An airman from Malmstrom Air Force Base received a rare honor on Friday, months after helping save the life of a missing hiker in the Beartooth Mountains.

Major Collin Urbanowicz, an aerospace medicine physician assistant with the 341st Operational Medical Squadron, was surprised during a ceremony where he was presented with an Air Medal, an award traditionally presented for heroism in combat or overseas operations.

This is the first time one of its helicopter aircrew members has received the medal for a stateside rescue mission.

Flight crew talks about the mission - watch the video:

Urbanowicz earned the medal for a 20-hour high-alpine search and rescue mission on August 25, 2025, when a 73-year-old hiker was reported missing in some of the steepest terrain in the Beartooth range.

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