain with an approximate 50-degree pitch;
Whereas Valley Head Fire Department, Northern Greenbrier EMS, Greenbrier County 
        Ambulance, White Sulphur Springs EMS, Cass Rescue, and Greenbank 
        National Radio Astronomy Observatory operations staff all provided 
        direct critical support for the effort;
Whereas the Pocahontas County Emergency Management, West Virginia State Police, 
        Pocohantas County Sheriff's Department, Pocohantas County 911, and the 
        U.S. Forest Service provided coordination and support efforts; and
Whereas the Bartow-Frank-Durbin Volunteer Fire and Rescue attempted an approach 
        to the crash sight from the North side with support from State of West 
        Virginia Departments of Natural Resources and Highways, neighboring 
        Randolph and Tucker County Sheriff Departments and EMS units, Elkins, 
        Harmon, and Huttonsville/Mill Creek Volunteer Fire Departments, and the 
        American Red Cross: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the heroic efforts of the West Virginia National 
        Guard and local first responders; and
            (2) recognizes the countless volunteers, families, and 
        neighbors who assisted in rescuing the 17 individuals; and
            (3) recognizes the courage, ability, incredible 
        determination, and willingness of West Virginians to lend a 
        neighborly hand.
                                 <all>
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