A tough day didn't become even rougher for three U.S. senators in Afghanistan last month thanks to some Arizona Army National Guard soldiers.

Sens. Joseph Biden, D-DeL, Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and John Kerry, DMass., were visiting forward bases when a blizzard forced the military helicopters they were aboard to make emergency landings in some remote mountains Feb. 23.

A helicopter crew radioed Bagram Airfield, where officials dispatched a platoon from the 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry to make the convoy to the landing site, secure the helicopters and evacuate those on board.

It proved to be a treacherous mission. The same weather that forced the aircraft to land also hindered the rescue. Limited visibility made even finding a route to the helicopters difficult.

Unit members credited Staff Sgt. William McClain in the lead vehicle with determinedly blazing the proper trail.

"With only a grid to go by, he led us," Staff Sgt. Chris Dempsey said. "As the snow fell to the point where you could barely see the vehicle in front of you, he stayed on course. When the road turned into no more than a trail, he plowed through. As other vehicles fell to the wayside, he kept going.

"And when the trail ended," Dempsey added, "he was the one who walked the rest of the way to the downed crews."

At first, the soldiers didn't know the senators were on board. As a result, their initial concerns were for the pilots and crews.

"They had so many times come to our aid when we were pinned down by enemy fire. Now it was time to return the favor," Dempsey said.

When the platoon arrived at the site, one squad immediately convoyed the senators back to Bagram. The rest of the platoon hunkered down through the night until additional relief arrived.

"Of all the units they could have sent out on that awful night, the Guard was the one that went," Dempsey said proudly as he reflected on the completed rescue.

© 2008 National Guard Association of the United States Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.