Ice cream craving leads to emergency situation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Raelynne J. Dennis
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (AFPN) --  For two Airmen here, what started out as an ordinary day ended with them risking their lives and becoming heroes.

Airman 1st Class Jason Brandos and Airman 1st Class Scot Richardson went to get ice cream with their wives at about 9 p.m.

The Brandoses were in the first vehicle, and the Richardsons were in the second.

Airman Brandos, an instrument flight control journeyman with the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, said as he talked with his wife, he noticed something in a yard they were passing.

“I thought that a man may have been just playing around with this woman, but then I noticed a fist fly across her face,” Airman Brandos said. “I also heard him yelling at the woman telling her that he was going to kill her.”

Airman Richardson, a gate guard with the 28th Security Forces Squadron, said he saw it too.

“I just put the car in park, grabbed my bat and started running toward the house,” he said. “I looked over my shoulder and thankfully (Airman Brandos) was following me.”

As the Airmen jumped out of the vehicles, their wives dialed 911 for help.

Meanwhile, the Airmen reached the gated yard just as the woman got away and ran to the front porch.

The man confronted the Airmen, and they had a brief verbal dispute.

“We had words for a little while,” Airman Richardson said, “but then he acted like he had to prove something and went after the woman again. He started to hit her again, and she either fell or he pushed her off the porch. At that point, the woman ran from him.”

She ran down the walkway and through the gate between the Airmen. When the woman passed them, the Airmen turned their attention to the man.

“He started coming at us, and all I could think about was my unborn daughter and how any woman who can’t defend herself should be helped,” Airman Brandos said. “I would want someone to help my daughter if she was in this woman’s position.”

“It’s the way I was raised,” Airman Richardson said. “You don’t hit girls, period. I had to put a stop to this no matter what.”

The man chased the woman, and as he got to the Airmen, “he started swinging,” they said.

Airman Brandos said he got the man to the ground in a “bear hug.”

Airman Richardson said he saw another man coming toward them and went to investigate.

“All of a sudden I heard (Airman Brandos) yelling for help,” Airman Richards said. The man had bitten Airman Brandos’ chest, and it was bleeding.

Airman Richardson said he pulled the man off of Airman Brandos, and the two scuffled. Finally he pinned the man with his bat and forced him to the ground again.

“I heard (Airman Richardson) yelling and thought maybe I had hit him on accident,” Airman Brandos said. “Everything was happening so fast, and I didn’t know exactly what happened.” The man had bitten Airman Richardson’s hand.

The Airmen said they were ready to end this situation.

“I remember hearing (Airman Richardson) yelling ‘all I wanted was some ice cream’ at the man when we were trying to get control of him,” Airman Brandos said.

Eventually, the Airmen pinned him to the ground.

“We were both on top of the guy while a third man helped hold his feet,” Airman Richardson said. “A few minutes later, about three squad cars showed up and (the police) took over.”

“Our community is a better place because of citizens like (Airman Brandos) and (Airman Richardson) who have the personal character and courage to make a difference by helping the innocent, police and our community to be a safer place to live,” Craig Tieszen, Rapid City Police Department chief of police, wrote in a letter recognizing the Airmen’s efforts. He presented the Airmen with a Civilian Service Medal.

“Airman Richardson is an outstanding Airman both on and off-duty,” said Master Sgt. Rory Olson, noncommissioned officer in charge of operations support with the 28th SFS. “He didn’t have to get involved, but he did. It shows you what type of individual he is. Most individuals would’ve just driven by.”

“Airman Brandos is one of those Airmen who never seems to settle for anything less than perfection,” said 2nd Lt. Adam Hauer, officer in charge of the specialist section. “His hunger for knowledge and his desire to excel sets him up for success. I’m proud to supervise and serve with such an outstanding Airman.”

Neither of the Airmen expected anyone to notice their deed, much less reward them for it.

“I was honored and humbled when I found out the chief of police was going to award us with a medal,” Airman Brandos said. “We didn’t do it to get a medal; we did it because we saw the guy hurting a woman, and that’s just wrong.”

“I would’ve expected anyone to do the same thing,” Airman Richardson said.

The Airmen advise others that if they are ever in the same situation, they should take the same precautions that Airman Brandos and Airman Richardson did.

“They should know the surroundings of where they are and make sure it’s life threatening, before getting involved,” Airman Brandos said. “If it’s not life threatening, just let the police handle it.”

“Have someone call 911 like our wives did. The less time you’re dealing with it alone the better,” Airman Richardson said. “And if they have a weapon, never get involved. That’s just too dangerous. People should pretty much just go with their gut.”

“(People) in an abusive situation need to know that they have people who’ll take care of them,” Airman Brandos said. “There’s always someone out there who’s more supportive and caring than the person you’re with now. If you think there isn’t a better life out there, you’re wrong -- there is.”