[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12036-12038]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING HEROIC EFFORTS OF WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD AND LOCAL 
                               RESPONDERS

  Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (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.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1153

       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;
       (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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Critz) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on 
the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1153, 
recognizing the heroic efforts of the West Virginia National Guard and 
local responders for their work rescuing 17 people from a downed 
military helicopter on a rocky, snow-covered mountain on the 
Pocahontas-Randolph county line. I would like to thank my colleague 
from West Virginia, Mr. Rahall, for putting this resolution together.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to spend this time recognizing the 
individuals and organizations involved in the execution of this 
tremendous rescue.
  On February 18, 2010, a West Virginia Army National Guard HH-60 
Blackhawk helicopter, skillfully piloted by a native of Bluefield, West 
Virginia, Major Kevin Hazuka, located the downed aircraft in extremely 
difficult circumstances. The snow and ice of the Pocahontas-Randolph 
county line at the time was treacherous, and the valor of Major Kevin 
Hazuka should be commended by all.
  I would like to commend Staff Sergeant Nicole Hopkins and Specialist 
Casey Dunfee, two West Virginia Army National Guard flight medics. 
Sergeant Hopkins and Specialist Dunfee were lowered to the site in 
order to provide medical care throughout the night as rescue workers 
labored their way to the survivors.
  Thanks are also deserved to the pilot of the 130th Airlift Wing of 
the West Virginia National Guard who assisted by orbiting the crash 
site in a C-130 Hercules aircraft in order to facilitate vital 
communication.
  Volunteers, civilians, service men and women alike all gave a hand to 
help rescue the survivors. The Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort assisted by 
providing invaluable machinery and staff to help evacuate the injured.
  Local West Virginians helped by donating snowmobiles that enabled 
first responders to reach the site. The Shavers Fork Volunteer Fire and 
Rescue Unit was instrumental in using special equipment and snowmobiles 
to clear a path to the location of the crash.
  The Valley Head Fire Department, Northern Greenbrier EMS, Greenbrier 
County Ambulance, White Sulphur Springs EMS, Cass Rescue, and Greenbank 
National Radio Astronomy Observatory staff all provided extremely vital 
support for the effort. In addition, the Pocahontas County Emergency 
Management, West Virginia State Police, Pocahontas County Sheriff's 
Department, Pocahontas County 911, and the U.S. Forest Service also 
lent a hand in order to help assist the victims of the crash. The 
coordination and support they provided was also invaluable.
  Finally, the Bartow-Frank-Durbin Volunteer Fire and Rescue made a 
valiant attempt to approach the crash site from the north side with 
support from the State of West Virginia Departments of Natural 
Resources and Highways, neighboring Randolph and Tucker County Sheriff 
Departments and

[[Page 12037]]

EMS units, Elkins, Harmon, and Huttonsville-Mill Creek Volunteer Fire 
Departments, and the American Red Cross.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution acknowledges and thanks the West 
Virginia National Guard, local first responders, and volunteers around 
the area for their successful efforts to rescue the 17 individuals. 
House Resolution 1153 recognizes the courage, ability, and 
determination of West Virginians.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARTLETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1153, which 
recognizes the heroic efforts of the West Virginia National Guard and 
local responders for rescuing 17 persons from a Navy helicopter that 
crashed in the wintry mountains of that State in February of this year. 
I want to commend Representative Nick Rahall for sponsoring this 
legislation.
  This incident, precipitated when a Navy helicopter was forced down in 
remote mountainous terrain, exemplifies all that is best about the 
National Guard and its ability to work cooperatively and effectively 
with local civilian responders in crisis situations.
  Without the rapid, integrated response of the West Virginia Army and 
Air National Guard, the volunteer efforts of local citizens, the 
support of local emergency management services, and perseverance of 
State and local fire and rescue services and agencies, 17 people could 
have died from their injuries and from exposure. Thankfully, there were 
people at every level of government who were trained, equipped, and 
prepared to respond.
  This resolution specifically honors those citizens of West Virginia, 
but it should also remind each Member to express appreciation to the 
people in our own States and districts, selfless Americans who 
willingly sacrifice their comfort and safety for others.
  In my own district and State, Guards men and women have adopted a 
flexible ``plug and play'' organization model that enables members to 
report to the closest armory in time of emergency, thereby minimizing 
the overall response time during events like the unprecedented 
snowfalls we experienced this winter. Their round-the-clock vigilance 
exemplifies the spirit of the National Guard emergency personnel at all 
levels of government.

                              {time}  1440

  Thus it is fitting that we honor and thank the soldiers and airmen of 
the National Guard as well as the first responders and emergency and 
rescue personnel across our Nation, who, when disaster and tragedy 
strike, step forward to save and serve their fellow citizens. I urge 
all Members to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
friend and colleague and the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman 
from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall).
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I first commend the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Critz) for his invaluable support in helping us bring 
this resolution to the floor today. I know that it is a special 
recognition to a special group of people. I do support the heroic 
efforts of our West Virginia National Guard and our local responders 
and would urge all of my colleagues to support the pending resolution, 
H. Res. 1153.
  I have personally visited with the National Guard members mentioned 
herein and the local responders and members of the Bartow, Frank, and 
Durbin communities' Volunteer Fire Departments in Pocahontas County a 
couple months ago. On Thursday, February 18, 2010, earlier this year, 
the heroic actions of West Virginians brought about the highly 
successful rescue of 17 military personnel who were on board a U.S. 
Navy helicopter participating in the Operation Southbound Trooper X 
annual military exercise, which went down in deep, snow-covered, and 
very rugged terrain in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.
  The remarkable rescue was an outstanding and highly coordinated 
effort on the part of many highly trained professionals as well as 
private citizens, who worked under very difficult conditions to reach 
the crew and personnel on board the aircraft, many of whom had been 
injured in the crash. West Virginians are the best neighbors for whom 
you could ever wish. It is a truth that has been proven time and again. 
This historic rescue effort was, thankfully, a rare event, but it was 
not at all out of character for our State of West Virginia. In fact, it 
was merely illustrative of the best of our State.
  The swift response, the astounding skills and abilities, the enormous 
courage, and profound determination of all those involved in the rescue 
operation, from those who serve in and lead our West Virginia National 
Guard to our local fire, rescue, law enforcement, and first responder 
units, and the countless volunteers, families, and neighbors nearby, 
most certainly made the difference between life and death. While no 
expression of gratitude would ever be sought for such selfless acts, 
the hope that one good turn deserves another never dims with our West 
Virginians.
  On behalf of my fellow West Virginians and on behalf of my colleague 
from the neighboring congressional district, Representative Shelley 
Moore Capito, we are pleased to support H. Res. 1153, to honor these 
good deeds and to illuminate them as a beacon for others. I would ask 
that my fellow Members join in support of this resolution. I, again, 
thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Critz) for his invaluable 
support as well.
  Mr. BARTLETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito), an original sponsor 
of this resolution.
  Mrs. CAPITO. I'd like to thank my friend from Maryland for 
recognizing me. I'd particularly like to thank my fellow member of the 
delegation, Mr. Rahall, for bringing House Resolution 1153 forward. The 
occurrence of this crash straddled two of our counties. His is 
Pocahontas and mine is Randolph. We both know very well that we don't 
call West Virginia ``Wild and Wonderful'' for no reason. This is one of 
the wildest parts of our beautiful State. And so I want to offer my 
congratulations to the brave men and women of the 130th Airlift Wing, 
which is headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia, in my district, 
and all the first responders and citizens who helped with this rescue.
  As we've heard, Major Hazuka of Bluefield, West Virginia, of the 
130th Airlift Wing of the National Guard, discovered the Navy Kittyhawk 
helicopter which had crashed over Randolph and Pocahontas Counties in 
terrible weather conditions. They acted very, very quickly. I would 
also like to honor Army National Guard Flight Medics Staff Sergeant 
Nicole Hopkins and Specialist Casey Dunfee, who were lowered to the 
landing site to give emergency medical care and to help coordinate the 
efforts.
  The 130th Airlift Wing represents the best of West Virginia, and 
their heroic response to this crash further establishes their 
importance to this State. As my colleague from West Virginia so 
eloquently put it, it didn't surprise any of us. This unit and those 
around our State and around this Nation are known for their willingness 
to step up when they're most needed. But the terrain and the weather on 
that particular day was incredibly dangerous.
  I know my colleague from Pennsylvania mentioned all of the different 
units of first responders that responded that day, but I would like to 
repeat their names: the West Virginia Civil Air Patrol, the Valley Head 
Fire Department, the Northern Greenbrier EMS, Greenbrier County 
Ambulance, White Sulfur Springs EMS, Cass Rescue, and the Greenbank 
National Radio Astronomy Observatory, which is very close in 
Pocahontas. I'd also like to thank the Snowshoe Resort for their 
willingness to share equipment. We also had the Pocahontas County 
Emergency Management, West Virginia State Police, Pocahontas County 
Sheriffs Department, Pocahontas County 9/11, U.S. Forest Service, 
Bartow-Frank-Durbin Volunteer Fire and Rescue, along with the 
Department of Natural

[[Page 12038]]

Resources and sheriff departments from the surrounding areas.
  As you can see, it was a collegial effort, an enormous effort, and 
one that when we first received the news of this accident over our 
local television and radio stations, really had us on the edge of our 
seats because I think we knew how treacherous a rescue in this area 
could be at this time of year.
  So I'd like to say congratulations. Again, I'd like thank my 
colleague Mr. Rahall for bringing this resolution forward, and I would 
like to ask my colleagues to join in congratulating not only our first 
responders and our National Guard, but also take the time to thank 
their local and State National Guard and local first responders for all 
the good work they do voluntarily every day for our benefit.
  Mr. BARTLETT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Critz) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1153.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________