History of the Detachment 1, Company G, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment

Detachment 1, Company G, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment and Detachment 1, Company G, 1st Battalion, 126 Aviation Regiment Both MEDEVAC units are headquartered at Wheeler Army Airfield. The MEDEVAC mission is to mobilize and deploy worldwide in order to perform Aeromedical Evacuation Operations and Flight Operations within an AOR. Conduct medical resupply, transport of medical personnel, sling load and rescue hoist operations, multi and single-ship (day, night, and night-vision devices) to supported Units. On order, they provide National Guard Domestic Operations (NGDO) support. In FY20, Det 1, G/1-126 AVN REG received 3x HH-60M aircraft between August and October 2019.

– 2020 Annual Report pp. 15

Governor honors HIARNG flight crews’ life saving efforts

State of Hawai‘i, Department of Defense, Public Affairs Office | Story by Bernhard Lashleyleidner

Wahiawa, Hawaii – Governor Josh Green, M.D. and Hawaii Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara recognized military and civilian paramedics on February 4, 2023, for assisting with life-saving efforts last December.

Soldiers from Company G, Detachment 1, 189th Aviation Regiment and Company G, Detachment 1, 3-126 Aviation Regiment and Medical Evacuation Squadron (MEDEVAC) assisted civilian flight paramedics and flight nurses from Hawaii Life Flight (HLF) during an unexpected shortage of staff and equipment, following a tragic loss of a HLF crew and plane in December of last year.

The aviation accident prompted an administrative grounding and safety standdown for HLF. Governor Green then activated Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG) Soldiers to assist with the support mission.

“I am really thankful that Governor Green took the time, on a weekend, to honor and thank the MEDEVAC Soldiers that supported with critical care air transport,” said Hara. He also stated how proud he was of each Soldier from the MEDEVAC detachments for their commitment and willingness to protect Hawai‘i.

The weeklong mission, which ended on Christmas Eve, involved transferring patients from Kauai, Molokai, and Hawaii Island to Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu. Queen’s Medical Center is the state’s only Level 1 trauma hospital, requiring many neighbor island residents to travel to O`ahu for lifesaving care.

“Maintaining uninterrupted aerial medical evacuation is critical to the overall health of our state and island communities,” said Capt. John Worthington Jr., commander of the Detachment 1, Company G, 3-126 Aviation Regiment, HIARNG. “Flight and medical training to support these missions never end, and the call to support can never be predicted.”

Worthington said being acknowledged by the state’s top officials was a credit to the HIARNG and the entire Army aviation community, along with the HLF paramedics, flight nurses, and aviation ground personnel.

“The civilian ground team performed the first patient assessment, stabilization, and transfer of patients with life-threatening illnesses,” said Worthington.

Flight crews performed 11 sorties in thirty hours over the course of seven days, as civilian paramedics treated injured patients aboard the HH-60 Blackhawk air ambulance helicopter and saved 14 lives.

Worthington said the HIARNG MEDEVAC unit was established in 2016.

“This is the first time in HIARNG history, military and civilian flight paramedics joined forces to treat patients in the back of a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter,” said Worthington. “Our crews were responsible for flying patients to the next level care facilities.”

Hawaii’s unique geographical landscape requires thousands of patients to fly to Oahu to receive critical and specialized care, and units like the 189th Aviation Regiment, Detachment 1, Company G, 3-126 Aviation Regiment and the MEDEVAC squadron are prepared to serve in emergency roles when needed.

Hara said they’ve proven that the National Guard is Always Ready, Always There.

– 2023 Spring Pūpūkahi pp. 6

Detachment 1, Company G, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment (Det 1 Co. G, 189th AVN) On order, Det 1 Co. G, 189th AVN mobilizes and deploys worldwide to perform aeromedical evacuation operations under day, night, and night vision conditions. Conduct medical resupply, transport of medical personnel, hoist operations, search and rescue operations, and provide NGCS operations. Commanded by Capt. Andrew Ung and Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Mitsui.

• JRTC Support: 189th AVN personnel supported other H-60 (Blackhawk) units with flight crews and maintenance during a comba readiness center rotation at the JRTC, Fort Johnson, La. from June 2023 to August This included packaging aircraft for movement
  via boat, cross-country flights to and from the training center, and executing assigned missions during the training exercise that supported the 29th IBCT at the JRTC 23-08.5 exercise.
• Wildfire Support: Det 1 Co. G, 189th AVN conducted NGCS missions in support of other firefighting agencies during wildfire suppression missions on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai from November 2023 to July 2024.
• Spouse Orientation Flight: Det 1 Co. G, 189th AVN and Detachment 1, G 3-126th, Aviation Regiment conducted a spouse orientation flight and static display to promote an understanding of the MEDEVAC mission and an appreciation for their continued support at Wheeler Army Airfield on Dec. 3, 2023. This provided background information to service members’ families on the MEDEVAC mission, promoted recruiting and retention and showed appreciation for the support the families provide to unit service members.

– 2024 Annual Report pp. 26-27

Detachment 1, Company G, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment “Kahu O Ke Ola”

The DET 1 CO G 189th AVN’s mission is to mobilize and deploy worldwide to perform aeromedical evacuation operations under day, night, and night vision conditions. Conduct medical resupply, transport of medical personnel, hoist operations, and search and rescue operations.

• Supported the Jungle Medicine Course, 24-25 January 2025 in a multi-COMPO training exercise providing MEDEVAC support to their MASCAL exercise. The personnel that participated were recognized by Command Sgt. Maj. Victor Laragione, Command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Medical Department Center of Excellence.
• Supported both water bucket operations in support of fire suppression and tsunami response crews for search and rescue.
• Conducted tail to tail missions with the Air Force during the joint exercise NEXUS FORGE, on 05-06 February 2025. 
• Conducted MEDEVAC scenario-based training in support of the 227th BEB annual training in June 2025.

– 2025 Pūpūkahi | Volume 55 | No. 4 pp. 21