Ohio Cross Awarded To Robert Bragg

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has presented the Ohio Cross to Staff Sergeant Robert Bragg for his actions in capturing two murderers on August 21, 2007, in his hometown of Dayton Ohio. The Ohio Cross may be awarded to any member of the State of Ohio military forces (National Guard or Reserves) who distinguishes himself/herself by gallantry and selfless service at the risk of his/her life. The Ohio Cross is the only award that must be presented by the Governor or the Adjutant General, in the name of the Governor. The Ohio Cross was established on Sept. 7, 1995. Bragg is the ninth person to be decorated.

In more than four years as a military police officer at the Springfield Air National Guard Base, Robert Bragg had never been forced to draw a weapon on anybody. "This is something special," Bragg said prior to the ceremony. Speaking of the two men who were murdered by the criminals Bragg helped apprehend, "As far as the pain, it doesn't make it any easier."

Roger Covault, 70, and Robert T. Harris, 53, were murdered during a robbery of the Covault Market and Coin Laundry near Bragg's home. He saw two men wearing ski masks run out of the laundry and towards his home. Robert Bragg armed himself with his sidearm and intercepted them. You can read the full story here. Bragg still resides at the same address, and is reminded daily of the events. "It's hard for me to even look down that end of the street. It's still very real," he explained.

Ohio CHL Holder Apprehends Murderer

Tuesday afternoon, August 21, 2007, Dayton Ohio. Robert Bragg, a 24 year old Ohio Air National Guardsman heard gunshots and shrieks of fear and pain. He went into his home to retrieve his Beretta 9mm handgun. Unbeknownst to Bragg, at the Covault Market and Coin Laundry, two men had just been murdered in cold blood. An armed robbery had resulted in the deaths of the market owner, Roger Covault, and one of his employees, Robert T. Harris. Two killers were loose on the street.

About a half hour earlier, Robert Bragg had spoken with two young pedestrians, who asked him for directions in front of his home. He did not recognize them, but he made a mental note of their attire. They wore long sleeves and baggy clothing in the midday sultry heat of Dayton. They asked for directions to a street that Bragg did not recognize, and then they moved on. When Bragg heard the shots from down the street, he had ample cause for alarm.

Now he saw the men running down his street armed with handguns. Bragg quickly went inside his home and told his mother to call 911. He then exited his home with his own sidearm. When the two killers approached, Bragg identified himself as a military policeman and ordered both to halt, to drop their weapons and go prone on the pavement. "They were both stunned," Bragg recalled.

Bragg was outmanned, two to one. He was in a precarious predicament, but he held the initiative. The tables had turned. Now, it was time for the criminals to be confused and shocked as a events they had not expected unfolded.

One killer lowered his firearm, but the other began to raise his in Bragg's direction. "I think he thought about it. Once he realized I was going to shoot him before he could shoot me, he just took off on foot. For a split second, I thought I was going to have to shoot him," Bragg said. The second killer dropped his weapon and his ski mask.

Assisted by his neighbors, Robert Bragg held one killer, Brandon Phillips, at gunpoint until the authorities arrived, but the other man, the one who raised his gun in Bragg's direction, was still at large in the vicinity. After a manhunt, police apprehended Michael Perdue, the other gunman.

"It never really crossed my mind that I could get hurt," stated Bragg. "It's hard to feel like a hero when two people lost their lives. It's a horrible loss."

Today, the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office approved charges of six counts of aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated robbery and two counts of kidnapping against Brandon Phillips. Prosecutors also approved charges of aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence against Michael Perdue.

Robert Bragg holds a Ohio Concealed handgun License. Thank you for your service, Airman Bragg.