Sgt. Adam L. Cann, 23, died trying to protect his fellow soldiers and civilians at a police recruitment center on Jan. 5, 2006, at Ramadi, Iraq. When his dog Bruno became agitated by the scent of explosives, according to witnesses, Sgt. Cann confronted a suicide bomber, who then detonated a vest. Bruno was wounded but recovered. Sgt. Cann had served a combat tour in Afghanistan and was on his second tour in Iraq. He was attached to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force. He was from Davie, Fla. Sgt. Cann was the first U.S. dog handler killed since the Vietnam War. The Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, named the base’s kennel the “Adam L. Cann K-9 Facility” in Sgt. Cann’s honor
This is the first of several memorials that I will be placing on the Blog. I’ve personally always had trouble writing about our Handlers and Dogs who have died because I feel it can be very intrusive on the families and we certainly want to show them respect. Fortunately for me, Dennis Herrick, the editor of DOGMAN, with whom I have have shared some of my articles, did me the courtesy of sharing a gracious and respectful set of memorials with me. They will be posted on the Blog one at a time. With each posting, I hope you will remember the team, the handler’s family and friends who still mourn and the military family left to mourn a loss of their own.
With deep respect,
Dixie
Helmand Province 2nd Recon
Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – A Marine with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), follows his military working dog on patrol. The Marines conducted hundreds of dismounted and mounted patrols through their six months in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Courtesy Photo by Cpl. Marco Mancha)
Wonderful surprise artwork!
Today at the post office there were a couple of great surprises awaiting, one of which was a box from Hadley Middle School in Homer Glen, Illinois with great letters to the handlers and dogs inside. There were also some toys and treats.
We love receiving these to send and wanted to thank the students and, of course, the teacher who made it all possible. (Apparently, there is someone at Hadley Middle School that is as big a fan of glitter as I am! : ))
We will get these out in the next shipment and really appreciate your efforts!
A Memorial to James Ide
Staff Sgt. James R. Ide V, 32, was killed Aug. 29, 2010, near Hyderabad, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, when his unit was attacked with small-arms fire. He was a specialized dog handler with the 230th Military Police Company, based in Sembach, Germany. He was a native of Festus, Mo. Sgt. Ide left a wife and two children. His dog Ddaphine was a 4-year-old Belgian malinois, which was wounded but survived. Staff Sgt. Ide was a veteran of two tours in Iraq and a tour of duty in South Korea.
Many thanks to Dennis Herrick for allowing me to borrow this memorial.
How to support to Military Working Dogs for Christmas
Or Hanukkah, or Winter Solstice or whatever holiday you support, we send goodies to deployed military working dogs and handlers.
How can you help military dogs this season? We have some suggestions: donations are always a great way to go as they can be turned into anything from KONGs, to treats to the nearly $13 per box in shipping expenses. Do you have a contact at a company that could send us in-kind donations? WE LOVE to get items that are suitable to include in packages that we don’t have to spend money to receive: dog treats or toys, socks, hand warmers, snacks, grooming supplies etc.
You can online shop via iGive.com and a portion of the purchases you were going to make anyway can be funneled to our organization. You can partner with your friends, family, church members or other organizations and do a small fundraiser.
However you choose to help military K9s for the holidays, we will be sending packages and you can assured that somewhere in the middle of the Afghanistan mountains, these teams will know that they are remembered and appreciated.
A Memorial to Jeffrey Standfest
Cpl. Jeffrey R. Standfest, 23, was killed in action June 16, 2010, in an IED explosion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Cpl. Standfest was a dog handler with the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Cpl. Standfest had recently suffered a concussion in an IED explosion that killed his first dog. He had returned to duty with a new dog looking for more IEDs when he and that dog were killed. He was a native of St. Clair, Mich.
Thanks to Dennis Herrick of the VDHA for sharing this memorial.
Enyzi and his KONG toy
Enyzi, a 3-year-old Belgian Tervuren military working dog attached to Task Force Currahee, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, takes a break from training Jan. 31, 2011, at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan. Military working dog handlers work with canines throughout deployments to keep their skills sharp and to maintain readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Luther L. Boothe Jr./Released)
KONGs for K9s Display at Top Dogs in Kennesaw
MWDTSA Webmaster and 47th Infantry Platoon Scout Dog Veteran stopped by Top Dogs for a quick visit and “scouting” opportunity at the Kennesaw store on his way through on I-75. While there, he visited with employee Mandy Andree and checked out the items being requested for our dogs, including the KONGs, Solid Gold Shampoo and Conditioners, and grooming supplies.
Thanks to all of our great partner stores for their support, KONGs and other supplies will be in our Christmas packages.
49th Mine Dog Detection Detachment in Afghanistan
U.S. Army Spc. Adam Zettel, with the 49th Mine Dog Detection Detachment, and Allan, a mine detection dog, search a compound for unexploded ordnance in Qalat, Zabul province, Afghanistan, April 18, 2011. The team was asked to perform a ground sweep of the compound prior to the start of a forward operating base (FOB) expansion project for FOB Smart, which is home to Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Brian Wagner/Released)
A Memorial to Jason L. Norton
Sgt. Jason L. Norton, 32, was killed in action Jan. 22, 2006, in Taji, Iraq, when his armored Humvee was struck by an IED. He was a patrol and dog-unit NCO assigned to 3rd Security Forces Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Sgt. Norton, a patrol and K-9 officer, had been stationed in Alaska in 2002-2004. Sgt. Norton was a native of Miami, Okla., and left a wife and two children.
This is the second of several memorials that I will be placing on the Blog. I’ve personally always had trouble writing about our Handlers and Dogs who have died because I feel it can be very intrusive on the families and we certainly want to show them respect. Fortunately for me, Dennis Herrick, the editor of DOGMAN, with whom I have have shared some of my articles, did me the courtesy of sharing a gracious and respectful set of memorials with me. They will be posted on the Blog one at a time. With each posting, I hope you will remember the team, the handler’s family and friends who still mourn and the military family left to mourn a loss of their own.
With deep respect,
Dixie
A Memorial to Adam Cann
Sgt. Adam L. Cann, 23, died trying to protect his fellow soldiers and civilians at a police recruitment center on Jan. 5, 2006, at Ramadi, Iraq. When his dog Bruno became agitated by the scent of explosives, according to witnesses, Sgt. Cann confronted a suicide bomber, who then detonated a vest. Bruno was wounded but recovered. Sgt. Cann had served a combat tour in Afghanistan and was on his second tour in Iraq. He was attached to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force. He was from Davie, Fla. Sgt. Cann was the first U.S. dog handler killed since the Vietnam War. The Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, named the base’s kennel the “Adam L. Cann K-9 Facility” in Sgt. Cann’s honor
This is the first of several memorials that I will be placing on the Blog. I’ve personally always had trouble writing about our Handlers and Dogs who have died because I feel it can be very intrusive on the families and we certainly want to show them respect. Fortunately for me, Dennis Herrick, the editor of DOGMAN, with whom I have have shared some of my articles, did me the courtesy of sharing a gracious and respectful set of memorials with me. They will be posted on the Blog one at a time. With each posting, I hope you will remember the team, the handler’s family and friends who still mourn and the military family left to mourn a loss of their own.
With deep respect,
Dixie