The May 2008 quarterly issue of the Air Commando Association newsletter ,
www.specialoperations.net , is reporting the following:
"Military working dogs have been officially in service since WW II under Dogs for Defense Program and more than 100,000 have served in the defense of the United States of America".
A "working dog and fallen K9 handler tribute was held at the AF Armament museum on Eglin AFB on February 16, 2008. A monument will feature a bronze casting of a German Shepard and will serve to honor all working dogs, their handlers and trainers from all branches of service, past, present, and future."
"One dog in particular was the center of attention. Lex, a German Shepard military working dog veteran, received a commerative Purple Heart medal for injuries he sustained in combat. Nearly a year ago his handler, Marine Corps Cpl. Dustin J. Lee, was killed while Lex was critically wounded in a mortar attack March 21, 2007, in Fallujah, Iraq. Never leaving his fallen master's side until battlefield medics seperated the pair. Lex survived the attack but still has shrapnel in his back. While deployed, Lex's primary role while serving in the Global War on Terror was a bomb sniffer."
"Lex was allowed to retire when his partner was killed in Iraq. He is the frist Marine Corps Military Working Dog ever to be retired into the care of the deceased handlers family."
There may be other offical memorials for Military Working Dogs. This is the first I have seen written about. Long overdue monument if that is the case.
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