Historic Rescue Operation

During a press conference on Monday, Army Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the second airman rescued following a significant operation was airlifted from Iran on Easter morning.

“One of the downed airmen managed to evade capture for over a day by climbing a steep ridge while being pursued by the enemy,” Hegseth explained about an F-15 weapons systems officer, one of two airmen shot down in Iran last week.

Both airmen successfully ejected from the aircraft but landed separately, with the pilot being rescued within hours. The other airman, however, went missing, injured and hiding in the mountainous terrain until he could be rescued.

Hegseth noted that when the downed airman activated his emergency transponder, his first message echoed a powerful sentiment: “God is good.” He highlighted how, in a moment of isolation and peril, this statement reflected both faith and spirit. The F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down on Good Friday, and a series of events led to the aviator hiding in a cave all day Saturday, ultimately leading to his rescue on Easter Sunday.

Hegseth elaborated, “…It was shot down on Friday, Good Friday, he was hidden in a crevice in a cave all Saturday, rescued on Sunday, and flew out of Iran at sunrise on Easter Sunday. The pilot has been reborn. He has returned home and fulfilled his responsibility. People are rejoicing.”

“God is good. Despite fierce conditions and looming danger, our troops ensured every American came home safely. No lives were lost. We will leave no one behind. That is a blessing,” Hegseth stated.

He attributed the successful operation to “unparalleled training, advanced technology, an unwavering warrior spirit, and pure American grit.” According to him, the special operators, pilots, and support crews performed remarkably, even under fire. “Ask any Iranian soldier who dared approach that pilot during that mission.” He viewed the U.S. military’s response as a transformation of a potential tragedy into a “clear demonstration of American resolve and capability.”

“That’s what excellence in uniform looks like,” he asserted, also expressing gratitude to President Donald Trump for his decisive leadership.

“None of this would have been achievable without President Donald J. Trump’s courageous leadership and determination,” he noted. “From the moment our airmen went down, President Trump made it known that no one would be left behind.”

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