Montana Air National Guard Honors Sergeant For Daring California Mountain Rescue
There is an old saying that has some variations to it, but "the cowboy way" has always been a part of growing up in Montana. But I think someone may have just one upped that saying; "The Montana Way" has a pretty nice ring to it, don't you think?
The Adjutant General for the Montana Air National Guard recently used the description while awarding the Montana Air National Guard Soldier's Medal for a guardsman that went above and beyond while volunteering in California earlier this year.
Montana Guardsman Honored for Life Saving Rescue Efforts
On August 16, 2026, Brig. Gen. Trenton J. Gibson, the Adjutant General for MANG presented the medal to Sgt. Adam M. Lee for his actions during a rescue operation in March of 2025. The incident happened in hazardous mountain terrain, with two critically injured hikers in need of assistance.
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Lee was volunteering as a life flight paramedic and rappelled into the snowy conditions to rescue the hikers. Lee assessed both parties determining they had multiple injuries to include facial, pelvic and spinal fractures. The hikers were also suffering from hypothermia.
Rescue Lasts 48 Hours - Lee Honored for His "Montana Way" by General in Montana
The rescue mission took nearly 48 hours to complete as Lee continued his life saving efforts for the hikers. During the presentation of the medal, Brig. Gen. Trenton J. Gibson said that "You proved that when the conditions were at their worst, you were the one on the way and you were at your best. You have lived the Citizen-Soldier ethos, and you have lived The Montana Way."
You did not perform these duties in hopes of receiving a medal, or having someone thank you. You did what you did because it needed to be done.
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