pararescue

[ par-uh-res-kyoo ]

noun

1. a rescue, as of persons caught in a disaster, accomplished by parachutists.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pararescue¹

First recorded in 1945–50; para- ³ + rescue

Example Sentences

Moody proved adept at rescues, making some 30 pararescue jumps to provide aid to fellow smokejumpers or recreationists in trouble.

From Seattle Times

Her son was a member of the Air Force’s elite Pararescue community, better known as the PJs.

From Washington Times

“I was doing research on another project for another movie going around the country about Air Force Pararescue, which is what Pitsenbarger was, and I was going to all their schools around the country because they are highly trained individuals, and every place I went, these young airmen wanted to make sure that I knew the story about Pitsenbarger,” Robinson told Fox News.

From Fox News

Under the PJ credo of “these things we do so that others may live,” Pitsenbarger — as all professional and highly-trained Pararescue medics do — lived his service life in the same manner, especially during Operation Abeline when he lost his life.

From Fox News

The Last Full Measure Todd Robinson’s drama depicts the long quest to award an Air Force pararescue medic the Medal of Honor 34 years after he died in the Vietnam War, but what the film truly reveals is the deep shame and trauma vets contend with as survivors who did their best under extreme violence and duress and have to live with those choices.

From Los Angeles Times