[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 157 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H11717-H11718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Armed Services be discharged from further consideration of the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 205) 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, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I shall not 
object, I rise simply to commend my colleague the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Reynolds) for bringing my resolution to the floor, and to 
speak for a moment about its merits.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Jerri Nielsen was stationed at the South Pole during 
this past Antarctic winter, and by virtue of self-examination 
discovered a lump in her breast. She performed a biopsy. She concluded 
that she had breast cancer. She administered chemotherapy and tried as 
best she could to endure the Antarctic winter until a plane could come 
and rescue her and give her more comprehensive medical treatment.
  Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this resolution is to point out the 
heroism of those who went to rescue Dr. Nielsen. They are the members 
of the Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing, which is located in my 
congressional district in Glenville, New York. This mission departed 
the Samuel S. Stratton Air National Guard Base on October 6th, arrived 
at the South Pole on October 15th, traveled 11,410 nautical miles, and 
was led by Major George McAllister, Jr.
  Mr. Speaker, this trip was historic in that Major McAllister and his 
crew became the first persons ever to land at the South Pole so soon 
after an antarctic winter. I know a little bit about the dangers faced 
by the members of the 109th, Mr. Speaker, because I have traveled with 
them both to the North Pole and to the South Pole. Of course, when I 
went with them, it was in the middle of the Antarctic summer, which is 
our winter. So when I was there in January of 1994 it was a balmy 40 
degrees below zero. But in the Antarctic winter, the record low 
temperature is 128 degrees below zero. A complex piece of machinery 
like a C-130 cannot operate in that kind of temperature.
  But Major McAllister and his crew went in as soon as possible, 
rescued Dr. Nielsen, and Dr. Nielsen is now receiving the treatment 
that she needs.
  So on this particular occasion, I want to thank my colleague, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) for allowing us to consider this 
resolution, and I would like, Mr. Speaker, just to mention the names of 
those who comprised that lifesaving crew.
  They are Pilot Major George R. McAllister, Jr.; Senior Mission 
Commander Colonel Marion G. Pritchard; Co-pilot Major David Koltermann; 
Navigator Lieutenant Colonel Brian M. Fennessy; Engineer Chief Master 
Sergeant Michael T. Cristiano; Loadmasters, Senior Master Sergeant Kurt 
A. Garrison and Technical Sergeant David M. Vesper; Flight Nurse Major 
Kimberly Terpening; and Medical Technicians Chief Master Sergeant 
Michael Casatelli and Master Sergeant Kelly McDowell.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues for this opportunity to 
salute these true American heroes, and I urge all of my colleagues to 
support this joint resolution.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. McNULTY. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty), for bringing this resolution.
  As a former member of the New York Air National Guard, I have had an 
opportunity to look at our airlift units across the State. Time and 
time again they have been called for emergency or war, and have served 
gallantly, taking on the responsibilities that have been assigned them.
  As the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty) has indicated, this has 
been a very difficult mission to rescue Dr. Nielsen, who is a native of 
New York, in the aspect of bringing her back from the South Pole. Those 
who followed this as the mission was planned and then executed, and the 
history of it after it was completed, clearly saw the risk and danger 
that the men and women found themselves in as they were deployed to the 
South Pole in such tough winter conditions.
  As a matter of fact, the mission was postponed for months until the 
weather was at a point they could land on the South Pole.
  So to the 109th Airlift Wing, our congratulations, and to our 
colleague for bringing it forward.
  Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 205

       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 -K53 degrees Celsius;

[[Page H11718]]

       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.

  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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