Black Hills Bandit

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The Life and Times

Of the

Black Hills Bandit



FIRST EDITION

OCTOBER 1980

SECOND EDITION

FEBUARY 1981

STORY BY: ILLUSTRATIONS BY:

Captain David J. Bertholf Captain Darrell G. Martin



Ellsworth AFB is made up of many different organizations. Each has its own

identity and camaraderie and is proud of what it stands for. But we here at

Ellsworth are more than a group of separate units working toward individual

goals. We're a single entity striving toward the common goal of defense of our

country. As such we all rally to the "Ya-Hoo" of the Black Hills Bandit - the symbol

of excellence representing all the men and women who live and work at EllsworthAFB. The mythical Black Hills Bandit was one of the first settlers in the hills of

Western South Dakota and can still be found today roaming their peaks and

canyons. He was not always known as the bandit you understand, and how and

why he got his name and became the base mascot is the subject of this story.

---The Life and Times of the Black Bills Bandit---

The bandit was born and

raised in a big eastern city. Asa kid he was miserable. The

buildings seemed to close in

around him and everyone was

always in a hurry. Nobody

seemed to enjoy life. He

knew then that this wasn't for

him, but he didn't know what

was. while he was growing

up, the country was alsogrowing. Courageous,

adventurous men were

exploring farther and farther

into the unknown wonders of

the West. They pushed out to the Mississippi and were forging ever westward.

As the frontier was discovered, the settlers moved in to claim homesteads and

start new lives. They were a hardy, resourceful and independent lot who

succeeded despite many adversities.



The stories of these brave people and the

land they were opening up slowly made

their way back east. They told of hard

times and good times, but mostly they

told of wide open spaces, beauty and

freedom. The bandit heard these Storiesof this place called the West and the

pioneers who were leading the way. He

knew that he had to be a part of it. So,

still a boy, he picked up and waded west.

He didn't know exactly where he was

going or what he was looking for, but his

heart told him he was on the right track.

Those were tough times for the bandit; alone on the trail he often thought that hecouldn't go on, but he knew that he hadn't found what he was searching for.

With fierce determination he continued on; nothing could keep him from his goal.

He reached the Mississippi and was amazed at its beauty and the rich, green river

basin, but this wasn't it. He kept going. He crossed the plains and was

impressed with the wide open spaces, but this wasn't it. He kept going. Finally,

he reached the Dakota

Territory and came to a

place where the grasses

parted and the landbecame barren with

shelves of red and orange.

It was a wild, beautiful

place and he could feel that

he was getting close. Then

he saw on the horizon what

looked like a black wall

rising out of the plains.

The closer he got the fasterhis heartbeat. When he

reached the hills he knew this was it. It was like no place he had ever seen: the

ponderosa pine, the white birch, the sparkling clear lakes and streams, the long

deep meadows, the granite spires; the beauty was endless. From the heights of

the mountains he could see for miles around. Yes, this was it - what later came

to be known as the Black Hills of South Dakota.



In those early days few had come as far as the hills, but as the years went by more

and more folks settled there. The bandit quietly made his living panning for gold,

and the buffalo provided him almost everything he needed to live. He never hit it

big but he didn't really mind. He liked what he was doing and always did the best

he could. He had a combination of dedication, connivery, spunk and gutsiness

that made him a respected, admired citizen of the hills and the natural leader of

those who lived there.



The bandit wasn't an angel you understand.

He was a handsome, smooth-talking devil

who had a way with the ladies and thrilled

more than one. He liked a good drink and

could be found pretty regular at the #10

Saloon. The #10 was a popular hangout inDeadwood, the most notorious of the hills'

fledgling towns. One day he realized that

he had taken a particular shine to one

special gal in Deadwood.

There was just something about her. It might have been her golden hair, her

sparkling eyes, her ruby lips, or maybe it was her hourglass figure or her joyful

laughter. Whatever it was, he fell head over heels in love. They had a courtship

like the west had never seen. The bandit, being one heck of a man, swept her

right off her feet and a wedding date was set.



Now, like anywhere, there were also some

varmints who lived in the area and the

meanest of the bunch was also one of the

richest men around. This old codger had

always had a secret desire for the bandit's

betrothed and decided that now was thetime to go after her. He tried everything

he could, including offering to buy her half

the town; but she loved the bandit and

would have no part of it.

Now, this codger, being the

mean varmint he was, decided

that if he couldn't have her - no

one could. He planned adastardly scheme and hired a couple of villains. Late one dark South Dakota

night, after the bandit had escorted her home, the villains broke into her house,

bound and gagged her, and took her away. No one ever saw her again.

Although he didn't know the details, the ‘bandit knew who was responsible. His

heart was broken, his life shattered, and he went wild with rage.



The bandit had never been a vindictive man but he wasn't himself anymore. He

vowed to get revenge on that mean, old son-of-a-so and-so. How could he do it?

What meant as much to that varmint as his lost love had meant to him? Aha!

Money. Money and the power it gave him were all that rascal loved and the

bandit decided then and there what he had to do. He'd take that money away,

just like his woman had been taken from him. The bandit left town and took tothe hills. He watched every move that old codger made; knew what he was doing

and when he was coming and going. He knew the time and place of every gold

shipment; the

stagecoaches,

trains and

horseback

riders. He was

determined

that none of itwould get in or

out of town.

The bandit

turned outlaw.

For the next

few years he

robbed all the

gold shipmentshe could. They

tried to track

him down but

he knew every

inch of those

hills and was

always one

step ahead. It

was then thathe became

known as

"The—Black Hills Bandit".



Finally, the mean old rich

man was no longer rich.

He'd spent what little

money he could get on

tracking down the bandit.

Now it was all gone. Heleft town a broke and

broken man.

The bandit had his

revenge. But he knew in his wrong. By driving that varmint out he had also hurt

innocent people. He could never go back and live in the town again – he was a

bandit. He went back to his old stomping heart he had done hurt innocent town

again - he grounds and lived off the land. Like all outlaws he had earned a

reputation. His escapades became known far and wide. There was always

someone hunting him down, trying to get the best of the bandit. But he was awiley old character and outlived them all.

A lot of

folks have

come andgone

since

those

days and

the

bandit

watched

the hills

area growand prosper. He didn't understand all that was happening but he could see that

the folks living here now were his kind of people. They were tough and

industrious and concerned with the welfare of others. Just like his betrothed of

years ago, he took a liking to all these good, hardworking folks who made their

home in the communities surrounding the Black Hills.



But the pain of losing her taught him a lesson he will never forget. He knows you

have to fight for what you want. You have to give all you've got and do your best

in order to get what you're shooting for. So, although the bandit still lived alone

back in the hills, he started coming out from time to time. It had to be a special

occasion you understand. The bandit still had some young whippersnappers and

bounty hunters gunning for him and he had to watch his every move. But he

became determined, just as he was on his long trek out here what seems like over

a century ago. He was determined to never give up the struggle for this beautiful

land we live in, a quality way of life and most of all our freedom. He decided to

stand and fight side by side with those who have dedicated their lives to this end.

Nothing could stop him from helping, whenever he could, the cause of

maintaining peace across our great land.



It was in Deadwood during the

winter of 1976 that the bandit

ran into Lt Colonel Charles A.

Snyder, then commander of the

68th Strategic Missile Squadron.

Lt Col Snyder had beensearching for a mascot to

represent the 44th Strategic

Missile Wing Olympic Arena

Team at the annual SAC Missile

Competition at Vandenberg

AFB, California. It had to be

someone or something that

embodied the insight and

common sense to recognize aworthwhile goal and the

dedication and determination

to do the best they could to

achieve it. As the night went on, they talked about our country, its past, present

and future.

Col Snyder knew that this was the man he’d been looking for. He described

Ellsworth and the Air Force and to the bandit who really didn't understand

missiles or airplanes but he did understand love of our land and the dedication todefend it. When Col Snyder asked him to represent Ellsworth's Olympic Arena

team he jumped at the chance. He vowed to do all he could to encourage and in-

spire those who competed and participated in any endeavor to enhance the

maintenance of peace and freedom in our country.

The Black Bills Bandit, on a cold

South Dakota night in the winter of

'76, struck a deal with Lt Col Snyder

and became the official mascot of Ellsworth AFB.



SEQUEL

For nearly four years the Black Hills Bandit devoted his life to encouraging the

men and women of Ellsworth AFB to do the best they could at whatever they did.

He worked side by side with the 44 SAW competitors at the annual SAC Missile

Competition, Olympic Arena. He flew with the 28 BMW crews during the annualSAC Bombing and Navigation Competition, Giant Voice. He scrambled with the

Security Police and munitions loading crews at the annual SAC Munitions Loading

Competition, Giant Sword. He not only participated in all the competitive events,

but also made his presence felt during the day-to-day activities throughout the

base. He rose to the challenge of competition while inspiring daily dedication to

excellence. Although the bandit was happier now than he had been since the day

they stole his girl, something continued to nag at him. He still had the cloud of

being an outlaw hanging over his head.

He knew that to do the best he could for Ellsworth and his country; he had to rid

himself of this cloud from the past. His only hope was to see if his friends at the

base could help him. So, in September 1980, he went to see Colonel Richard N.

Schoonmaker, Commander of the 44th Strategic Missile Wing. He explained his

problem to Colonel Schoonmaker, who assured him he would do whatever he

could to help. After all the bandit had done for Ellsworth and the Air Force,

Colonel Schoonmaker wasted no time in deciding what to do.



He wrote to William J. Janklow, Governor of South Dakota, describing the tale of

the Black Hills Bandit and requesting a pardon on his behalf.



Governor Janklow, being an understanding and fair man, endowed with common

sense and rugged individualism, typical of all South Dakotans, immediately

recognized the bandit as a good and decent man who more than paid his debt to

society. He decided to grant the pardon and notified Colonel Schoonmaker.



Governor Janklow then presented the pardon to Colonel Schoonmaker who in

turn presented it to the Bandit.



The Black Hills Bandit, pardon in hand, now represents Ellsworth with a light heart

and a clear conscience. He is a free man, dedicated to keeping his country free.



THE END

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Black Hills Bandit