Fallen dog handler honored by friends, family, brothers-in-arms

Marine Corps News ^ | Jan 27, 2006 | Lance Cpl. Patrick J. Floto

[SandRat]

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Janruary 27, 2006) -- Family, comrades at arms and members of the local police departments gathered at the Marine Memorial Chapel here and remembered Sgt. Adam Cann during a memorial service Jan. 27.

Cann, a 24-year-old military working dog handler from Destin, Fla., was killed in action by a suicide bomber Jan. 5 in Ramadi, Iraq while conducting crowd control with one of his best friends, his military working dog Bruno.

The primary mission of K-9 handlers is to detect Improvised Explosive Devices, provide psychological deterrent during crowd control, patrol entry control points, detect narcotics and ensure base safety.

At the Military Working Dog Handler’s Course held at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, he distinguished himself as the academic honor graduate.

He later attended the Corporals Course, graduating as class honor graduate. More recently, he attended the Military Working Dog Supervisor’s Course held at Lackland Air Force Base. “He was a special, special boy,” said his mother, Betsy S. Beebe. “He was always a goofball. Ever since he was a little boy, he constantly made others laugh.”

His older brother, Sgt. Justin P. Cann, an F/A-18 Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing added just about everyone in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., knew his name.

“He was a magnet for friends,” the older Cann recalled. “Everyone wanted to be with him, and he knew of every party in the Fort Lauderdale area.”

Although he did love to party and make friends, Cann was inspired by his older brother and the veterans in his family to join the Marine Corps after his June 2000 graduation from South Plantation High School in Plantation, Fla.

“I was extremely proud when I found out he wanted to serve his country, especially when he told me he was going to be a dog handler” his mother said.

His graduation from the Military Working Dog Handler’s Course at Lackland Air Base introduced him to fellow Marines who would become good friends.

“I first met Sgt. (Adam) Cann three and a half years ago on my 20th birthday when I arrived at Okinawa,” said Sgt. Benjamin M. Maple, military working dog handler with Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. “From the first time I met him, we got along. It seems like I was always one step behind him in everything, but I experienced so much with him.”

From Okinawa, Cann deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2002. After his first combat deployment, he reported to Camp Pendleton in December 2002, where he was assigned Bruno and introduced to Staff Sgt. Gregory S. Massey, his staff noncommissioned officer in charge.

“He was a jokester, but he was also one of the finest Marines I have ever had the honor to lead,” said Massey. “He was never afraid to lead from the front and always wanted to get in the action.”

He deployed to Iraq in the Spring of 2004 and according to his friends, he maintained this attitude.

“I remember how mad he was because he was going to the Jordanian border,” Maple recalled. “He really fought to get to Ramadi and the other hot spots. Regardless of where he was, he was proud to be a Marine and you could see how his motivation rubbed off on other Marines. I don’t know of one person who wouldn’t fight next to him.”

He returned to Camp Pendleton with his spirit as strong as ever.

Cann and Bruno deployed to Iraq a second time in September 2005 where he was assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). He was subsequently assigned to 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment Provisional Military Police Battalion. Four months later he gave his life serving his country.

“To the Cann family, there is nothing we can ever do to compensate you for your loss, but we all thank you very much for bringing him into this world,” said Col. Carlyle E. Shelton, commanding officer of Security Battalion, MCB Camp Pendleton. “His contribution to the world was greater than many because he gave his life saving lives. Sergeant Cann, wherever you are, you have done your duty and forever rest in peace.”

[SandRat]

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- The Security Battalion Color Guard is flanked by K-9 handlers from the local Police Departments who have come to pay their respects to Sgt. Adam Cann at his memorial service here Jan. 27. Cann, from Destin, Fla., was killed in action Jan. 5 while conducting crowd control with his dog Bruno during his second deployment to Iraq. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Patrick J. Floto)(released)
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Patrick J. Floto

[SandRat]

If you notice the only K-9 in the photo that's got disciple is the Marine K-9.

Saddness for a Fallen Marine ------ oooooooooyyyyoooooWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Ping.

[usmcobra]

I got to ask, What happened to Bruno?

[jazusamo]

Another of America's finest.

May God bless Sgt. Cann and his family.

[SandRat]

The story doesn't say.

[Calpernia]

Fallen dog handler honored by friends, family, brothers-in-arms Lance Cpl. Charles E. Rutledge and his dog Argo pay their respects to Sgt. Adam Cann's memorial at his memorial service here Jan. 27. Cann, from Destin, Fla., was killed in action Jan. 5 while conducting crowd control with his dog Bruno during his second deployment to Iraq. Rutledge is a 19-year-old K-9 handler from San Antonio

[NormsRevenge]

Condolences to the Cann family and friends for the loss of their son and brother.

[Bobibutu]

"If you notice the only K-9 in the photo that's got disciple is the Marine K-9."

Only to be expected - hey the Labs seem OK. Crazy GSDs ... :-)

Woofs and tail wags to a Fallen Marine from Baruch and Wolfen (GSDs) who have worked with Marines.

With heavy heart ...

s/f

[girlangler]

Ping, ping and, make that a double ping.

Course, I'm sitting here dreaming of adopting a huge yellow lab from the local shelter (an old guy, in dog years, he's eight).

I have a plan; he'll keep my setter busy so she isn't scratching my leg to play with her while I'm on deadline.

I might even start to love the old guy. And I'll get him an electric blanket for his arthritus (sp).

[Bobibutu]

"And I'll get him an electric blanket for his arthritus (sp)."

Get Metacam (Rx from your vet) it works wonders for Arthritic pain in dogs.

Can be ordered via internet once you have an Rx from your vet - vets sell it for about $100 for a 1 month supply - $68 over the net.

Ah the golden years - gotta have gold for those K-9 seniors.

My #1 is 10yrs / 116lbs GSD - struggled getting up stairs - 3 days on Metacam and he trots up them - Xray showed narrowing in his vertebrae (low back) and his displastic hip joint contuining to deteriorate - which he has been getting glucosamine /chondroitin for the last 8 years every day - sweet stuff that Metacam. Ask your vet about it!

[Bobibutu]

BTW - if your dog is classified as a working service dog - all food meds and vet visits are tax deductible ... and your dog license is free ... lots of other benefits as well -

Not to detract from "our" fallen hero - I just get going on this stuff sometimes ..

Deepest sympathy to the family - My G-d ya gotta love Marines and what the Corps does for/to young men.

s/f

[girlangler]

One of my now deceased friends was a toy silver poodle.

When she turned eight, the vet gave me the bad news. Her spine, hip dispaysia (sp) was causing her to deteriorate fast.

She got a new electric blanket and five years on Rymadyl (sp) After I put her on that her life improved dramatically.

She also had a custom made handicap ramp to ease her to the back yard where she could poop, and slept next to me in the bed many years. I had a bowl of water next to her lush bed in every room in the house, so she didn't have to walk far to get a drink, and could be comfortable and with me no matter what roonm I was in.

I cleaned her eyes with a warm cloth every night and talked to her soothingly.

Oh, I lost her in 2001 and now am crying after all these years. I still miss her.

I guess a lot of people would think I'm nuts to want to adopt an old, sick dog.

I just want to make his remaining years comfortable, and I just had this feeling . . . when I met him at the shelter, that he has been a loving, protective guy for many, many humans through his travels.

If I don't adopt him he'll probably be euthanized. I'd just like to give him a good spoiling before he crosses over to the other side.

[girlangler]

One of my now deceased friends was a toy silver poodle.

When she turned eight, the vet gave me the bad news. Her spine, hip dispaysia (sp) was causing her to deteriorate fast.

She got a new electric blanket and five years on Rymadyl (sp) After I put her on that her life improved dramatically.

She also had a custom made handicap ramp to ease her to the back yard where she could poop, and slept next to me in the bed many years. I had a bowl of water next to her lush bed in every room in the house, so she didn't have to walk far to get a drink, and could be comfortable and with me no matter what roonm I was in.

I cleaned her eyes with a warm cloth every night and talked to her soothingly.

Oh, I lost her in 2001 and now am crying after all these years. I still miss her.

I guess a lot of people would think I'm nuts to want to adopt an old, sick dog.

I just want to make his remaining years comfortable, and I just had this feeling . . . when I met him at the shelter, that he has been a loving, protective guy for many, many humans through his travels.

If I don't adopt him he'll probably be euthanized. I'd just like to give him a good spoiling before he crosses over to the other side.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Injured military dogs back on duty, but without handler
Sgt. Adam L. Cann was killed in attack on Ramadi police station

Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, January 19, 2006

Courtesy of Joseph Manning
Dog handler Marine Sgt. Adam L. Cann stands with his dog Bruno in Iraq. Cann was killed in a suicide attack this month in Ramadi.

BAGHDAD — The three military working dogs injured in this month’s deadly suicide attack on a Ramadi police recruiting event have been treated and returned to duty, medical officials told Stars and Stripes this week.

The bombings, which came at the end of a four-day recruiting drive that saw more than 1,000 Iraqi men sign up as police candidates, killed at least 27 volunteers, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael E. McLaughlin and Sgt. Adam L. Cann, a Marine Corps dog handler. Two other dog handlers were injured.

Cann’s dog, Bruno, and two other working dogs were injured in the blast. Initially, military officials reported that Bruno would be flown to the States for treatment. But in an e-mail this week to Stripes, Dr. (Lt. Col.) R. Randall Thompson, of the 72nd Medical Detachment (Veterinary Service-Forward) said all three dogs were treated in Baghdad by military veterinarians at the 10th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad.

“Sergeant Cann’s canine partner, Bruno, was … transported to the Military Working Dog referral center located in the International Zone,” Thompson wrote. “Bruno was treated for shrapnel wounds and returned to his place of duty five days later. All three injured dogs were treated by the 72nd following [medical evacuation]. All will recover fully. Prior to the arrival of the 72nd and its enhanced treatment capability, they would have been flown [to the States] for treatment.”

Cann, 23, and his German shepherd were part of the 2nd Military Police Battalion, 2nd Force Services Support Group. Marine dog handlers in Iraq are a tightknit group and have taken Cann’s loss hard. Friends said he was happiest when he and Bruno were at work outside the wire.

Cann had worked with Bruno for five or six years, including a tour in Afghanistan, they said.

“He loved dog training,” Cpl. Brian Trielle said in the days after the attack. “He took it very seriously. I’ve never met a better Marine doing what he did.”

© 2006 Stars and Stripes. All Rights Reserved.

[A.A. Cunningham]

[apackof2]

Condolences to the Cann family and friends for the loss of their son and brother.

Amen

[HairOfTheDog]

Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

[kstewskis]

Can be ordered via internet once you have an Rx from your vet - vets sell it for about $100 for a 1 month supply - $68 over the net.

$68 is a great price! I've been getting it for $90 at 1800PETMEDS. Where is that located?

[Lurker]

The AIF has a bounty on K-9s and their handlers. I hope our intel guys are looking for someone who's flashing a big wad of cash.

L