Above and Beyond: Sheppard Airmen aid in search and rescue

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Robert L. McIlrath
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  

Blistering heat combined with the rugged terrain of the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma can be challenging conditions for anyone, but even more challenging when lost and alone.

On Aug. 7, three brothers, all over 60 years old, went out for a hike. When the brothers became lost, they decided to go and look for help but left the 65 year old brother in the shade until they were able to return since he could not exit the forest on his own due to physical limitation.

The two brothers made it to safety and requested the search and rescue of the third brother, but the search area was about 20,000 acres out of the 60,000 acre park.

Darren Proctor from the Wichita Mountains Search and Rescue described it as looking for a needle in a haystack.

Unaware of the search and rescue, seven Airmen from Sheppard Air Force Base, were spending their Sunday hiking the trails and enjoying the change of scenery.

“We noticed an elderly man sitting down in a shaded area,” said Airman Zyar Brooks, 363rd Training Squadron aircraft armament course graduate.

Seeing someone in need, the Airmen took action without hesitation. After delegating tasks, the Airman split up. Two went to get help while the others stayed behind to aid the now dehydrated man.

“It was like 105 degrees out that day,” said Airman 1st Class Capone Mitchel-Roberts, 363rd TRS aircraft armament course graduate. “He looked really drained and he was kind of slouched over. We moved him to a better shaded area and got him hydrated.”

“Once they found him, Airman Ludvig and I decided to go ahead of them down the mountain to find a safe route for them,” said Airman Tyler Moore, 363rd TRS aircraft armament course graduate. “On our way down the mountain, we heard voices calling out for the man, we veered off our course to see who was calling out and it turned out to be the search and rescue party that his brothers sent out.”

The two Airmen led the rescue crew to the gentleman in need ending the search.

According to Proctor, the efforts of the seven Airmen were instrumental to the rescue, cutting the search time almost in half. The time saved allowed for manning to be shifted over to another search and rescue in progress on the other side of the park.

“I don’t think he would have been able to make it out of there by himself if we hadn’t found him,” Moore said.

The seven Airmen were recognized for their actions and coined by their Lt. Col. Ash Cannon, 82nd Training Group vice commander, in front of their peers and instructors.

The four others involved in the search and rescue were Airman 1st Class Cody Heintzleman, Airman 1st Class Bradley Bautista, Airmen Josiah Ray and Airman Jahkeep Ludvig.