Mud and guts: Vehicle retrieval results in rescue Published Jan. 17, 2007 By Tech. Sgt. Sherri Savant 917th Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- When an Air Force reservist from here and his brother dove into a creek earlier this year to retrieve a submerged all-terrain vehicle, they found more than they expected. Staff Sgt. Ben Bogues, a B-52 crew chief, and his brother, Jesse, were taking part in an organized four-wheeler ride in Jacksonville, Texas, on New Year's Day. The ride ensued like most others as riders with mud up to their elbows or higher passed through some fairly challenging terrain. All went well, according to Sergeant Bogues, until a two-seater Rhino - a four-wheeled all-terrain truck of sorts - passed on their left, hit a stump and slipped 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," said Sergeant Bogues of Air Force Reserve Command's 917th Wing here. "So under the Rhino goes, but little did we know ... the girlfriend of the guy driving was pinned under it." The brothers dove in to get the vehicle, assuming everyone had gotten out safely. While doing so, much to his surprise, Sergeant Bogues 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,'" Sergeant Bogues 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 OK." The brothers helped the rescued woman to shore, helped get the vehicle back on the trail and went on their way. People have called Sergeant Bogues a hero, but he disagrees. "I really don't think I'm a hero," he said. "I did what anybody else would have done." (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)