Imagine being lost in the wilderness, cold, scared, and unsure if you’ll ever see home again. For 13-year-old Cody Clawson, that nightmare became a reality in 2001 when he found himself stranded in Yellowstone National Park. His survival skills were tested with no one in sight, and the hours ticked by.
At the time, Cody didn’t know that his rescue would come from an unexpected hero, no other than Harrison Ford, the legendary actor known for portraying iconic characters like Han Solo and Indiana Jones. This is the incredible story of how a Hollywood legend became a real-life hero.
The Unlikely Rescue in Yellowstone
Cody Clawson had been hiking in Yellowstone when he became disoriented and lost his way. With no map and no GPS, he soon realized the seriousness of his situation. Stranded and unsure how to return to safety, Cody sought shelter in a nearby cave. As the weather turned against him, with rain and sleet pelting down, he huddled in the cave, trying to stay warm through the bitter night. “It rained and sleeted that night,” Cody recalled, “It was pretty scary.”
By morning, Cody heard the unmistakable sound of helicopters and planes overhead. His heart raced with hope. With no time to waste, he scrambled to find an open spot to signal the rescuers. In that moment, he remembered a skill he had learned years earlier in his Boy Scout training: how to use a reflective object to signal aircraft. Without hesitation, he grabbed his belt buckle and angled it towards the sky, catching the sunlight and reflecting it toward the approaching helicopters. It worked. The signal was seen, and a pilot responded.
A Teen’s Quick Thinking with a Belt Buckle
Cody’s ingenuity in using his belt buckle to signal the aircraft wasn’t just an impressive display of survival skills—it was the key to his rescue. With a glimmer of hope, Cody continued to reflect the sunlight, hoping someone would notice. As the helicopter swooped down and landed nearby, he could hardly believe his eyes. It wasn’t just any pilot—it was Harrison Ford.
“I started looking for an open place that I could signal them,” Cody explained. “I used my belt buckle to reflect the sunlight.” It’s remarkable how a simple item, a belt buckle, combined with a skill learned in Boy Scouts, led to his rescue in such a dire situation. But there was more to the story than just survival instincts; fate had a hand in the timing of this dramatic rescue.
A Familiar Voice in the Sky
Cody’s life was about to change as the helicopter touched down. The pilot who emerged from the cockpit greeted him with a simple, “Good morning.” But it wasn’t just any greeting. The moment Cody heard that familiar voice, he knew immediately who it was. “He said, ‘Good morning,’ and I recognized [his voice] because he said it just like he did in ‘Star Wars,’” Cody recalled. The voice of Han Solo had just rescued him.
Amid a potentially life-threatening situation, Cody was stunned to realize that his rescuer was none other than Harrison Ford. Ford was known for playing daring heroes like Han Solo in Star Wars and Indiana Jones. He was known for bravery on screen, but now, he was proving he was a real hero, too.
Harrison Ford’s Helicopter for the Rescue
Harrison Ford had been an avid helicopter pilot for years and deeply loved the Wyoming wilderness. At the time, he lived part-time in Jackson, Wyoming, where he frequently flew and enjoyed the outdoor lifestyle. Little did Cody know that Ford’s flying skills, coupled with his deep connection to the area, would be the catalyst for his rescue. Ford quickly assessed the situation, landed his helicopter, and ensured Cody was safe. Then, without missing a beat, he offered a few words that would become an enduring memory for the young Boy Scout.
Ford, ever the source of encouragement, remarked, “You certainly should have earned a merit badge for this,” referring to Cody’s quick thinking and survival skills in the wilderness. But Cody, with a touch of humor, replied, “I’d already earned this badge last summer.” It was this simple exchange that highlighted Ford’s down-to-earth nature and made the rescue feel like an encounter between two old friends rather than a celebrity meeting a fan.
Ford’s Famous Sense of Humor
Harrison Ford’s dry wit and humor added a lighthearted touch to an otherwise tense and nerve-wracking experience. After ensuring that Cody was unharmed and in good spirits, Ford’s demeanor showed how down-to-earth he indeed was. “When we landed, Harrison Ford came over to me and said, ‘Boy, you sure must have earned a merit badge for this one,’” Cody recalled, chuckling at the memory. “But I told him I’d already earned this badge last summer, and he laughed.”
This simple yet humorous interaction between the star and the stranded teen highlights Ford’s approachability. While many might imagine a famous actor like Ford to be distant or aloof, Cody’s experience gave him a different perspective. It turned out that Ford’s humility and kindness were just as genuine as the characters he portrayed on screen.
A Changed Perspective on Celebrities
Cody’s encounter with Harrison Ford had a lasting impact on how he viewed celebrities. Before this incident, he, like many, might have thought that famous people were untouchable, caught up in their fame. However, Ford’s kindness to a lost, scared teen gave Cody a new understanding of being a true hero. “What he did gave me a different perspective on stars,” Cody reflected. “They sometimes get portrayed as snobby people, but there really is good, generous people out there.”
Ford’s actions in that moment exemplified what it means to be a hero—offering help to someone in need without hesitation, without cameras or flashing lights, just pure, selfless courage.
From Survivor to Hero’s Fan
After being rescued, Cody’s friends were eager to hear the details of his adventure, especially when they learned who had come to his aid. “The kids asked if I got an autograph,” Cody laughed. “But I told them, ‘No, but I got a hug and a handshake, and that’s better.’” Cody’s story wasn’t about meeting a famous actor—it was about experiencing something far more meaningful: a real, life-changing moment of kindness from someone he’d grown up seeing on the big screen.
For Cody, the rescue was about survival, but it was also about how Ford’s generosity helped him redefine his understanding of the world and of celebrities. Ultimately, it wasn’t the autograph or the fame that mattered—it was the human connection they shared during that intense moment in Yellowstone.
Cody’s story resonated with many, sparking amusing and thoughtful reactions online.
One Reddit user, EggsceIlent, humorously imagined, “Imagine this kid telling the story of how he was rescued by none other than Indiana Jones for the rest of his life.”
