It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Marine Sergeant Adam L. Cann. Cann, a native of Davie, Florida, died as he was helping to control crowds outside of an Iraqi police recruitment and screening center at the sprawling Ramadi Glass Factory. He was attached to the 2nd Military Police Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group.
Cann had less than two months to go before he finished his second tour in Iraq, and the 23-year-old Marine Dog Handler told friends that he and his trusty German Shepherd, Bruno, would be right back for a third.
MWD Bruno was returned to the United States, residing at Camp Pendleton.
The Camp Pendleton MWD Section sign designed and first created by Sgt. Cann has been placed and dedicated as a permanent component of the Feed the Dawgs Military K9 Heritage Exhibit at March Field Air Museum by Camp Pendleton Marines and Feed the Dawgs project members.
US Air Force
SSgt Brian M. Carragher
Killed 18 September 2010
We regret to announce the death of Air Force
SSgt Brian Carragher ~ killed 18 September on the
streets of California City, California. Brian served
two tours in Iraq as an MWD Handler - racking up
record explosive finds. Our condolences to Brian's
family and the Young Dawgs of the 95th SFS MWDs.
US Marine Corps
LCpl Peter James Clore
KIA 28 May 2011
LCpl Clore was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune. LCpl Clore was killed in a fire fight while on escorted patrol on 28 May 2011 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. LCpl Clore hailed from New Philadelphia, Ohio. His MWD, Duke P059 survived the engagement.
US Army
Sgt Zainah C. Creamer
KIA 12 January 2011
We are extremely saddened to announce the death of
US Army Sgt Zainah C. Creamer. The 28-year-old Creamer, while on her third rotation, was killed in action by an IED while serving with the 2nd Battalion ~ 502 Infantry Regiment.
Sgt Creamer haled from Texarkana, Texas.
Creamer's MWD Joffa survived the attack.
Our condolences to Zainah's family, her fellow Dawgs,
and the US Army. We grieve with you.
US Marines
LCpl William H. Crouse, IV
KIA: 21 December 2010
We regret to announce the loss of Marine
LCpl William H. Crouse IV and his IDD Dog Cane, both KIA on 21 December 2010 by an IED in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. LCpl Crouse was assigned to the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Force from the 1st Battalion, 10th Regiment, Camp Lejeune.
Take your own sweet time, Marine.
US Marines
SSgt Christopher Diaz
KIA: 28 September 2011
Sgt. Christopher Diaz, 27, of Albuquerque, NM, died September 28, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA. Diaz was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
US Marines
Cpl Max William Donahue
KIA: 6 August 2010
It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of Marine Cpl Max Donahue. Donahue died 6 August 2010 from wounds sustained in combat in Afghanistan two days earlier. Donahue's MWD Fenji survived and is in guarded condition at the time of this post. They were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment. Cpl Donahue hailed from Castle Rock, Colorado.
US Navy
MA1 John Douangdara
KIA: 6 August 2011
It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of
US Navy Seal MA1 John Douangdara, Seal Team 6. Douangdara and his MWD Bart died when there helicopter was shot down in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
US Army
Staff Sgt. Raphael A. Futrell
It is with great sadness that we report the following release from the Department of Defense SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii (March 27, 2009) -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Schofield Barracks Soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Raphael A. Futrell, 26, of Anderson, S.C., died Wednesday in Baghdad, Iraq, from injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. Staff Sgt. Futrell was assigned to the 13th Military Police Detachment, 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command. He was serving as an Explosive Detector Dog Handler.
US Army
Lt. Col. Daniel E. Holland, DVM
KIA: 18 May 2006
Age 43, of San Antonio, Texas, Holland died in Baghdad, Iraq, from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations. He was assigned to the 352nd Civil Affairs Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
US Army
SSgt James R. Ide V
KIA: 28 August 2010
We regret to announce the loss of US Army SSgt James R. Ide V.
It is reported that James was killed in action during operations in Hyderabad, Afghanistan, on Sunday, 28 August 2010. James was assigned to the 230th Military Police Company, 95th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade. James was career Army and haled from Festus, Missouri. SSgt Ide's MWD Ddaphne survived and has been retired and entrusted to the care of the Ide Family.
Know that we miss you, Brother.
US Marine
Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee
April 7, 1986 - March 21, 2007
Marine Cpl Dustin Jerome Lee. Born April 7, 1986, Killed March 21, 2007 in Fallujah, Iraq. He was 20 years old. Dustin was born in Meridian, MS, graduated from Quitman High School in 2004. He was stationed at MCLB, HQ BN in Albany GA, before deploying for Iraq. Cpl Dustin J. Lee was a Marine K9 handler attached to 3rd Recon Battalion in Fallujah when the attack happened. His dog Lex received injuries but non life-threatening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpmO-sLsvjM
---UPDATE: LEX was Adopted December 21, 2007
US Air Force
TSgt Jason L. Norton
KIA 22 January 2006
TSgt. Jason L. Norton rotated from Elmendorf AFB, AK, where he was the MWD Trainer. He was killed in action on 22 January 2006 near Taji, Iraq, 12 miles north of Baghdad. Norton served with the USAF 3d SFS. We have been able to confirm that there was no MWD casualty connected to this loss.
US Army
Sgt Mycal Lee Prince
KIA 15 September 2011
Sgt Mycal Lee Prince, 28, of Minco, Oklahoma, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Stillwater, Oklahoma. Sgt Prince died on 15 September 2011 of wounds received during combat in Laghman Provine, Afghanistan.
If anyone can help us determine the status of Sgt Prince's MWD, please use our "Contact Us" page. We would be extremely appreciative of your assistance.
US Army
SFC Gregory A. Rodriguez
KIA 2 September 2008
SFC Gregory Rodgriquez died of wounds suffered in Ana Kalay, Afghanistan, when his mounted patrol came under small arms fire. He was assigned to the K9 Unit of the 527th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th MP Brigade, Ansbach, Germany.
United Kingdom
Lance Corporal Kenneth Michael Rowe
KIA 24 July 2008
It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Lance Corporal Kenneth Michael Rowe of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, attached to 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment.
Sadly, LCpl Rowe's Explosives Dog, Sasha, was also killed in this action.
Sincere condolences to our British Brothers in Arms.
US Marine
PFC Colton W. Rusk
KIA 6 December 2010
The Department of Defense has announced the death of PFC Colton W. Rusk, 20, of Orange Grove, Texas. Rusk died 6 December 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force,
Camp Pendleton, California. PFC Rusk's Dog, Eli, survived and has been adopted by the Rusk Family.
Aussie Sapper Darren Smith
KIA 7 June 2010
Afghanistan
It was just before 11am on Monday [7 June 2010] in Afghanistan's hot and dusty Mirabad Valley when newly arrived army combat engineers Sappers Darren Smith and Jacob Moerland conducted a route clearance ahead of an Australian patrol. Sapper Smith's border collie cross sniffer dog Herbie had detected an enemy bomb and, as the two soldiers from the Brisbane-based 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, approached the improvised explosive device (IED) - the still, summer morning was rocked by a massive explosion. A Taliban insurgent had detonated the device by remote control.
US Marines
Cpl. Jeffrey R. Standfest
KIA 16 June 2010
Marine Cpl Jeffrey Standfest, 23 of St. Clair, Michigan, was
Killed in Action on 16 June 2010 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. It was only 23 days earlier that Cpl Standfest lost his IDD partner, Ruppert P390, to an IED. He was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, MCAGCC
29 Palms. Rest now in peace, Dawg.
US Army
Spc. Brandon K. Steffey
KIA 25 October 2009
Spc. Steffey, 23, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, died 25 October 2009 in Laghman Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device (IED). Steffey's Military Working Dog, Macy, was also killed in the attack. The team was assigned to the 178th Military Police Detachment, 89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.
US Army
SSgt. Donald T. Tabb
KIA 5 February 2008
Staff Sergeant Donald Tabb, 29, of Norcross, Georgia, died 5 February 2008, in Sangin, Afghanistan,of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED). He was assigned to the the 6th Military Police Detachment, 1st Battalion, 13 Aviation Regiment, Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Tabb's specialized search dog, Bo, a 2-year-old Labrador, was injured but was expected to recover. Many thanks to CPT Brian Burbank, who served with Don Tabb, for the update on Bo - adopted by the Tabb family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttckE7-nf00
United Kingdom
LCpl Liam Richard Tasker
KIA 1 March 2011
LCpl Liam Richard Tasker, age 26 of Kirkaldy, Scotland, was killed in action during a firefight with insurgents in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. LCpl Tasker was assigned to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, 1st Military Working Dog Regiment. Tasker's Explosives Dog Theo, not killed in the engagement, died several hours later from an apparent seizure.
Rest in Peace, Brother.
US Army
Cpl. Kory D. Wiens
MWD Cooper
KIA 6 July 2007
The first Military Working Dog Team killed in action together since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were laid to rest together on 18 July 2007. Cpl Kory D. Wiens, 20, of the 94th Mine Dog Detachment, 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade of Fort Leonard Wood, and his Partner, Cooper, were killed 6 July by an IED while on patrol in Muhammad Sath, Iraq. They had been in Iraq since January.
US Marines
Sgt. Christopher M. Wrinkle
Died: 31 July 2011
Marine Sgt. Christopher M. Wrinkle, 29, of Dallastown, Pa., died July 31, 2011 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom. Wrinkle was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Wrinkle’s MWD Tosca died with him.
Let us never forget that all K9 Handlers are volunteers,
as are their partners ~ 100%
Military Working Dogs Killed in Action
MWD Marco, US Air Force, 20 January 2007
MWD Cooper, US Army, July 6, 2007
MWD Arras, US Air Force, 25 September 2007
UK/RAVC Explosives Sasha, 24 July 2008
MWD Macy, US Army, 25 October, 2009
IDD Ruppert, US Marines, 24 May 2010
MWD Tar, US Marines, 6 May 2010
RAAF CER/Explosives Herbie, 7 June 2010
IDD Lydia, US Marines, 29 August 2010
MWD Grief, US Marines, 9 October, 2010
IDD Bingo, US Marines, 25 November 2010
IDD Cane, US Marines, 21 December 2010
UK/RAVC Explosives Theo, 1 March 2011
MWD Hunter, US Army, 29 May 2011
MWD Tosca, US Marines, 31 July 2011
MWD Bart, US Navy, 6 August 2011