AR-News: (US) Dogs of War: Monroe treats working canines to hero's welcome

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Dogs of War
Monroe treats working canines to hero’s welcome

BY PATRICK BUFFETT
CASEMATE STAFF WRITER

They don’t know the meaning of the word hero.

And it’s a safe bet  remember if I s    Mail      43Kthey don’t even remember 
the heroic actions they were credited with during recent tours in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.

For Rex, Nessy and Nouska, chasing down an escaped prisoner or alerting a 
patrol of possible explosive devices is just part of the job — their contribution 
to a relationship between handler and canine. Nevertheless, it would be wrong 
not to recognize the actions of these three TRADOC military working dogs. 
Simply put, their continued dedication to duty saves Soldiers’ lives.

With that thought in mind, a representative of Fort Dodge Animal Health 
traveled from Overland Park, Kan., to Fort Monroe June 3 to present Rex, Nessy and 
Nouska, the ProHeart Hero Award in recognition of their “demonstrated heroism 
through acts of courage.” 

The awards ceremony was held in front of post headquarters and attended by 
various dignitaries, to include military police dog handlers: Sgt. Carey Ford 
from Fort Sill Okla., and his dog Rex; Sgt. William Currier from Fort Jackson,, 
S.C., and his dog Nessy; and Sgt. Richard Saucier, from Fort Knox, Ky., and 
his dog Nouska.

“Use of military working dogs began in World War II when the Army 
Quartermaster Corps started U.S. Armed Forces war dog training,” said Kelly Goss, Fort 
Dodge Animal Health representative, during the ceremony. “Since that time, dogs 
have become recognized as vital to our war and security efforts, as well as 
true heroes to those with whom they serve.”

Goss used one word — “incredible” — to describe Rex, Nessy and Nouska 
following the presentation. “I’m very proud to represent our organization as it 
pays tribute to these animals that went above and beyond the call of duty,” she 
said. “And I think this is a tremendous story. A lot of the time we don’t get 
to hear about the positive stuff … the great things that are being done in 
the performance of everyday duties over there. This is a positive testament to 
the wonderful things that have gone on and continue to go on.”

In addition to the award, Fort Dodge will make a $3,000 donation to the 
International Association of Assistance Dog Partners on behalf of Rex, Nessy and 
Nouska.

“All of this is just amazing,” said Currier, who has worked with his 
10-year-old Belgian Malinois for just over a year now. “I’m really glad the dogs had 
this chance to be in the limelight. They deserve it.”

In Afghanistan, Nessy and Currier worked in tandem with a Special Forces unit 
and were part of the first group of dog teams to be deployed when Operation 
Enduring Freedom began. Their duties included vehicle searches at random 
checkpoints and cordon searches of makeshift villages in and around a 100-mile 
radius of Kandahar.

All of the searches proved fruitful with more than a dozen alerts on weapons 
and improvised explosive devices; yielding a combined seizure of more than 
several hundred items. Nessy was also cited for locating and securing local 
nationals trying to infiltrate an Army base camp.

“It’s really all about the dogs … they are the stars of the show,” Currier 
said. “And I’m sure if she (Nessy) could talk, she’d say the same thing about 
me. But really, it’s all her … I’d say the relationship is 80 percent dog 
and 20 percent handler. I bring her the food and water and look out for her, but 
she’s the expert when it comes to being on guard and keeping us safe.”

In addition to her accomplishments while on patrol “over there,” Currier 
also gave credit to Nessy for winning over the hearts and minds of many Afghan 
people. “They were scared. Their religion states very clear that if a dog, which 
they consider an unclean animal, bit them they would not get to heaven. But 
we both were very patient and she earned a lot of respect.”

As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Rex and Nouska, both German Shepards, 
also had their opportunities to shine. Weapons searches and alerting troops to 
unseen threats was only the tip of the iceberg in their case, however. Teaming 
up with their handlers, the canines played a major role in the recapture of an 
Iraqi prisoner who had “fled to an area known to have caches of weapons,” 
according to an account read during the award ceremony.

While the fugitive had a substantial lead on them, the handlers and their 
dogs were not daunted by the task, the account continued. Determined to locate 
the dangerous fugitive, and with little regard for their own safety, the teams 
began tracking the prisoner — ultimately entering what was suspected to be an 
unexploded ordnance and anti-personnel minefield.

After hours of relentless searching, the teams located and apprehended the 
fugitive without incident. Not only did the teams apprehend the prisoner; their 
actions also provided the psychological deterrent necessary to prevent and 
further escape attempts, the account concluded.

It was one of those moments when your training just takes over,” Ford said of 
that dark Iraqi evening. “You don’t really stop to think about it too much, 
you just act.”

Like each of the handlers, Ford gave full credit to his canine partner for 
the positive turnout of that night. “Of course, I was elated. You know, it was 
like the winning shot of a ballgame. There was a lot of high fives and 
atta-boys (by humans and working dogs alike).”

And it was the sort of moment Ford and Rex — who would be described as having 
a “type A” personality in the human world — live for. Both reenlisted 
recently for six more years and Ford said they’d jump at any chance to deploy again.

“I love this job,” he said. “It’s one of the most unique jobs in the Army.

“And you know in your heart what you’re doing is important,” Ford said. “
You say to yourself, ‘not on my watch.’ Nobody’s going to harm Soldiers or 
escape if they’re a prisoner … not on my watch.”



 
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