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 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 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.
SSG Raphael Futrell was supported by VDHA Old Dawgs & Pups sponsor Doug McCoy, MWD Handler, Wolf X548, 1970-71.
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 the attack and is under the care of Dog Center Europe.
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 was killed in action on 22 January 2006 near Taji, Iraq, 12 miles north of Baghdad. Norton served with the USAF 3d SFS.
If you have information regarding a MWD casualty related to this event please notify us through our "Contact Us" page.
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.
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/Military
Operations/LanceCorporalKennethRoweKilledInAfghanistan.htm
"I feel lucky to have known him and gutted to have said goodbye.He will be sorely missed by everyone in FOB INKERMAN "
Major Stuart McDonald
LCpl Ken Rowe joined the Army in Newcastle (England) on 7 March 2005. He successfully completed his Phase 1 training at ATR Winchester in June 2005, and his Phase 2 dog training in July 2005. He quickly went on to establish himself as a dog handler and trainer of the highest order, deploying to Northern Ireland. He deployed to Afghanistan in March 2008.
On the evening of 24th July both LCpl Rowe and his dog, Sasha, lost their lives in a contact with the enemy whilst conducting a search operation. He died supporting his colleagues in a situation that required his customary composure and professionalism in handling his dog whilst facing a substantial threat from the enemy. In doing so he demonstrated all of the spirit, dedication and bravery of both his own unit and the Company of which he had become an integral part. He will be remembered as a man with a genuine passion for his work and a true professional with an infectious enthusiasm.
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
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.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/07/army_canineteam_070722w/
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