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Sgt. Richard Miller, from Floresville, Texas, a military policeman with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div., encourages his specialized search dog, Gabriel, before a search exercise at Forward Operating Base Hammer Oct. 24. Miller uses Gabriel in cordon and searches, cordon and knocks, raids, route sanitation and route clearance missions to sniff out explosives, munitions, weapons and ammunition. Photo by Spc. Ben Hutto, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs. FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER — The German shepherd trots from rock to rock, ears pricked upward and nose pointed towards the earth, intent on his mission....

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) -- When he came to, the Marine's arm hung lamely. It was broken by ball bearings hurled so hard from a suicide bomb that they also became embedded in his gun. Yet Brendan Poelaert's thoughts quickly turned to his patrol dog. The powerful Belgian Malinois named Flapoor had served him as partner and protector for the past four months in Iraq. Now, the dog staggered a few steps along the Ramadi street, then stared blankly. Blood poured from his chest. "I didn't care about my injuries, my arm," his handler says. "I'm telling the medic, 'I...

1/15/2007 - FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq (AFNEWS) -- Two of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team's most valuable assets never talk about work, preferring to let the results speak for themselves. Even with their quiet demeanor, they have uncovered numerous weapons caches and explosives, and have become two of the most popular members of the unit. They are the unit's two military working dogs, Blacky and Frisko. Blacky, a 2-year-old German shepherd with a dark chocolate coat and handled by Air Force Tech Sgt. Michael Jones. Jones, from Kingswood, W. Va. Frisko, a 6-year-old black-and-brown German shepherd and handler Senior...

Four-Legged Protectors Get Care Packages By Tom ClarksonGulf Region DivisionU.S. Army Corps of Engineers BAGHDAD, Aug. 25, 2006 -- When the temperature regularly exceeds 120 degrees, asphalt and concrete streets tend to be a tad toasty on the toes – even through tough combat boots. The norm for all who work outside in Iraq, this time of year, is to be hot, hot and very hot – no one could really blame another for panting from the heat. But imagine if the job also entailed treading on the baking paving, barefoot. “Though canine they be, these faithful few serve...

CAMP HURRICANE POINT, AR RAMADI, Iraq (August 6, 2005) -- Shawn M. Gallagher routinely puts his life on the line to support the ongoing war on terrorism, but he doesn’t let the risks get him down. “It’s an adventure out here for me,” said Lance Cpl. Gallagher, “and I enjoy it.” Each day the 21-year-old from Fairfax, Va., takes to the streets of the Al Anbar capital with Marines of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment and conducts security and stabilization operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Gallagher has maintained a high level of motivation throughout his deployment, which is...

Romanian farmer is hoping to make a fortune after a chicken was born with four working legs. Doru Grigoras said: "Think of all the extra chicken drumsticks you can get off a chicken with four legs instead of two." He is planning to keep the black feathered chick until it grows up at his smallholding in Dambau and then breed it to produce more four-legged birds. If the breeding is successful he will sell the chickens to a fast food chain, and if not he says the chick could still make him a fortune through advertising. Grigoras added: "Everyone from...