Four retired military working dogs were presented with special medals to commemorate their service on Capitol Hill this week.
The dogs received the American Humane Association's K-9 Medal of Courage during the ceremony. The dogs were given the medals by a collection of military officials and more than a dozen congressmen. A crowd of staffers and military members watched the proceedings from the packed foyer, with dozens of onlookers overflowing into the hallway.
Retired Army Specialist Brent Grommet's dog Matty, Marine Corps Cpl. Nick Caceres' dog Fieldy, Army Sgt. Wess Brown's dog Isky, and a dog named Bond were the first to receive the new medal. They all served in active war zones during their time as military working dogs. Each has been credited with saving the lives of American servicemen.
Matty, a Czech German Shepherd, is credited with discovering multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) while on tour with Grommet in Afghanistan. The two were injured by a rocket-propelled grenade and faced a long fight to be reunited after Matty was erroneously adopted by a civilian family. The pair now lobby Congress on behalf of military dog teams and veterans suffering from PTSD.
Isky, a German Shepherd, provided protection for top U.S. officials, including the president and secretary of state, before being deployed to Afghanistan. There, Isky discovered 10 weapons caches and 5 IEDs, including a massive, 120-pound bomb. Isky's right front leg was wounded during a firefight and had to be amputated.
Fieldy, a Black Labrador Retriever, served four tours in Afghanistan as a bomb-detecting dog, uncovering numerous IEDs and saving lives. He served alongside Caceres for seven months and was adopted by him after being retired. Fieldy was pleased to receive his medal, excitedly jumped around on stage once it was put around his neck.
Bond served on more than 50 combat missions with a special operations unit. He excelled in bomb detection and enemy apprehension during his three deployments in Afghanistan. The Belgian Malinois wore an American flag bow tie during the event.
The dogs’ handlers said the ceremony and Medal of Courage were an honor for them and that they were proud of what their dogs had accomplished. "In the Army, we don't honor our dogs," Grommet said. "They don't get the recognition they deserve. They don't get the medals. So, I think it's perfect. I think it's about time we recognize our dogs for what they are."
"There's no words really," Brown said. "It's nice to put a face to all of this and make sure everyone knows exactly what these dogs are doing."
Also in attendance were Gen. Robert B. Neller, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, retired First Sgt. Matt Eversmann, who served in Mogadishu, Somalia and whose story inspired the film Black Hawk Down, and Marine Corps Col. Scott Campbell, Commanding Officer of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, who presented the medals.
The Humane Association said it created the award to recognize the heroic acts of America's military working dogs.
"Soldiers have been relying on these four-footed comrades-in-arms since the beginning of organized warfare and today military dogs are more important than ever in keeping our service men and women safe," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, the organization’s president. "At American Humane, which has been working with the U.S. military and military animals for 100 years, we feel it is time to recognize and honor the extraordinary feats and acts of devotion these heroic animals perform every day."
The ceremony was received enthusiastically by elected officials.
"It is important to recognize and honor the remarkable accomplishments and valor of these courageous canines," said Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R., Fla.), one of more than a dozen members of Congress to appear at the event. "By helping locate enemy positions, engage the enemy, and sniff out deadly IEDs and hidden weapons, military dogs have saved countless lives in the fight for freedom."
