[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 205 Received in Senate (RDS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 205


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 10, 1999

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing and honoring the heroic efforts of the Air National Guard's 
 109th Airlift Wing and its rescue of Dr. Jerri Nielsen from the South 
                                 Pole.

Whereas the 109th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard is based at Stratton 
        Air National Guard Base in Glenville, New York;
Whereas the 109th was called upon by the United States Antarctic Program to 
        undertake a medical evacuation mission to the South Pole to rescue Dr. 
        Jerri Nielsen, a physician who diagnosed herself with breast cancer;
Whereas the 109th is the only unit in the world trained and equipped to attempt 
        such a mission;
Whereas the 10 crew members were pilot Maj. George R. McAllister Jr., senior 
        mission commander Col. Marion G. Pritchard, co-pilot Maj. David 
        Koltermann, navigator Lt. Col. Bryan M. Fennessy, engineer Ch. M. Sgt. 
        Michael T. Cristiano, loadmasters Sr. M. Sgt. Kurt A. Garrison and T. 
        Sgt. David M. Vesper, flight nurse Maj. Kimberly Terpening, and medical 
        technicians Ch. M. Sgt. Michael Casatelli and M. Sgt. Kelly McDowell;
Whereas the crew departed Stratton Air Base for McMurdo Station in Antarctica 
        via Christchurch, New Zealand, on October 6, 1999;
Whereas on October 15, 1999, Aircraft No. 096 departed McMurdo for the South 
        Pole, where the temperature was approximately -53 degrees Celsius;
Whereas Major McAllister piloted a 130,000 pound LC-130 Hercules cargo plane 
        equipped with Teflon-coated skis to a safe landing on an icy runway with 
        visibility barely above minimums established for safe operations;
Whereas less than 25 minutes later, following an emotional goodbye and brief 
        medical evaluation, Dr. Nielsen and the crew headed back to McMurdo 
        Station;
Whereas the mission lasted 9 days and covered 11,410 nautical miles; and
Whereas Major McAllister became the first person ever to land on a polar ice cap 
        at this time of year: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress recognizes and honors the crew of the Air National 
Guard's 109th Airlift Wing for its heroic efforts in rescuing Dr. Jerri 
Nielsen from the South Pole.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 9, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.