Early efforts were comical but dangerous , but the US trained a number of jumpers at a smokejumper school in Montana , and it was not long before the Para-Rescue team was in service . Several additional Para-Rescue teams were set up during the war , and by the time the war ended , the value of these teams had been recognized . They were soon re-organized into their own command within the Canadian military , Search and Rescue . For his work in search and rescue , May was awarded the Medal of Freedom , with Bronze Palm in 1947 by the United States Army Air Forces
Medal of Freedom
Medal of Freedom (1945)
Wop May