Posted on 12/13/2015 10:16:48 PM PST by windcliff
A military K-9 injured in a bomb explosion in Afghanistan along with his military police officer partner now has a lot of support after a photo of the dog wearing a Purple Heart Medal in a hospital in Germany has gone viral, the Killeen Daily Herald reports.
Spc. Andrew Brown, 22, and his military dog, Rocky, were searching a structure for explosive materials in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand Province Dec. 3 when the bomb exploded, the Texas newspaper reported Friday.
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“They were working with Special Operations Forces in an effort to identify explosive materials,†Army spokesman Sgt. Michal Garrett told the paper.
Brown and Rocky survived the blast and were taken to a military hospital in Germany. There, a photo was taken of Rocky wearing the Purple Heart and posted on the Facebook page of Fort Hood’s 89th Military Police Brigade. Brown is assigned to the brigade.
The photo had more than 89,000 likes, 118,000 shares and more than 9,500 comments as of Sunday morning.
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andrew brown and rocky crop.jpg Expand / Contract
Spc. Andrew Brown and Rocky at the military hospital in Germany are expected to recover from their injuries.
“The Army typically does not process awards for our working dogs the same way we do for our other soldiers,†Garrett told the Daily Herald. “The Purple Heart in the photo was placed on Rocky as a sign of respect and solidarity between him and Brown during their recovery.â€
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Very cool
Guess I will make the unpopular comment of the day. To me giving a dog this reward takes away from others (actual humans) receiving it.
Ok, I see now where the dog wasn’t actually given the reward, but just outfitted with it for the photos.
Posting without fully reading reward goes to...
It’s so nice to see Rocky together in the hospital with his master.
My son’s retired Belgian Malinois K9 (explosives) was a designed law enforcement officer for law enforcement purposes (including a badge). She’s sleeping upstairs right now. Protects the house, my granddaughter, wife, etc.
Both my kids are either open or concealed carry (son being a former police officer).
Many “war dogs” were killed saving the lives of their handlers and others in their vicinity.
Just because it has four legs doesn’t mean it can’t be a part of the US Armed Forces or Law Enforcement. In fact, I’d take a well-trained dog over some of the cops I’ve had to deal with over the years. They were the ones who needed to go back to “obedience school”, as in obedience to the law.
Man’s “Best Friend” is also a damned good soldier or cop, so let’s give them the respect they deserve.
Bookmark
Good dog!
You get a reward from me for admitting you were wrong
I bet less than 20% have the nuts to man or lady up here when they know they were factually or rhetorically wrong
I commend you
you are right you will make your self unpopular for saying this.
He’s a beautiful dog. Looks to be very loyal to his master.
I understand what you are saying. But isn’t it really for the humans. The dog doesn’t know or care. It is the humans in charge of him who know he is there taking hits for them — they are the ones that get something out of the dog receiving the award.
Towards the bottom of the article
http://www.si.com/vault/1958/05/12/577801/the-doberman-pinscher-darlingor-devil
Bet those guys would happily share their PHs with those dogs.
I disagree. Yes, they deserve respect. But they are animals, not human beings. As such, they are tools. They are not soldiers nor police officers. Those affectations are applied for legal purposes, and degrade the professions they claim to be. This is not disrespectful of the dogs - it's the truth. The same police officers who claim their dogs are officers will gun YOUR dog down as a mere animal without a second thought, and you have no recourse under the law for the special bond you had with it. This cruel hypocrisy must stop.
Well put!
Speaking on behalf of Gero, long since retired S.F. Police K9, the military and police K9s deserve all the accolades they receive and giving them medals enhance rather than diminish such earned awards.
Bet she doesn’t like strangers and has some very impressive looking fangs.
Fangs are a little blunt now through wear but she actually likes most people. Still, she must exercise her mighty bark just to show the world who thinks she is still in charge.
Still, the cats are wary and fast.
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