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Airmen honored for rescuing 3 after helo crash

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sean Campbell
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Maj. Matthew Arnold, 336th Training Group chief of standards evaluations, and Tech. Sgt. Dean Criswell, 22nd Special Tactics Squadron NCO in charge of rescue operations, were honored with the Airmen's Medal April 8, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington.

The Airman's Medal is awarded to a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or ally nation who, while serving with the United States Air Force, distinguished themselves by a heroic act usually at the voluntary risk of his or her life in a non-combat situation.

In 2013, Arnold and Criswell were participating in a routine training exercise in Okinawa, Japan when an HH-60G Pave Hawk went down.  Criswell and Arnold descended from the helicopter they were in down to the flaming crash site. The area was hastily being covered with flames causing live rounds of ammunition to fly in all directions. The two navigated the harsh surroundings to find their fellow Airmen.

"Everyone's skills came together when it really mattered, including the pilot and the flight engineers; we all worked seamlessly together," said Arnold and Criswell. "We happened to be the ones put on the ground closest to the danger but there are many unsung heroes to include many of the agencies we work with, the firefighters, the pilots, maintainers; anything we needed for the rescue was there."

When they arrived on scene, Criswell performed a perimeter search for members of the crew. After the first member was found, Arnold recovered him, initiated the evacuation, and brought the crew member to safety. Arnold then began to treat the crew member's wounds. Criswell continued to search for the other crew members and found two pilots who were both injured; one was unable to walk, requiring Criswell's assistance to move. Criswell escorted both men to a hovering helicopter. Once in the helicopter, Criswell administered medical aid.

Arnold returned to the area twice, helping with the two pilots and filling the overhead command and control role while looking for the final crew member, Tech. Sgt. Mark Smith, completing over 13 hours of rescue operations.

"Mark Smith was a good friend whose loss was greatly felt. Every time we look at this medal we will think of him," said Arnold. "It is bittersweet because we saved three but lost one."