ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE – Capt. Kenneth Ebi was enjoying a day at Tyndall Beach, Fla. He didn’t know his day of leisure would win him an Airman’s Medal for Heroism.
In 2003, Ebi was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base doing Air Battle Manager training.
“I was walking on the beach enjoying the weather, and I looked out and saw him out there, there was an odd kind of seriousness about it,” Ebi said.
At that moment Ebi jumped in the water and swam out about 75 to 80 yards to save a teenager caught in the riptide.
“I kept him afloat,” Ebi said. “Someone on the beach had called 911. When a flotation device arrived I was separated from him.”
Ebi drifted further out, in the water and after a 20-minute swim arrived back at the shore.
According to Robins AFB Public Affairs, the Airman’s Medal was established by Congress in 1990, to take the place of the Soldier’s Medal which, up until that time had been awarded to Air Force personnel. The award of this medal is not intended to be given solely on the basis of having saved a life, but for acts of life saving, or attempted lifesaving, it is required that the action be performed at the risk of one’s own life.
Later Ebi found out that it was a black flag day at Tyndall Beach, which means swim at your own risk.
Col. Kim Corcorin, 116th Operation Group Commander presented Ebi the medal of honor.
“In the 26 years I’ve been here I’ve never seen this award given,” Corcorin said. “All of you should stop and shake Capt. Ebi’s hand.
I’m proud to have him as a member of the 116th.”
“It didn’t occur to me how dangerous it was,” Ebi said. “You see it, you act. Once I was out of the water, I said, ‘Thank you, God.’” Ebi is originally from Oregon and has been stationed at Robins since January 2004.
