Animals

A tribute to military working dogs and their handlers

By Bethany Crudele on November 5, 2012 Animals, Marines

Military working dogs have long been a warrior’s best friend. Since World War I, dogs have been used in the military for various missions, including explosive detection, search and rescue, and security patrols. Most recently, hundreds of IED detector dogs – primarily Labrador retrievers – have been deployed to places like Iraq and Afghanistan to help Marine infantry units find explosives hidden by members of the Taliban. Memorial Bracelets, a website created in 2001 to help raise funds for Sept. 11 victims through personalized bracelets and dog tags, has added the abbreviation “MWDH” next to the branch of service members…

A buddy in need, indeed

By Gidget Fuentes on October 19, 2012 Animals, Logistics, Marines, Science & Technology, Training

When you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, and that mountain just ahead seems almost insurmountable, it often helps to turn to a buddy. Especially one that can carry, say, heavy cases of ammunition, anti-tank missiles and gun tubes. It’s why pack animals – like the mules at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif. – are the wheels of choice for the heavy lifting for much of the world, including armies over the centuries. A group of Hawaii-based Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, this month took to the Sierra Nevada mountains with…

Dog on patrol: Meet Crank, the bomb-sniffing, cigar-eating wonder

By Dan Lamothe on October 11, 2012 Afghanistan, Animals, Embedded journalism, Infantry

COMBAT OUTPOST TAGHAZ, Afghanistan – I was lifting weights Tuesday night in the dusty, prison-inspired gym here when Cpl. Byron Willis ran up to two of his fellow Marines. “The dog ate all the cigars!” he exclaimed. Willis, 24, was referring to Sgt. Crank, the improvised explosive device detector dog on post. Willis, Crank’s handler, and the black Labrador retriever are assigned to Weapons Company 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. The back story: A sergeant had teased Crank with a toy football earlier in the day but wouldn’t let him have it, Willis said today. When…

Smoke the donkey, beloved Marine mascot dies

By James Sanborn on August 15, 2012 Animals, Battle Rattle, Iraq

Smoke the donkey, beloved Marine mascot and wounded warrior therapy animal passed away last night of natural causes, according to his Facebook page. After a harrowing, years-long journey that took him from the desert of Iraq to Nebraska via Kurdistan, Turkey, Germany and the glitz and glamor of New York, Smoke the Donkey has moved on to greener pastures. He was first adopted by the Marines of 1st Combat Logistics Battalion out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., in 2008 as a moral booster after they found him wandering injured at Camp Taqaddum near Fallujah, Iraq. A sergeant caught him roaming the…

Canine kisses in Kajaki

By James J. Lee on April 13, 2012 Afghanistan, Animals, Battle Rattle, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Kajaki

Lance Cpl. Richard Bissett gets some love from Camo, an improvised explosive detection dog at Observation Post Shrine in Kajaki, Afghanistan, on Friday. (James J. Lee / Staff) OBSERVATION POST SHRINE, Afghanistan – I miss my dog, but I didn’t realize how much until I met Camo, an improvised explosive detection dog. This little position on a hill overlooking the Taliban-held area of Zamindawar is referred to as a “static ambush position,” so Camo doesn’t get much of a chance to do her thing up here. After sitting for hours at the feet of handler Lance Cpl. Richard Bissett as…

1/12 Marines struggle with hornets, termites in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on October 3, 2011 Afghanistan, Animals, Infantry, Kajaki

So, how’s your day going? Struggling with an infestation of gremlins in your life? Echo Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, is. The artillery unit has been based at Forward Operating Base Zeebrugge in Afghanistan since May, providing protection to the Kajaki Dam, a major hydroelectric facility in northern Helmand province. One of Zeebrugge’s more unpleasant quirks is its pests, which include oriental hornets and subterranean termites, according to a new Marine Corps news release. Insect problems are nothing new on deployment, but this one was apparently serious enough to merit attention from sailors serving in preventative medicine with II Marine…

Parris Island’s new mascot

By Tony Lombardo on September 28, 2011 Animals

There’s a new mascot at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. He’s got what it takes to be a Marine, a depot spokesman said. What he doesn’t have is a name. The 8-week-old English Bulldog arrived this month at the depot. His predecessor, Sgt. Archibald Hummer, died in his sleep on Sept. 7 at the age of 5. The new puppy is described as both active and cute, said depot spokesman Sgt. Russell Midori. “He definitely has what it takes, but it’s going to take some training to get him up to the standard,” Midori said. The name of the…

Massachusetts battalion takes over in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on September 14, 2011 Animals, Camp Leatherneck, Infantry, Reserve

As they say in the sports world, it’s time for a homer alert. The unit from my home state — 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, out of Fort Devens, Mass. — has deployed to Afghanistan, taking over this week for 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, out of Houston. The Massachusetts battalion is part of the Marine Corps Reserve, and includes Marines from across New England. It has companies based out of Topsham, Maine; Londonderry, N.H.; Plainville, Conn.; and Fort Devens. The unit will take over 1/23’s missions, which included providing security at a variety of forward operating bases, including Camp Leatherneck, the…

Smoke the Iraqi donkey tours the U.S.

By James Sanborn on May 16, 2011 Animals, Battle Rattle, Iraq

Smoke the Iraqi donkey is on a publicity tour of the United States after making his first public appearance Sunday at a farm just outside of Warrenton, Va. Smoke, the former 1st Marine Logistics Group mascot in Iraq, was the guest of honor at a bar-b-que hosted by Debbie and Alan Nash, polo enthusiasts and friends of retired Col. John Folsom, the Marine who fought for months to bring Smoke to the United States from Iraq via Turkey and Germany. At the Nash’s place, Smoke got his first bath and was pampered with carrots and more grass than he likely…

Smoke the Donkey, former Marine mascot, back in the U.S.

By James Sanborn on May 13, 2011 Animals, Iraq

Smoke the donkey, arrived in the United States Thursday and will be out of quarantine tomorrow. For those of you who don’t already know Smoke, he is an Iraqi donkey who was adopted by Marines at Camp Taqaddum, Iraq, in 2008. He became the mascot of 1st Marine Logistics Group, but Marines were forced to abandon him when they pulled out. Retired Col. John Folsom, who was the camp commandant, never forgot about Smoke. Late last year he began working to bring him to Nebraska where Folsom runs Wounded Warriors Family Support, a non-profit that helps families of troops wounded…

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