CAMP DENALI, Alaska— The Alaska Air National Guard rescued a father and his 14-year-old son in Wrangell Saint Elias National Preserve near the Canadian border Monday, August 27.

According to the 11^th Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (RCC), the two were on a hunting trip 250 nautical miles east of Anchorage, when the father called in to the RCC for immediate assistance.

“We received a satellite phone call from the father at 5 p.m. Monday requesting assistance to be picked up,” said Tech. Sgt. Gail Paculba, RCC duty controller, Alaska Air National Guard. “He was sick, dehydrated, and immobile, so we advised the Troopers and Park Service of the situation.”

The RCC contacted Alaska State Troopers and the National Park Service, but neither were available to respond.

The RCC immediately alerted the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210^th and 212^th Rescue Squadrons, and following a situation brief, the Air Guard launched an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter with Guardian Angels onboard out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson at 7 p.m.

“The Alaska Air National Guard rescued the father and son at 9 p.m. and flew them to Gakona where they were dropped off safely with National Park Service Rangers per Alaska State Trooper request,” Paculba said. “They were in good condition and according to the rescue crews the father was showing signs of recovery when he was dropped off at 10:51 p.m.”

The Alaska Air National Guard’s 210^th and 212^th Rescue Squadrons were awarded one save for this mission.