The Animal Victoria Cross, page 6
PART 3
MODERN HEROES
Sam
The former Yugoslavia, 1998
For outstanding gallantry during conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina while assigned to the Royal Canadian Regiment in Drvar, his true valour undoubtedly saved the lives of many servicemen and civilians.
The state of Yugoslavia, created after the First World War, became a mix of ethnic races, religions and languages and was dissolved in 1991. Soon after the tensions between these races erupted into violence and war ensued. The United Nations occupied the region as a peacekeeping force whilst Serb and Croats continued disputes against a backdrop of ethnic cleansing. It was against this backdrop that Sam won his Dickin Medal.
Sam, a German Shepherd, was a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment with handler Sergeant Iain Carnegie stationed in the town of Drvar as part of a peacekeeping force. Trained as a patrol and guard dog, Sam displayed two acts of initiative and extreme bravery beyond expectations for an army dog. The first came on 18 April 1998 when Sam and his handler were called into action after reports of a man firing a gun in the town of Drvar. Upon arriving in the town they were called into a bar where the man was shooting a pistol. Sam went first and located the man, wrestling him to the ground whilst Sergeant Carnegie disarmed him. The actions of Sam prevented further shootings and no-one was hurt.
On 24 April, Sam and Corporal Carnegie were called to a warehouse compound. A Bosnian Muslim mob had surrounded a warehouse in which over fifty Serb civilians had taken refuge. The atmosphere was extremely volatile and the mob attempted to gain entry to the warehouse through windows and the main entrance in order to attack the people inside. Sergeant Carnegie and Sam arrived and immediately took up a position at the main entrance acting as a barricade. The mob reacted furiously with a hail of rocks and missiles as they laid siege to the building. Despite suffering numerous injuries from these attacks, Sam and Sergeant Carnegie held firm and were relieved by reinforcements. The Serb civilians inside were unharmed due to their courage and bravery.
Sam passed away, aged ten, from natural causes shortly after leaving the army. Sergeant Carnegie received Sam’s posthumous Dickin Medal and stated, ‘Sam displayed outstanding courage and not once did he shy away from danger. I could never have carried out my duties without Sam at my side. He deserves the best.’ Sam was the first army dog to win the award since 1944 and was the 59th recipient.
Salty, Roselle and Apollo
New York, 9/11
On 11 September 2001, the World Trade Center in New York came under attack from terrorists who had seized control of passenger flights and flew them directly into each tower, resulting in the total destruction of each building and the loss of thousands of lives. Salty and Roselle won Dickin Medals on this day. They were not rescue animals but guide dogs for the blind.
Michael Hingson worked on the 78th floor in Tower One as a sales manager for Quantum, and was accompanied to work each day by Roselle who sat under his desk. When the first plane struck the building, chaos ensued with people charging toward the lifts and staircases. The deafening noise, the smoke and heat from the explosions added to the confusion. Roselle did not panic but calmly rose from under the desk to lead Michael to the nearest staircase. Despite the heat and difficulty breathing, they descended the stairs together with Roselle guiding Michael past wreckage and fire all the way to the bottom. Other workers followed the pair and many lives were saved as the smoke made visibility impossible.
Once outside, Roselle guided Michael into nearby streets. She then walked with her owner through the cloud of smoke and debris after Tower One collapsed, and even helped to lead others who were blinded and confused in the choking dust and ash. Without Roselle, Michael Hingson would have died in the attack and many others would not have made their way down the stairs to safety.
Omar Rivera worked on the 71st floor in Tower One for the Port Authority and his guide dog, Salty, also used to rest under his desk whilst he worked. When the first plane struck the building Omar was aware of what had happened as fellow workers were shouting. Feeling that he had no chance of escape, he decided to unleash Salty so at least the animal could have an opportunity to survive. Salty left the side of his owner but within moments he returned of his own volition to guide his owner to the stairs.
Salty began to lead Omar down the stairs but also managed to help a female worker, Miss Donna Enright who was struggling down the stairs; she had also been on the 78th floor and had been blinded by flying debris when the plane exploded. For the next one hour and fifteen minutes, Salty carefully guided the pair down seventy-one crowded flights of stairs. Despite the overpowering stench of jet fuel, the splinters of glass and debris underfoot and ankle-deep water, Salty never hesitated or faltered.
Salty and Roselle were awarded the Animal Victoria Cross for their bravery in saving the lives of many victims of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Each dog displayed courage beyond their training as guide dogs for the blind.
On 5 March 2002 Apollo, a German Shepherd, and handler Pete Davis, a police officer, accepted the Dickin Medal on behalf of all Search and Rescue dogs who worked at Ground Zero and at the Pentagon. The citation on the medal reads:
For tireless courage in the service of humanity during the search and rescue operations in New York and Washington on and after 11 September 2001. Faithful to words of command and undaunted by the task, the dogs’ work and unstinting devotion to duty stand as a testament to those lost or injured.
Treo
Afghanistan, 2008
Treo, from the 104th Military Working Dog Support Unit, is the most recent winner of the Dickin Medal. As a puppy Treo was close to being put down as he was badly behaved; biting and barking at anyone who came near him. However, he was enlisted as an army dog and intensive army training saved him, but his handler left the army. Treo then met his new handler and they immediately became inseparable. From this moment on, Treo became a ‘four legged metal detector’ and, with Sergeant Dave Heyhoe, was first sent to Northern Ireland then to Afghanistan.
The war in Afghanistan, particularly in Helmand Province, involved skirmishes between the Taliban and the British Army. To counter the progress made by British troops, the Taliban began to experiment with different weapons that would inflict maximum damage whilst avoiding actual engagement with their enemy. Posted in March 2008, Treo was deployed in Helmand Province after training as a sniffer dog; his role was to detect mines buried beneath the desert and roadside bombs. With his handler, Treo would save many lives.
On 15 August 2008, Heyhoe and Treo were on patrol down a pathway in Sangin, in fifty degree heat alongside a riverbank near a British Army compound. Treo suddenly started to behave in a different manner than usual; he put his nose in the air then back down to the sandy surface before sucking like a vacuum. Heyhoe realised he was onto something and over the next few minutes Treo detected a daisy chain of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) all along the path. A daisy chain bomb is one that requires just one device to be activated and all those connected will explode in sequence. There was enough explosive to destroy the camp and kill up to forty servicemen and women. Treo’s discovery was the first time the British Army had faced IED daisy chains so close to a military base and alerted troops to a new threat, thus saving many more lives in the future. In September 2008, Treo found a second daisy chain which, if left unearthed, would have been guaranteed to lead to casualties from 7 Platoon, the Royal Irish Regiment.
During his tour of duty Treo was equipped with his own pack to help combat the searing heat and dusty conditions; his body armour contained ice packs to keep him cool and he had four shoes to protect his paws as he moved through rough terrain. Heyhoe even built Treo a special kennel but he always refused to sleep in it, preferring his handler’s bed.
Treo received his medal from Princess Alexandra on 24 February 2010 at the Imperial War Museum in London. Treo is still alive today, living out a peaceful retirement in Lincolnshire where he spends his time chewing top quality bones from a local butcher and watching Manchester City on the television, whilst sitting in his very own reclining chair.
Sadie
Afghanistan, 2005
The United Nations set up a headquarters in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, from which they governed the Allied occupied regions of the country. Any military base or administration centre was vulnerable to attack from the Taliban and their choice of weapon was often devastating, particularly as they had developed a technique of leaving a second bomb at the same site as the first. This was designed to act as insurance should the first bomb be discovered and to ensure more devastation when military personnel arrive to help rescue those injured from the first device.
It is into this battleground that Lance Corporal Karen Yardley and Sadie, a black Labrador, were thrust. Attached to the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry Regiment, Lance Corporal Yardley and Sadie were on patrol around the streets of Kabul on 14 November 2005. They were called to the United Nations headquarters to help survivors of a suicide blast outside the building. Aware of the threat of a second explosion Corporal Yardley and Sadie set to work. At this stage it was unknown whether a second suicide bomber would appear or whether an explosive was buried beneath the streets.
Sadie detected the scent of an explosive device and intimated with such speed that it was inside the wall of the headquarters building that a safe evacuation was completed. To detect the smell through a thick concrete wall was remarkable and Corporal Yardley started a search that ended shortly afterwards when the device was discovered hidden in a wall cavity. Corporal Yardley described the search: ‘As Sadie went towards the compound’s wall onto the street she picked up a scent. She sat down and stared directly at the wall, which meant there was something right on the other side. I immediately shouted for everyone to get out of the area.’
The explosive device was timed to detonate and cause maximum loss of life of those working inside the building and those outside on the busy street. Sadie’s quick detection gave bomb disposal experts the time required to defuse the device and prevent the death or injury of hundreds of civilians as well as British, American and German soldiers who were tending to the wounded civilians.
Sadie was the 25th dog to be awarded the Dickin Medal when HRH Princess Alexandra presented the medal on 6 February 2006 at the Imperial War Museum in London.
The citation on her medal read:
Sadie gave a positive indication near a concrete blast wall and multinational personnel were moved to a safe distance. At the site of Sadie’s indication, bomb disposal operators later made safe an explosive device. The bomb was designed to inflict maximum injury.
Buster
Iraq, 2003
Buster was a brown and white springer spaniel assigned to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps whilst serving in Iraq during 2003. Buster was an unwanted pup and rescued from the Battersea Dogs Home by the Morgan family. Sergeant Danny Morgan, his master, also became his handler and served with him in Iraq.
In April 2003 a dawn raid on the village of Safwan, in the southern region of Iraq was scheduled. In such circumstances sniffer dogs move ahead of troops to search for roadside bombs or hidden explosives; Buster was moving through the streets of Safwan ahead of Sergeant Morgan. The village was suspected of housing insurgents and terrorists who were said to have a hold over the local community. After a short time Buster became very excited and the men of the patrol moved in and located a group of insurgents in a house. The insurgents denied having any weapons or explosives.
A manual search of the building took place but no arms were found. At this point Buster again became very excited in front of a wardrobe. Sergeant Morgan understood this was the signal Buster gave when he thought he had found weapons or explosives and describes events:
Buster found their arms even though they were hidden in a wall cavity, covered with a sheet of tin then with a wardrobe pushed in front of it . . . We’d never have found the weapons without him and they would still be a threat to the troops and the local population.
The wall cavity contained explosives, bomb making equipment, propaganda, arms, drugs, grenades and ammunition. The insurgents were arrested and the peaceful confiscation of this arsenal undoubtedly saved lives. The local population of Safwan became much more relaxed after the raid was completed, and troops were able to patrol the streets of the village without heavy armour for the first time.
Buster had succeeded where humans failed and was the 60th recipient of the Dickin Medal.
Leuk
Mali, 2019
Leuk won his Dickin Medal for life saving devotion in Mali in 2019. After joining the French armed forces Leuk’s dedication and impressive attack and explosive detection skills were recognised when he was accepted into the prestigious K9 division of the French Special Forces. Operation Barkhane began on 1 August 2014 involving French Special Forces and the wider military tackling an insurgency from Islamist groups in the Sahel region.
A Belgian Malinois, Leuk was born on 20 September 2013 and was posted with his handler, whose codename was Forest, to Mali in March 2019. His ability to detect improvised explosive devices (IEDs), tackle insurgents and alert his fellow servicemen of enemy activity was vital in the Malian jungle. In April 2019 French Special Forces targeted an insurgent camp in the thick undergrowth. In the midst of the battle the was camp set on fire and Leuk was deployed to flush out the remaining terrorists armed with automatic weapons. Without hesitation, Leuk pushed through the flames and located the two insurgents, attacking the terrorists continuously until support arrived and the threat was eliminated.
On another mission Leuk was part of a team which was sent to engage four insurgents hidden in the Malian jungle. Leuk flushed out the first insurgent and his relentless attack on the terrorist created the diversion required for others to expose their position: the Special Forces moved in to complete the mission and avoided loss of life. As part of this task Leuk worked the paths in the jungle searching for IEDs. At one point in his search he stopped and alerted his handler to some suspicious activity near to the camp which had been cleared. An additional insurgent was camouflaged in the undergrowth and hidden to the men in Leuk’s patrol: his early warning gave the men time to engage the enemy before suffering a violent attack. He was a constant guardian of his fellow soldiers.
In May 2019 Leuk was killed in action on his final mission. The mission objective was to flush out insurgents in an area where IEDs had been laid; Leuk, as always, led from the front and as he exposed the location of an insurgent a barrage of gunfire killed him instantly. The absence of Leuk was serious as within a week two Special Forces operatives lost their lives.
Leuk’s body was repatriated to France, covered with the Tricolour and given a guard of honour by French troops, an honour usually reserved for human military personnel. Leuk was five years of age and became the 73rd winner of the Animal Victoria Cross.
Kuno
Afghanistan, 2020
Kuno, a Belgian Malinois, received the 72nd Dickin Medal for bravery and devotion during the war in Afghanistan, supporting the prestigious Special Boat Service (SBS) during a night operation against al-Qaeda. Kuno was deployed due to his specialist training in detecting explosives and weapons and also to incapacitate enemies. The Special Forces were pinned down by an insurgent using grenades and machine-gun fire with no retreat available. To break the deadlock Kuno was sent in to tackle the insurgent, using night vision goggles. Kuno set off to locate the terrorist, forcing him to the ground and allowing the servicemen to move forward. Kuno was badly wounded, shot in both hind legs whilst a further bullet narrowly missed a main artery. His bravery allowed the SBS unit to achieve their mission and complete all the objectives.
Kuno received first aid at the scene before an RAF medical helicopter transported him back to base where he received critical medical attention which fortunately saved his life. After a series of extensive operations Kuno’s condition was stabilised, and he was transported to the United Kingdom for rehabilitation. Sadly, a paw from one hind leg was amputated along with a small part of his other hind leg. Kuno was fitted with an orthotic brace to ensure he could still move, run and jump effectively. The brace covered both hind legs and gave him the mobility to enjoy his retirement. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated:
This raid was one of the most significant achievements against al-Qaeda in several years. Without Kuno, the course of this operation could have been very different; and it is clear that he saved the lives of British personnel that day.
Kuga
Afghanistan, 2011
On 26 August 2011 the Australian Special Operations Task Group was air-dropped into the Uruzgan Province of Afghanistan to locate and detain a high-priority Taliban suspect. Unbeknown to the men in the Task Group, the Taliban lay in wait, prepared for their enemy in an ambush. Kuga, a Belgian Malinois, was serving with the Special Air Service Regiment and, with his handler known as Sergeant J (his real name still withheld for security reasons), was the first to approach the area where the Taliban target was located. As his handler released Kuga to scout ahead, he made good ground through a ravine and began to cross the river at the bottom of the creek, rapidly followed by the men in the group. At that moment, the Taliban ambush opened fire with AK-47s and his handler saw bullets hit the water around Kuga as he swam across the river.
Kuga was unperturbed and bounced out of the water and charged the first Talban fighter, grasping his arm and wrestling him to the ground; but he responded by opening fire on Kuga, hitting him five times. The Task Group had been alerted to the ambush and quickly engaged the Taliban in a fierce firefight. Sergeant J could see Kuga lying on the ground. He had been struck twice in the ear, once in the cheek, with the bullet exiting his body by his cheekbone, and once in his chest which exited through his shoulder, breaking his left leg. The final bullet grazed his lower spine and left shrapnel wounds.
