A Marine Corps Military Working Dog recently passed away. MWD Flapoor is one of our great military working dogs who was on the front lines with our Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His handler, Marine LCpl Brown, made this tribute video so we can all remember one of our beloved K9 heroes.
MWD Flapoor did two tours in Iraq. During his first tour, in 2005-2006, MWD Flapoor and his handler at the time, Cpl Poelart, were providing security at an Iraqi police recruitment center in Ar Ramadi when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the building. The bomb killed dozens of Iraqis wanting to become police and wounded dozens more.
The bomb set a precedent in that the first military working dog handler, Sgt Adam Cann, was killed in action during Operation Iraqi freedom. MWD Flapoor and his handler were both wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. Cpl Poelart was eventually honorably discharged while MWD Flapoor recovered from his wounds and went back for a second successful tour in Iraq. Thank you for making this tribute LCpl Brown so we can all remember this amazing dog for his sacrifice and service to our country.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph5U1eeb2Oc]
Touching video here of a funeral for a Las Vegas Metro Police Dog named Ben.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-1en4H3S4M]
WAR DOG
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYfGACqTCUk]
This is a very special military dog tribute video. It is a tribute to the older k9 corps that existed during WWII and specifically the dogs that served in Guam. My favorite part is at 1:20 with the dog looking at the vintage sign that reads U.S. Marines War Dog Training Company. It’s as if the dog is reporting in for duty. I would love to get a hold of that sign.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m24i94tMuaA]
Britt, military working dog, earns last rites befitting hero
Arizona Daily Star ^ | Carol Ann Alaimo
Britt the bomb-sniffing dog, who served overseas in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, will get a funeral befitting a hero at Fort Huachuca. The ashes of the Army canine, recently put down due to neurological illness, will be interred behind the kennels that served as his home base as a military color guard looks on.
The 11-year-old German shepherd was euthanized on Sept. 11 and will be buried Dec. 3 at the Southern Arizona Army post.
Following tradition, taps will be played and a flag folded and presented to Sgt. Megan Hobson, Britt’s last handler.
“We lost a fallen comrade,” said Hobson, 24, a Utah native serving with the fort’s 18th Military Police Detachment.
“He may have been a piece of Army equipment, but I loved that dog,” said Hobson, who was with Britt when he died.
The German shepherd held the rank of staff sergeant — military dogs always outrank their handlers by one stripe, to discourage ill treatment of a superior. He had several Army medals to his credit and had worked as an explosives detector dog since 1999.
Overseas, he took part in numerous missions that likely saved lives, officials said. On patrol in Iraq, he unearthed weapons caches and makeshift bombs, and even collared an insurgent by chasing him down.
Hobson, Britt’s handler for three months, arranged for the canine to spend his final days in the Huachuca Mountains doing his favorite things.
“They let me have a couple days with him where he was just a dog, he didn’t have to work,” she recalled.
She bought him doggie delicacies — sirloin steak with mashed potatoes from a Texas Roadhouse restaurant — and they played fetch with his favorite squeaky toy.
Britt had a reputation for nipping people — “love bites” as the handlers call them — but Hobson, a rarity as a female handler, said she never saw that side of him. “I think he needed a woman in his life,” she said.
Fort Huachuca spokeswoman Tanja Linton said the fanfare at an Army dog’s funeral is not quite the same as honors rendered for a human.
Still, she said in a statement, the service aims to pay respects to “a different kind of soldier.”
“Britt served his country with loyalty and distinction,” she said.
● Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at 573-4138 or at calaimo@azstarnet.com.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6aOyF-2j3Y]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3r1gYz77iY]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp54NkNA3eA]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouZbbvuao10&feature=related]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02YCADgfk1E]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIba_ANm5WA]
Today is the 9/11 anniversary. It is a day we honor those we lost and those that fought so bravely to save lives. It was one of those days we all remember where we were when we first heard about what was happening. I was in Marine Corps boot camp. I had just arrived to boot camp one month earlier. Little did I know what was about to happen and where that path was going to lead me. Several years later, one tour of duty with my dog completed, several friends KIA, and a whole new outlook and appreciation of life later I am proud to have served my country and honor those who lost their lives that day.
9/11 changed our world. It also skyrocketed the demand for working dog teams. Never before has there been such a high demand for search and rescue dogs, detection dogs, etc. Even to this day dog teams continue to be on the frontlines all around the world and here at home protecting our freedom. These videos are dedicated to our canine heroes of 9/11. Thank you to all those who put these together.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIbIXNfuUPM]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPa7PKjoVlU&feature=related]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvP6WwEafjA&feature=related]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e1mlwZYbyw&feature=related]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ivJbe0j1MM]
Sgt. Michelle Colon, a soldier with 209th MP Detatchment in Fort Benning, GA, had the unfortunate circumstance of losing her MWD(military working dog) Mike this past summer. Her “battle buddy” Sgt. Tabitha Pindell, stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska 28th MP detachment, made this great tribute video for Sgt Colon and MWD Mike who were deployed to Camp Bucca , Iraq.
Handlers become so attached to their dogs that they will often make various tributes to them such as paintings, a collage, a shadowbox, and a video like the one below. Losing an MWD is more than just losing an effective weapon or tool, it like losing another brave soldier. You see them everyday, the dogs have personalities, and they bring overall morale up with the soldiers. MWD Mike had a final rank of Staff Sergeant because his handler’s rank is Sergeant. Handlers give their dogs one rank higher than themselves so that they always treat them with respect. His ID number is K494 meaning that number is tattooed inside one of his ears, it is like the dog’s own social security number in the military. This particular MWD is a fantastic looking dog. It is a Belgain Malinois, not a Shepherd. Rest easy Mike, your work here is done.
SSG Mike K494
April 2005-June 2008
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRTF0bkELAg]
Fantastic video here about the CBP(Customs and Border Patrol) Canine units and how valuable they are in protecting our borders. These canine teams showed off their great abilities for the Secretary of the Department for Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. These dog teams are “dual detection” dogs. Traditionally, dogs have been trained in one specific field such as narcotics or explosives. However, these dogs are trained to locate illegal narcotics and concealed humans. As you will see in the video the dogs are trained to respond passively, which usually means they will sit next to what they find rather than scratch and bite at the area. Responding passively is a better way to train the dogs because it limits property damage and injury to the dog. Also, if there were an explosive wired to the narcotic or vehicle, then a passive response will keep the dog from accidentally setting off a bomb.
People don’t realize how vital these k9 teams are until they learn that the dog teams are responsible for locating millions of dollars worth of narcotics and currency.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbRNnlth4Yc]
This video tribute is mainly about the war dogs from WWII, specifically those that served in Guam, but has references to all war dogs that served. This video was made by Marianne-thank you for showing your appreciation to our unsung heroes.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e85UdhUHgJw]
