Montana National Guard sergeant receives Soldier’s Medal for saving injured hikers

A Montana National Guard soldier received the Army’s highest award for non-combat heroism Sunday after saving the lives of two seriously injured hikers during a more than 48-hour rescue operation in California five months ago.

Sgt. Adam M. Lee, a combat medic specialist, was awarded the Soldier’s Medal during a ceremony in Belgrade, Mont., according to a service news release. He is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry Regiment.

“Sergeant Lee, you are the standard,” said Brig. Gen. Trenton J. Gibson, adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, who presented Lee with the medal. “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.’ ”

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Trenton J. Gibson, adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, presents the Soldier’s Medal to U.S. Army Sgt. Adam M. Lee during a ceremony at the Belgrade Armory in Belgrade, Mont., on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (Devin Doskey/U.S. Army)

Lee was volunteering as a Life Flight paramedic on March 1 when two hikers fell about 800 feet from a trail near Tahquitz Rock in Idyllwild and were stranded in steep, hazardous terrain in subfreezing temperatures, according to the release. They sustained serious injuries including facial, pelvic and spinal fractures, frostbite and severe hypothermia.

Despite the conditions, Lee and several rescue team members entered the area and located the hikers the next day. Lee rappelled into the hazardous terrain, administered aid and remained with the injured pair for two days, using his body to protect them from falling ice and rocks, according to the release.

He continued monitoring and caring for them as worsening weather delayed their helicopter evacuation, the release said.

“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,” Gibson told Lee.