Faces of the Force

Staff Sgt. Boston Postgate and Senior Airman Daniel Lowe were kayaking at Eklutna Lake, Alaska, when they saw a man fall into the frigid waters. The Airmen quickly paddled toward him as he clung to his friend’s kayak. While bringing the man back to shore, they learned he had accidentally tipped his friend into the water. The two rowed back to rescue the second man, while other kayakers helped the first. The man cried, “I can’t feel my legs,” as Postgate and Lowe battled the cold and their own fatigue during the strenuous 20-minute paddle. They finally reached shore and helped the hypothermic man to safety. “I knew that his life really depended on us,” said Lowe. The two later were awarded Air & Space Force Commendation Medals for their heroic efforts.

Maj. Alana Taylor was flying home with her husband when she heard a flight attendant’s call for medical assistance. A passenger named Ben Wagner, a firefighter, was experiencing severe dehydration, cramps, loss of speech, and excessive sweating midflight due to his previous firefighting assignment. Taylor, a nurse practitioner with the Missouri Air National Guard, rushed to help Wagner. She administered IV fluids and checked his blood sugar and oxygen levels. Wagner’s condition improved steadily as Taylor and her husband remained by his side for the remainder of the flight. Once the flight landed, paramedics evaluated him and cleared him for travel. The Taylors and Wagner shared breakfast before parting ways. “I’m thankful we were there to help him get home to his family,” said Taylor.  

At Panama City Beach, Fla., the crowd noticed a man had been thrown from his jet ski and disappeared beneath the waves. Airmen 1st Class Trace Drugolenski and A1C Orlando Martinez sprinted into the 65-degree water and swam 100 yards through choppy waves to the rescue. Drugolenski managed to restart the jet ski while Martinez searched for the victim. When they found the man, he was floating face down and unresponsive. The two Airmen struggled to get him onto the jet ski, but with another swimmer’s assistance, they were able to get the man back to shore. After being in a coma for two months, the man eventually made a full recovery. Reflecting on the event, Drugolenski said his military training spurred him into action.  

Airman 1st Class Troy May was hiking the High Rock Lookout Trail near Ashford, Wash., when he heard a cry for help. It was from 79-year-old Ursula Bannister, who was suffering from a broken ankle while descending the trail. While other hikers were making calls for help, May decided to carry her himself. “My first thought was if I could carry her down, I should carry her down—and get her there as quickly as I can,” said May. With the help of his friend, he managed to bring her down the steep trail, despite the challenges of navigating the descent in cowboy boots. They then transported her to her car and drove her to a hospital, meeting search and rescue along the way. Bannister later personally thanked May and his friend for their help, calling them her “angels.” 

Wendell Browne of the 97th Air Mobility Wing, has dedicated 34 years to suicide prevention, including 19 years at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. He employs the “ACE” model (ask, care, escort) to teach individuals how to respond to signs of suicidal thoughts. As a full-time instructor, he teaches Airmen of all ranks to develop resilience and recognize mental health warning signs. Throughout his career, he has mentored many, including Senior Airman Luke Terry, who battled suicidal thoughts of his own. After attending one of Browne’s classes, Terry found hope and later became a suicide prevention instructor. “I tried to do it on my own, and it got me nowhere,” said Terry. “The biggest thing I have learned is that people need other people.”  

Airman 1st Class Shawn Charles of the 66th Medical Squadron received an urgent call from a patient seeking an OB-GYN referral while he was on his way to lunch. The pregnant patient was struggling to access care and had called the wrong number. Despite it being outside of Charles’ usual duties, he decided to help her. He connected her with a case manager to ensure she received the much-needed medical assistance. His swift actions were able to prevent serious harm to her and the unborn child, as the patient was later diagnosed with cancer. “I’m glad she was able to get the care she needed,” said Charles. He was later named a Trusted Care Hero for exemplifying the Air Force Medical Service’s high reliability principles. 

Lt. Col. Timothy Mitchell and Capt. Dylan Vail were on a two-ship formation training flight during a routine night mission in A-10s, with Vail receiving instructor pilot training from Mitchell. Suddenly, Vail began experiencing hypoxia—a condition that deprives the brain of oxygen—and struggled to maintain control of his aircraft. When Mitchell noticed this, he remained calm and provided instructions over the radio. “I could barely think straight,” said Vail. “Mitchell was there every step of the way, simplifying everything, telling me exactly what I needed to do.” With Mitchell’s guidance, Vail landed safely. He emphasized that Mitchell’s actions embodied a philosophy rooted in the A-10 community—one in which the mission and the safety of those involved are paramount. 

Staff Sgts. Natanael Garcia (left)and Davin Marcotte (not pictured) were walking to a bus stop in Seoul when they were alerted to a nearby apartment building fire. Garcia saw that an AC unit had caught fire and quickly found two fire extinguishers. With Marcotte, he tried to control the flames with the extinguishers and helped evacuate the building’s tenants. Both men were exposed to heavy smoke and required medical attention afterward. “It was by chance that we were at the right place at the right time to help put out the fire,” said Garcia. “I’m thankful that everyone got out safely.” Garcia received a letter of appreciation from the Seoul Fire Department for his actions. He accepted the honors on behalf of both himself and Marcotte, who had separated from the Air Force before the recognition ceremony.