Mud and guts: WG member saves girl's life

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Sherri Savant
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  It's a story of a Good Samaritan, one who is "ready to provide aid to people in distress without hesitation." Like the character in the Bible parable, Wing B-52 Crew Chief Ben Bogues jumped to rescue a complete stranger in trouble recently while on an organized four-wheeler ride in Jacksonville, Texas.

The ride ensued like most others, riders with mud up to their elbows (or higher), riding through some fairly challenging terrain. All went well, according to Ben, until a two-seater Rhino, a four-wheeled all-terrain truck of sorts, passed on their left, hit a stump, and slipped off into a creek, adjacent to the trail.

"Normally, you would be able to see the drop-off, but there was so much water, nobody knew just where it was," Ben said. "So under the Rhino goes, but little did we know...the girlfriend of the guy driving was pinned under it."

Ben and his brother, Jesse, dove in to get the vehicle, assuming everyone had gotten out safely. While doing so, much to his surprise, Ben felt a hand flailing around in the water, the hand of the girlfriend.

"My first thought was, 'We need to get her out before she drowns,'" Ben said. "I grabbed her hand, and pulled at the same time my brother and the other guy (driver) picked up on the Rhino, which in turn freed her up, and I pulled her to safety. She popped up crying and scared, but okay."

Ben and Jesse helped the rescued girl to shore, helped get the vehicle back on the trail, and went on their way.

A humble Ben reacts to his heroic effort by saying, "I really don't think I'm a hero. I did what anybody else would have done."