IV 

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; 


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•HRES 1153 IH 

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 


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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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors the heroic efforts of the West Vir3 ginia National Guard and local first responders; and 

4 (2) recognizes the countless volunteers, families, 

5 and neighbors who assisted in rescuing the 17 indi6 viduals; and 

7 (3) recognizes the courage, ability, incredible 

8 determination, and willingness of West Virginians to 

9 lend a neighborly hand. 

Æ 


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