US Marines

Sergeant Adam L. Cann

KIA: 5 January 2006

It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Marine Sergeant Adam L. Cann.

Cann, a native of Davie, Fla., 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 Services Support Group.

Cann had less than two months to go before he finished his second tour in Iraq, and the 23-year-old military 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 U.S.

The Camp Pendleton MWD Section sign designed and first created by Sgt Cann was placed and dedicated as a component of the Military K9 Heritage Exhibit at March Field Air Museum by Camp Pendleton Marines and Feed the Dawgs project members on 17 December 2009.

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=33341&archive=true

http://www.marines.mil/unit/basecamppendleton/Pages/News/2009/K-9Article.aspx

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 Marine

Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee

April 7, 1986 - March 21, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpmO-sLsvjM

Cpl. Lee's MWD Lex

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.

---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.

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 July 18.

Cpl. Kory D. Wiens, 20, of the 94th Mine Dog Detachment, 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and his partner, Cooper, were killed July 6 by an improvised explosive device 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:

ALL K9 Handlers are volunteers - and so too are their Partners -

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