Photo By Staff Sgt. Edward Siguenza | Chief Warrant Officer 3 Nathan Champion, second from left, of the California Army...... read more read more
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By EDDIE SIGUENZA
California Army National Guard
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A California Army National Guard pilot received the state’s second-highest honor April 15 for his actions during the 2014 Lodge Fire in Mendocino County, California.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Nathan Champion, a state aviation maintenance officer with the Cal Guard’s Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, earned the California Military Cross for assisting in rescuing eight firefighters who were overrun by a wildfire. Flying a single-pilot UH-72A Lakota helicopter through smoke and low visibility, Champion used his aviator skills and experience to find the firefighters and help coordinate the rescue.
“There was no other option available to extract these personnel. Were it not for his heroic actions, these (people) may not have survived the night,” stated Col. Laura L. Yeager, Chief of Staff, California Military Department Joint Staff.
Champion and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) helicopter manager Capt. Mike Deacon surpassed their daily seven-hour flight time to remain airborne. They stayed in communication with the firefighters — some of whom sustained injuries — and coordinated water drops on the area where they were trapped.
“There were two calm factors in the cockpit that came together that day,” said Capt. Dan Reese, CAL FIRE tactical air operations commander. “That’s a no-joke award. It was rightfully earned, rightfully awarded.”
The California Military Cross is the state equivalent to the federal Distinguished Service Cross, according to Col. Robert A. Spano, Director, California Military Department Joint Staff. The DSC is the nation’s second highest award for military valor, behind only the Medal of Honor.
“We present this on behalf of a grateful command,” Spano said, as Champion accepted the prestigious honor at the State of California Office of Emergency Services in Sacramento, California, in front of a room crowded with CAL FIRE and Cal Guard personnel. “Champion’s confidence as a single pilot aviator — along with his great understanding of his Lakota — allowed him to heroically fly into very challenging conditions and extract injured personnel, potentially reducing the severity of their injuries.”
“There were critical conditions they faced up in the air. There were tremendous smoky conditions, but they remained calm and cool,” Reese added. “Everyone was lucky and glad to have experienced people up in the air.”
As stated in the California National Guard’s Awards and Decorations regulation, recipients of the California Military Cross “must have been such as to merit recognition of service rendered in a clear exceptional manner within the scope of a special requirement or of an extremely difficult duty performed in a clearly outstanding manner.”
| Date Taken: | 04.17.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2016 19:03 |
| Story ID: | 195609 |
| Location: | SACRAMENTO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 569 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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