Posted on 02/07/2006 3:24:07 PM PST by SandRat
AL ASAD, Iraq (Feb. 7, 2006) -- On Jan. 5, a suicide bomber tried to interrupt Iraq's rebuilding process at a police academy in Ramadi, but honor, courage and commitment by Iraqis and Marines alike was the only lasting result from the attack.
The bond between one Marine, Cpl. Brendan N. Poelaert, a military working dog handler with 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment Provisional Military Police Battalion, and an East Kingston, N.H., native, and his MWD, Flapoor, a 4-year-old Belgium Malinos, came through the carnage unscathed, even if the pair did not.
Poelaert, an Exeter High School graduate, joined the Marine Corps during 2003, selected military policeman as his military occupational specialty and volunteered to become a dog handler. Military police and their MWDs conduct vehicle searches, search open areas and buildings for personnel and evidence, perform tracking searches for lost or wanted persons and can detect illegal drugs or explosives.
"It was something extra I was interested in when I went to (MP training)," Poelaert said. "I grew up on a farm, have been around animals all my life and love playing with dogs, so it was pretty natural for me."
The bond between Marine and man's best friend is amplified in the handler-MWD relationship because of the way the two depend on each other to accomplish a mission, said Staff Sgt. Wilfredo Declet, western area staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge for the 5th Bn., 14th Marines MWD section.
"The bond that is built between a handler and MWD is a unique one," Declet said. "They depend on each other to perform their assigned duties. It is a team effort."
Poelaert and Flapoor deployed to Fallujah during November. The teams' primary missions in Iraq are to detect improvised explosive devices, provide crowd control, patrol entry control points, detect narcotics and ensure base safety.
"He and all MWDs have been outstanding in Iraq," Poelaert said. "Every weapons cache found by a MWD could mean the difference between life and death for a lot of people. They are really a valuable part of our mission."
In Ramadi, MPs were providing crowd control for Iraqis lined up for entrance into a police academy. With some 300 Iraqis jostling for position, the working dogs provided a calming effect on the crowd.
"People react to just the presence of the dogs," Poelaert said. "No matter where we are, here or stateside, the dogs have the same effect on crowds of people. Just being out, having that security presence deescalates most situations."
A suicide bomber wearing a vest packed with ball bearings and explosives detonated the device in the thick of the crowd. Marines and Iraqis fell in the blast.
"The first thing I did was grab my arm because I thought it was missing," Poelaert said. "I saw another MP who was hit, heard machine gun fire, it seemed like there were bodies everywhere. I tried to lift my rifle but couldn't because of my arm."
Poelaert had multiple shrapnel wounds in his left arm. As he surveyed the scene, he found Sgt. Adam Cann, his MWD Bruno and Flapoor were injured.
"Flapoor tired to come to me, but he just laid on the ground and stared," Poelaert said. "I reacted the same as I would for any other Marine, calling for corpsmen. Medics wanted to treat me, but I was more concerned with getting the dogs to a veterinarian."
Bandaged from head to wrist, Poelaert continued to look for a way to treat the injured dogs. "Finally some other MPs got the K9 truck to us and drove us to a hospital," Poelaert said. "There just happened to be a veterinarian technician at the hospital so I felt better about that. They wanted me to get treated so I was looking for another handler who could look after Flapoor."
Despite his injuries, Poelaert refused to be moved to Al Asad for treatment without Flapoor at his side. Poelaert had already lost one dog during his time as a handler and was determined to do everything in his power to save Flapoor.
"I lost a dog to cancer so I had been through that helpless feeling before," Poelaert said. "They are like a best friend. It is hard to lose a dog, just as hard as losing a Marine. I was determined to do what I could."
Marine and dog were flown to Al Asad's surgical center together. Declet took on responsibility for Poelaert as soon as he heard there was a Marine and dog inbound.
"He was assigned to the eastern region, but regardless of where they work, we are part of the same family," Declet said. "We take care of our own. Once I heard we were having a handler and MWD medical evacuated to Al Asad, it becomes my responsibility. We were waiting for the helicopter to land. Once Poelaert got off the helicopter, he ensured his MWD was in our hands before he was treated."
Flapoor was successfully treated and released in Al Asad, but Poelaert had to endure a series of surgeries and treatments in several different hospitals before being reunited with his partner.
"It was great to see him," Poelaert said. "The relationship is what you make of it, but every handler I know goes out of their way to be with their dog. It is an unforgettable bond, something you never want to see end. Him pulling through really helped me deal with everything that happened. The hospital workers were great, I can't say enough about what they did for both of us."
Sergeant Adam Cann and Bruno were killed in the attack. The loss was felt by everyone in the MP community. Declet said reuniting Poelaert and Flapoor was one way of helping the Marine push through the tragedy.
"All handlers feel the same connection with their MWDs," Declet said. "It's not only their tool, but they are always there in the good times and the bad times."
Taking on only light duties will be the routine for Marine and dog for now, but both are looking forward to getting back to action.
"Getting better and getting him back to full health are the only things I've got planned," Poelaert said. "I always look forward to training and this will be like retraining him. I have to keep him walking slow and building back up to the load of activity he is used to. He likes to work too though so it won't be easy to keep him at half speed."
Poelaert's dedication to his panting partner is typical of the concern most handlers would have in a similar situation, Declet said.
"Any other handler would have done the same thing and acted the same way," Declet said. "The phrase 'Semper Fidelis' also applies to the MWDs. We will never leave a Marine behind or in this case a MWD. We will do everything in our power to save the life of a MWD."
Poleaert and Flapoor are looking forward to fully recovering and sinking their teeth back into their mission.
"He hits like a ton of bricks and loves biting," Poelaert said. "You can tell he is missing it. We are both ready to get better and get back to work."
"He hits like a ton of bricks and loves biting," ...
What does the name, Flapoor, mean? Never heard it before.
Got me!!!!????
That is a Belgian Malinois, and they are tremendous dogs! I am blessed with two of them!
Yep...good dog...
Loves to bite and keeps on coming at ya...& wont stop for nuthin'
ping
Ping!
In Dutch it means lop ear and is related to the word lop which in this case means Cut off from a whole; "His head was severed from his body".
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/lop
Dutch: zachte dravik (lop grass, soft brome, soft bromegrass, soft chess, tender brome grass), slapoor (lop-ear), overvloeier (cross fade, dissolve, fade over, lop dissolve), katteoor (lop-ear), kattenoor (lop-ear), hangoor (lop-ear), flapoor (lop ear), afstaand oor (lop ear). (various references)
I also found ringtones with that name and another dog with that same name: http://home.zonnet.nl/n.houtkoop/Lege%20pagina%203.htm as well as people using it as a handle.
Great guy and what a dog! It is so nice to read a story from the war with a happy ending. God bless and keep them both from further harm.
BTTT
Thanks for the ping!
Oh my - a mature working Malinois w/floppy ears - might help console my sister who hates her mature German Shepherd's floppy ears!
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