Boisterous, mischievous and reluctant to heed their commanders, these young cadets hardly resemble a crack military unit. One chases rubber balls. Another plays tug-of-war with old rope. A third yelps excitedly. But next year they will be among an elite Army team sniffing out roadside bombs in Afghanistan. They are the latest eight recruits on…
When waging war against each other, human armies often enlist the aid of the animal kingdom. In past conflicts, horses, elephants, and camels hauled men and supplies; pigeons carried messages; dogs tracked enemies and protected troops. Their efforts helped to turn battles—and the fortunes of many a combat soldier. Read More:
Dogs working alongside military troops are considered equipment. In other words, a dog that sniffs for bombs is no different than a metal detector. That means when retirement comes, the military can declare that the thousands of dollars that it costs to bring a dog back from a place as far as Afghanistan isn’t worth…
Requests for copies of records relating to military service come into the National Archives every day. Some people are trying to fill in family history; others are looking for documentation of their own service. Those who need records of service from World War I and later are directed to our National Personnel Records Center in…
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The 23-year-old sergeant’s voice breaks as he pauses to collect his thoughts on how to express his feelings for his fallen friends. The names of his comrades are engraved on his “KIA” Bracelets, which now sit on a table adorned with military memorabilia and memories of friends he’s served with. “Every…
A 23-year-old Marine from Parker — and the Military Working Dog that was trying to save him — were killed during a combat operation in Afghanistan’s Farah province Saturday, Major Jeff Landis of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command told The Denver Post on Monday. Read More:
Most dogs are content to chase after a ball, but Besy, a 5-year-old, 63-pound German Shepherd, finds satisfaction in searching for explosives. Besy is the military working dog paired with Staff Sgt. Samantha Navarrete, 27, a Midland native stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. She has been in the Air Force for…