A U.S. Marine Corps crew flying a CH-53K King Stallion helicopter performed a dramatic rescue of a stranded civilian in the remote California desert on February 11, 2025, showcasing both their training and the capabilities of the Corps’ newest heavy-lift aircraft.
According to Capt. Derek VanWyck, the incident occurred during a routine test flight conducted by Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) near Twentynine Palms when the crew spotted a neon green signal flag waving atop a boulder in a rugged valley.
“I saw a flag being waved on top of a big boulder,” said Sgt. Conrad Kerr, CH-53K crew chief. “At first, I wasn’t sure what it was, but I asked the rest of the crew if they saw it. When they didn’t, we decided to take another pass to confirm.”
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The crew quickly identified the source: a stranded off-road motorcyclist who had been injured and immobilized in the desert for nearly 48 hours without food or water. The man had suffered a broken leg after his motorcycle overturned on a steep incline, leaving him unable to move.
Facing difficult terrain and limited landing options, the Marines identified a safe landing zone approximately 500 meters away and carefully maneuvered the CH-53K into position.
“The CH-53K’s fly-by-wire system made it easier to get down quickly and safely in a tight landing zone,” said Maj. Dale Metcalf, the pilot on the mission. “We train for scenarios like this, and everyone in the crew knows their role to execute the rescue efficiently.”
Once on the ground, Sgt. Kerr and Gunnery Sgt. Theodore Young hiked through the harsh desert landscape to reach the injured man.
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“He had been out there for almost two days, completely out of water and food,” Young said. “When we reached him, he was conscious but clearly exhausted and in pain. He told us he had been hoping someone would see him before it was too late.”
After assessing and stabilizing the man’s condition, the Marines coordinated with range control at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and their chain of command. With no immediate search-and-rescue assets available, VMX-1 Commanding Officer Col. John D. Dirk authorized the aircrew to proceed with the evacuation.
The crew then loaded the injured civilian onto the CH-53K and flew him to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, where he was transferred to medical personnel for further treatment.
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The rescue not only underscored the versatility and ruggedness of the CH-53K King Stallion in austere environments but also demonstrated the Marine Corps’ readiness and commitment to humanitarian response—even during routine operations.
“Any time we can use our training and capabilities to save a life, that’s a mission success,” said Maj. Metcalf. “We were in the right place at the right time—and the CH-53K proved once again why it’s a game-changer.”
The rescued man is expected to make a full recovery.
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