[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E214-E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD AND LOCAL RESPONDERS FOR 
                              HEROIC WORK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 23, 2010

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic 
efforts of my fellow West Virginians, who safely and successfully 
rescued 17 individuals from a downed military helicopter in Pocahontas 
County, WV, last week. The Navy helicopter was participating in the 
Operation Southbound Trooper X annual military exercise, when it went 
down in a deep snow-covered and rugged site, which lies in northwestern 
Pocahontas County.
  A West Virginia Army National Guard HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter--
piloted by Bluefield, WV, native Major Kevin Hazuka--located the downed 
aircraft. Two medics were lowered to the landing site to assess the 
situation and provide assistance to the injured. A C-130 Hercules 
aircraft from the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston was dispatched and 
orbited the site to maintain communications with the downed aircraft, 
while emergency response and rescue teams worked through the night

[[Page E215]]

and into the next morning to make their way to the survivors.
  A February 20th editorial in the Beckley, WV, Register-Herald 
newspaper titled, ``Our Nature,'' perhaps tells this story best:

       When a crisis strikes, West Virginia responds. Time and 
     time again. We've seen it this winter during all the 
     snowstorms that have paralyzed different regions of the 
     state. We've seen it during all the major floods. We've seen 
     it in the aftermath of major accidents. We've seen it beyond 
     our borders, like helping with the relief effort following 
     Hurricane Katrina, like battling western forest fires.
       West Virginians are ready to help in a moment's notice, 
     often without being asked Paid responders. Volunteer 
     responders. Neighbors. Even those who may not be physically 
     able to provide aid will show up with food, drink and 
     supplies for those who are.
       And now we've seen it again with what are being described 
     as ``heroic'' efforts on the part of many who rescued 17 
     military personnel aboard a Virginia-based Navy helicopter 
     that crashed during a training exercise Thursday on a rugged, 
     snow-covered mountain on the Pocahontas-Randolph county line.
       ``I'd like to thank the West Virginia National Guard and 
     the local responders for their heroic work,'' Navy Capt. 
     Steve Schreiber said ``Their efforts were extraordinary and 
     took place under the most difficult of situations. The 
     rescuers had to traverse more than three miles from the 
     nearest road through heavily wooded and mountainous terrain 
     to reach the crash site.''
       ``A special thanks to the Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort for 
     providing Snowcats that enabled first responders to reach the 
     site.''
       The West Virginia National Guard and first responders 
     around the state have a way of turning the extraordinary into 
     the ordinary. In other words, we've seen it enough times to 
     still marvel but not be surprised by what they do, even as 
     they take rescue efforts to another level.
       And this one reached another level, literally and 
     figuratively. ``. . . we've never had anything quite this 
     big,'' said Shannon Boehmer, chief of the Shavers Fork 
     Volunteer Fire Department.
       After rescuers went as far as they could with special 
     equipment along a railroad grade, Boehmer said, ``it was 
     still about a 45-minute hike in five feet of snow, straight 
     up the side of a mountain . . . It was probably a 50-degree 
     pitch or so. The guys described it as like climbing a `snow 
     ladder.' ''
       Have you ever tried to walk in 5 feet of snow? Even on flat 
     ground, just a few steps can wear you out.
       Sometimes we may not realize what we have here in West 
     Virginia. We have the finest National Guard unit in the 
     country, first responders to match and a general willingness 
     by everyone to help.
       One thing is for sure: The US. Navy now knows.

  And, now Madam Speaker, as I share this with our colleagues, the 
world now knows the courage, ability, incredible determination, and 
willingness to lend a neighborly hand of West Virginians--from those 
who serve in and lead our West Virginia National Guard, to our local 
fire, rescue and first responder units, and the countless volunteers, 
families and neighbors nearby.

                          ____________________