NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Four members of the Tennessee National Guard’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion received the Children’s Emergency Care Alliance of Tennessee’s Star of Life award, May 4, for their heroic efforts during a life-saving medical evacuation last June in the Smokies.
On June 18, 2021, a 17-year-old girl was attacked by a bear while sleeping at a campsite in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. She suffered serious injuries. Park Rangers responded to the scene and rendered first aid. The Tennessee National Guard received the request to help and a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter responded to the scene with a four-man crew that consisted of Capt. Philip Webster, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Redley, Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Banta, and Sgt. Timothy Allen. They airlifted the patient out of the remote area and flew her to a nearby hospital. The teenager has since made a full recovery.
The Tennessee National Guard has performed 33 rescue missions in East Tennessee since 2016.
(Submitted photo: Sgt. Timothy Allen lowers Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Banta, a critical care flight paramedic, to a bear attack victim in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, June 18, 2021. The four Guardsmen who completed this evacuation mission were presented a Star of Life award by the Children’s Emergency Care Alliance of Tennessee, May 4.)