Sergeant rescues boy from dog attack Published May 11, 2004 By Tech. Sgt. Mona Ferrell U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) -- A sergeant assigned to Detachment 1 of the 7th Weather Squadron in Wurzburg, Germany, was honored with the Bavarian Rescuers Medal on May 7 for rescuing a young boy being attacked by two dogs. Tech. Sgt. Sean Hansen, a combat weather forecaster, is being credited with saving the 7-year-old German boy’s life Jan. 11 when he saw the dogs attacking the boy outside his home. “(Receiving the medal is) an incredible honor,” Sergeant Hansen said. “I’m an ordinary person who acted ordinarily in an extraordinary situation. To be recognized for something that I felt was my civic duty is very humbling.” Sergeant Hansen’s “civic duty” began after he heard his wife screaming from their balcony around 11 a.m. that day. “On the street below, I saw these two Rottweilers attacking a small boy, and I immediately kicked into ‘dad’ mode,” said Sergeant Hansen, who has a 7-year-old boy of his own. “I immediately ran down to the street to help.” When Sergeant Hansen arrived at the scene, one dog was locked onto the hip of the boy while the other one was biting into the child’s leg. An older man was already trying to hit one of the dogs with a piece of wood. A woman was hitting the other one with a handbag, and the mother of the boy was also there holding her younger son while trying to kick the dogs -- but the animals were not giving up. “I realized those methods wouldn’t be effective toward two large Rottweilers,” he said. “So I immediately dropped to my knees and started punching the dogs as hard as I could. It seemed like it lasted about 15 minutes, and I remember getting really mad at the dogs because they weren’t letting go.” Eventually, through repeated punches, Sergeant Hansen was able to get both dogs off the boy, allowing the mother to carry her son to safety. The boy was hospitalized and has been through several surgeries because of the attack. Aside from extensive scarring, he seems to have adjusted well, said Sergeant Hansen, who has since formed a bond with the child’s family. “It’s a great feeling seeing him as a normal 7-year-old boy again,” he said. “I’ve always wondered if I would act appropriately in this type of situation. This answered some questions of my own character.” While Sergeant Hansen’s heroic act may have answered a few questions for himself, his supervisor said he has always known the depth of his subordinate’s core values. “Without a second’s hesitation, Sergeant Hansen jumped into a very dangerous situation in which he could have easily lost his own life,” said Master Sgt. Scott Mazur, who is in charge of the combat weather team. “Not everyone would jump into a fray with two full-grown attacking Rottweilers barehanded, but that’s who Sean is. “I would equate his actions to service before self -- both on and off the job,” Sergeant Mazur said. “If someone is in need, he is there for them no matter what or when the need arises. He doesn’t consider himself to be heroic, but in my book his actions define what a hero is.” And Sergeant Hansen’s village mayor agrees. “I am more than proud to have such an exemplary American citizen living here,” said Peter Stichler, mayor of Höchberg. “Sergeant Hansen showed extraordinary moral courage and engagement; even at the risk of his own health and life. We couldn’t be more proud of him receiving the award.” (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)