The mission that never ends: Downrange PJs keep training

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From article:

Air Force pararescuemen, the only members of the Department of Defense assigned the primary mission of recovery and medical treatment of personnel in friendly and hostile environments.


On August 7, Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported 13 patients to Coalition field hospitals from locations in Afghanistan. Pararescue Team members aboard located, rescued and began treatment to stabilize patients in the battlefield.

On July 28, Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported six patients to coalition field hospitals from locations in Afghanistan. Pararescue team members aboard located, rescued and began treatment to stabilize patients in the battlefield.

On July 24, Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported nine patients to coalition field hospitals from locations in Afghanistan. Pararescue Team members aboard located, rescued and began treatment to stabilize patients in the battlefield.

On July 16, Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported eight patients to Coalition field hospitals from locations in Afghanistan. Pararescue Team members aboard located, rescued and began treatment to stabilize patients in the battlefield.

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Excerpts from July/August 2009 Sergeants Magazine, William H. Pitsenbarger Award 2009 Recipient:


MSgt Harding, while serving a 97-day deployment in Iraq as a Red Team Element Leader with the Navy SEALs, hunted, captured, and killed 202 terrorists and exercised unmatched leadership under intense urban fighting.

--conducted over 100 special operations combat assault missions

--awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with valor, two Purple Hearts and the Air Force Air Medal with 8 devices.

Acts and Deeds contributing to receipt of the award include---During a deadly Improvised Explosive Device explosion, he continued selfless acts of bravery without regards to the dangers surrounding him. Because of the explosion, his team was pinned under a building—buried alive. Leaving no man behind, he immediately directed search and rescue efforts. MSgt Hardfing blindly dug and clawed his way through dirt and debris to reach trapped and dying men. With no real hope for rescue in sight, he listed for the faint sounds of his comrades and began extracting them from what was certain to be their cement graves. Barely alive himself, he treated the wounded warriors, assisted with exfiltration efforts, saved the lives of 8 warriors and one military dog and continued the fight, all the while under the constant threat of attack and ambush.