MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. – As Charles Parker, 10, explored the UH-1N helicopter involved in rescuing his dad during harsh winter conditions south of Great Falls, the base celebrated not one but three rescues during central Montana's unusually harsh recent weather.

The rescues were part of "the goodness that comes out of just being good neighbors," said Col. Jennifer Reeves, commander of the 341st Missile Wing.

The airmen involved were just doing their jobs, as airmen throughout Malmstrom do, she said, but "I'm so proud," she added. "Three saves in eight days."

The three rescues:

►The rollover: Senior Airman William English, Senior Airman Tyler Shepherd, Airman First Class Andrew Page and Staff Sgt. Roy Fajardo were returning from the missile fields east of Great Falls when they spotted flashlights and then an overturned car.

It was about 12 degrees below zero, and the driver was suspended upside down by her seatbelt.

Fajardo broke the glass and climbed into the car via the back window. He opened the driver's side door, and his teammates worked out a way to catch the elderly driver when they cut her seatbelt.

Page said he was surprised that the equipment he has to carry actually came in handy.

"I do keep an eye out more now just in case someone else needs our help," the Texas native said.

More:Malmstrom airmen rescue motorist in flipped car during snowstorm

►The missing judge: When Cascade County District Judge John Parker disappeared south of Great Falls along the Missouri River amid below-zero temperatures, a Malmstrom helicopter crew joined the rescue effort.

The weather cleared long enough for the UH-1N helicopter of the 40th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base to spot Parker's footprints, which they followed for a mile or more until they spotted the judge.

Since they couldn't land, they sent down flight surgeon Major Andrew Timboe. Parker was lifted into the helicopter, where Captain Jackson Prestwood started treatment for hypothermia.

"It's an honor to be part of the team, and this was the best possible outcome we could have," Timboe said. "It touches your heart."

Also involved were Captain Nicklaus Fisher, Captain Nicholas Cafaro and flight engineer Tech. Sgt. Guy Regina.

Cafaro called it "wonderful" to see Parker back with his family and showed off a letter Charlie wrote them thanking them for his dad's life.

More:UPDATE: Judge Parker found alive south of Great Falls, flown to Benefis

More:Following close call in cold, Great Falls judge advises dressing for the unexpected

More:Boxer-lab mix now goes by Elsa after surviving week in frozen Montana

►The stuck driver in sub-zero: While flying on a security sweep near Denton, a Malmstrom security team in a helicopter spotted a car that slid off the road on an isolated stretch of highway.

The temperature was about 22 below zero. They couldn't see any other cars. The driver, Carrie Mantooth, director of the Central Montana Foundation, was alone, suffering from influenza and a mile from home.

Pilots Major Cas Smith and Robert Arcand landed the helicopter, careful to slowly lower the helicopter so it didn't "sink into something weird."

Flight Engineer Airman First Class Ethan Husak, Staff Sgt. Richard Corpus-Munoz and Senior Airman Joshua True of the tactical response team (base SWAT and missile-field security) hopped out of the helicopter and into the snow.

The snow was thigh-high and crusted hard, and the car was high-centered. Corpus-Munoz said getting out of the ditch and onto the road was like climbing out of a swimming pool.

"There was a lot of digging," he said. "We would have figured it out, but thankfully she had a shovel."

They shoveled, they pushed, and they sent Mantooth on her way home.

Mantooth sent a note of appreciation, and the airmen learned then how desperate she'd been that moment. A work commitment and doctor's appointment took her into Lewistown that day. She was coming home tired, fevered and sad. She and her husband had just canceled a trip the next day to sunny Arizona because they were so sick.

"When I realized the helicopter was landing and they were coming to help me, I can't even describe how overjoyed I was. It was a huge sense of relief," she said. "It was an answered prayer. I was feeling desperate."

Part of living where she lives means neighbors rely on each other. She and her husband were pulled out of a ditch just the week before, and soon had a neighbor coming home late and stuck with his kids need a pull out of the snow.

"Malmstrom really are good neighbors, and this proves it," she said.

More:We salute Montana's winter heroes for pushing, shoveling and rescuing those in distress

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