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87th SFS remembers military working dogs

  • Published
  • By James Hodges
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The 87th Security Forces Squadron held a memorial service Aug. 5th, for two military working dogs, Rambo and Rocki, who but passed away while assigned to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

"Those who have called themselves dog handlers are the only people who will truly understand the bond between a handler and a dog. A bond that cannot be broken, even in death," said Senior Master Sgt. James J. Warrick, 87th SFS, who narrator the memorial.

Rocki, a German Sheppard assigned to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in October 2002, was a patrol explosive detector dog who had been deployed four times and had more than 2,000 detection sweeps under his belt. While deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in August 2008, a lump was discovered on the left side of his throat. He was sedated to remove the lump in surgery when he developed breathing problems and died from cardiac arrest.

As a patrol narcotic detector dog, Rambo, assigned to JB MDL in April 2006, had almost 3,000 detection sweeps with five positive finds of marijuana. In June, Rambo was treated at North Star Veterinary Emergency Trauma and Specialty Center where he was diagnosed with cancer of the liver, which affected his pancreas and gallbladder.

Animals with cancer of the liver typically live only a few days after diagnosis, as a result Rambo was euthanized under veterinarian recommendation.

During the service, Rambo's last handler, Staff Sgt. Alan D. Beaulieu spoke about their missions together and being with Rambo in his last moments. Staff Sgt. Dmitriy Sklyar, Rocki's last handler, currently stationed at MacDill AFB, Fla. was not able to attend.

Military working dog trainer Tech. Sgt. Michael Coulter read the poem 'Guardians of the Night' in honor of Rambo and Rocki. After TAPS was played, folded flags were presented to kennel master Tech. Sgt. Dominic Vecchi and Beaulieu.