H.Con.Res. 205 (ih) Recognizing and honoring the heroic efforts of the Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing and its rescue of Dr. Jerri Nielsen from the South Pole. [Introduced in House] ...

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        H.Con. Res.205
                                     Agreed to November 19, 1999        

                       One Hundred Sixth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

         Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
   the sixth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas the 109th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard is based at 
  Stratton Air National Guard Base in Glenville, New York;

Whereas the 109th was called upon by the United States Antarctic 
  Program to undertake a medical evacuation mission to the South Pole 
  to rescue Dr. Jerri Nielsen, a physician who diagnosed herself with 
  breast cancer;

Whereas the 109th is the only unit in the world trained and equipped to 
  attempt such a mission;

Whereas the 10 crew members were pilot Maj. George R. McAllister Jr., 
  senior mission commander Col. Marion G. Pritchard, co-pilot Maj. 
  David Koltermann, navigator Lt. Col. Bryan M. Fennessy, engineer Ch. 
  M. Sgt. Michael T. Cristiano, loadmasters Sr. M. Sgt. Kurt A. 
  Garrison and T. Sgt. David M. Vesper, flight nurse Maj. Kimberly 
  Terpening, and medical technicians Ch. M. Sgt. Michael Casatelli and 
  M. Sgt. Kelly McDowell;

Whereas the crew departed Stratton Air Base for McMurdo Station in 
  Antarctica via Christchurch, New Zealand, on October 6, 1999;

Whereas on October 15, 1999, Aircraft No. 096 departed McMurdo for the 
  South Pole, where the temperature was approximately -53 degrees 
  Celsius;

Whereas Major McAllister piloted a 130,000 pound LC-130 Hercules cargo 
  plane equipped with Teflon-coated skis to a safe landing on an icy 
  runway with visibility barely above minimums established for safe 
  operations;

Whereas less than 25 minutes later, following an emotional goodbye and 
  brief medical evaluation, Dr. Nielsen and the crew headed back to 
  McMurdo Station;

Whereas the mission lasted 9 days and covered 11,410 nautical miles; 
  and

Whereas Major McAllister became the first person ever to land on a 
  polar ice cap at this time of year: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress recognizes and honors the crew of the Air National 
Guard's 109th Airlift Wing for its heroic efforts in rescuing Dr. Jerri 
Nielsen from the South Pole.
  Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

  Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.

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