Air Force Medic Awarded Air Medal After Overnight Beartooth Mountains Rescue

In a surprise ceremony held at Malmstrom, Maj. Collin Urbanowicz, an aeromedical physician assistant with the 341st Operational Medical Squadron, was awarded the medal on Thursday. The accolade, usually bestowed for exceptional bravery in flight operations, highlights Urbanowicz’s involvement in a mission from August 25 to 26 that rescued hiker Cris Hernandez, who had been unaccounted for for several days.

The Air Force has announced that the 341st Medical Group and 40th Helicopter Squadron organized a private event to pay tribute to Urbanowicz, who is recognized as the first member of the 20th Air Force to be awarded the Air Medal.

The quest for Hernandez followed his separation from a companion during a climb in the Beartooth range on August 21.

In a challenging turn of events, Hernandez found himself disoriented without a GPS device or an emergency beacon. He faced days of struggling against inclement weather, dwindling supplies, and rugged terrain. After several days of searching, local authorities and National Guard crews reached out to the Air Force for assistance.

Urbanowicz teamed up with four members of the 40th Helicopter Squadron—pilots Capt. Jacques Soto and Capt. Jaani Barclay, along with flight engineers Staff Sgt. Chase Rose and Senior Airman Corbin Dietrich—for the mission on an MH-139 Grey Wolf. The team took off at 5:35 p.m. and ascended into the elevated search area, equipped with night-vision goggles and infrared sensors to probe the nearly complete darkness.

“We were somewhat navigating without clear visibility,” Rose shared with the local press. “There was limited supplementary information available.”

The crew eventually spotted Hernandez signaling with a flashlight from a narrow canyon at roughly 12,000 feet. Rugged terrain, fierce winds, and limited visibility hampered efforts to contact him. During the third attempt, Urbanowicz was lowered several feet by a hoist to reach the hiker, who was disoriented yet alive.

As the helicopter tried to lower a litter, deteriorating conditions and dwindling fuel forced the crew to abort the mission, notifying Urbanowicz that he would have to remain with Hernandez until assistance arrived. “I’m down there with him and I’m thinking, ‘Well, looks like we need to adjust our strategy!’ “We’re going to be here a bit longer,” Urbanowicz stated in an interview with the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

The two endured the harsh cold and wind until after midnight, when a Montana National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk arrived and lifted them to safety. The operation represented a major event for the 40th Helicopter Squadron, as it was their inaugural search-and-rescue mission utilizing the Grey Wolf.

Urbanowicz conveyed his astonishment at the honor, acknowledging that it had taken him by surprise, and added, "I simply enjoy doing it."