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Udi, a United States military working dog stationed at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, poses for the camera after he completes his daily training, Dec. 25. Photo by Pfc. Amanda McBride. FOB KALSU — With their strong sense of smell and their immeasurable loyalty, the highly trained military working dogs (MWD) in the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, are proving to be essential in the fight against terrorism. Military working dogs first entered the United States armed services in March 1942. Today, the dogs are still providing support to the troops on the battlefield.A single dog can search more...

The small group of veterans gathers at March Field Air Museum in Riverside, Calif., once a year, traveling from all corners of the country, to mourn forgotten heroes of battle. They come to honor the dogs that saved lives by detecting booby traps and watching over military camps, dogs that became trusted friends in times of loneliness. snip The Vietnam Dog Handler Association estimates that dogs saved 10,000 soldiers' lives during the Vietnam War. They would alert handlers to tripwires blowing in the breeze or the otherwise undetectable scent of buried explosives. Depending on their level of aggressiveness, the dogs...

  NJ Set to Get War Dog Memorial Man's best friend has contributed to U.S. war efforts for many years, so it is only fitting to have an official war dog memorial to honor the service of these canine companions. Military canines make contributions every day while they serve in our military. They are hard working and do a great job of saving the lives of their handlers and the troops who walk in their footsteps. The nonprofit association is made up of current and former military dog handlers and is committed to educating the public about the invaluable service...

Ron Aiello's vision glows in bronze. The long-awaited statue, depicting a U.S. Marine kneeling beside his military service dog, stands tall in artist Bruce Lindsay's studio. In a few months, the monument will be moved to a Holmdel site, where it will become the nation's first sanctioned U.S. War Dog Memorial. "It is life-sized," he said, "but it is larger than life." Aiello, a Burlington County resident, was among a handful of veteran dog handlers who took on a mission six years ago to see that their canine partners and other war dogs were not forgotten The Memorial will be...

The Washington Timeswww.washingtontimes.com War dogs lap up supportBy Jen HaberkornTHE WASHINGTON TIMESPublished July 5, 2005 Military war dogs in Iraq help save lives by detecting bombs and traps and finding injured civilians, but their noses are getting chapped from the desert heat.     When Amy Nichols, owner of Happy Tails Dog Spa in Tysons Corner, heard of the dogs' tale, she bought some lip balm for their noses and set up a donation box in front of her store. The doggy day care also is collecting flying discs, knotted ropes and treats to send to the hundreds of dogs serving...

From The Antelope Valley Press in California comes the story of our K-9 contingent in Iraq. Chief Warrant Officer Peter Zorba, of Squadron HMM-764 "The Moonlighters" writes: I fly into Baghdad almost every night, but this night's mission was a special ASR (assault support request). A Marine K-9 had been killed and another dog wounded earlier in the day and we were going there to pick up the dead K-9, the wounded K-9 and their Marine handlers. How these Marines were attacked, whether in contact with insurgents, a sniper or an improvised explosive device (IED), we never knew. We took...

LONDON (AP) — Buster, a 6-year-old Springer spaniel, earned more than a pat on the head Tuesday when he was awarded Britain's highest animal bravery medal for his role in breaking a resistance cell in Iraq. The British army canine received the Dickin Medal at a ceremony at London's Imperial Museum for discovering a cache of weapons and explosives in Safwan, southern Iraq, in March. Buster's handler, Sgt. Danny Morgan, said the building was thought to be the headquarters of extremists responsible for attacks on British forces, but that soldiers searching it had found nothing. He said Buster, however, persisted,...

GOOD boy! Buster, a six-year-old Springer spaniel, earned more than a pat on the head overnight when he was awarded Britain's highest animal bravery medal for his role in breaking a resistance cell in Iraq. The British army canine received the Dickin Medal at a ceremony at London's Imperial Museum for discovering a cache of weapons and explosives in Safwan, southern Iraq, in March. Danny's handler, Sgt Danny Morgan, said the building was thought to be the headquarters of extremists responsible for attacks on British forces, and that Buster succeeded after soldiers found nothing. Buster quickly gave Morgan an indication...

Military dogs help defend Iraq by Tech. Sgt. Bob Oldham 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs 11/28/2003 - TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Hiding behind mounds of dirt or anything else his handler could find, Tino sat and waited for an intruder to breach the base’s fence on his random listening and observation post. Suddenly, the military working dog’s ears, eyes and nose zeroed in on two men as they entered the base’s perimeter. As the men closed in, Tino stood up, fluffing up his hair and tail to make his presence known. “You could hear them stop breathing (when they saw Tino),”...

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) - They met in northern Iraq under the most trying of circumstances. Army Sgt. 1st Class Russell Joyce and his unit needed a guard dog. A scruffy, rail-thin German shepherd needed a home. Though most of the soldiers in the Special Forces unit thought the dog looked too frail, Joyce felt it deserved a chance. He fed it, trained it and, almost as a joke, named it Fluffy. Through it all, man and dog forged a commitment that lasted through war and government red tape, and all the way back to a reunion and a new home...

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood...

<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) - William W. Putney, a Marine Corps officer who trained war dogs during World War II and wrote of their heroism in his book "Always Faithful," has died. He was 83.</p> <p>Putney died Tuesday of cancer at his Woodland Hills home.</p>

HIGHLIGHTSThroughout the histories of warfare, from the days of the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Persians and the conquests of the Roman Empire. To the United Nation's Police Action in Korea, the war in Vietnam, the Gulf War, and more recently during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. Dogs have undergone active service at the sides of their masters, they have played the role of hero, by showing bravery under fire, saving lives (often by sacrificing their own), and bringing comfort to the injured and infirm. Beginning on March 13, 1942, Lt. Colonel Clifford C. Smith, chief of the...