FORT ATKINSON, Wis. — On Sunday, veterans, law enforcement officers and community members gathered at the American Legion Post 166 Banquet Center to recognize the service and sacrifices of military and police K9s.
Among those honored was Dasty, a retired military working dog recently reunited with her handler, former U.S. Army Sergeant Michael Fletcher.
Dasty served in Afghanistan in 2019, completing eight combat missions focused on explosive detection.
“The main purpose over there was finding explosives on the side of the road, explosives in vehicles or ammunition caches,” said retired U.S. Army Sergeant Fletcher.
K9s have played a critical role in the U.S. military and law enforcement for decades, serving in combat zones, search-and-rescue operations, and high-profile security missions.
Sgt. Fletcher and Dasty also assisted in Secret Service operations for Presidents Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
“Whenever the secret service needs an extra dog to detect explosives, we’ll follow them,” said Fletcher.
The ceremony also included remarks from Cody Crangle, a Marine veteran and K9 commander, who walked the War Dog’s flag down the aisle.
He was also deployed to Afghanistan with his dog, Flo. He remembers her service and commitment.
“I’ve been blessed to be a part of this,” said Marine veteran Crangle. “Now that Flo is no longer with me, to have the honor to carry the flag is almost symbolic of kind of just having her with me still.”
K9 Veterans Day, observed annually on March 13, marks the anniversary of the U.S. Army’s K9 Corps establishment in 1942. Today, thousands of working dogs continue to serve in military and police units across the country.
For many handlers, the bond with their K9 partners extends far beyond their years of service.
“A lot of people don’t realize what these dogs do,” Fletcher said. “There’s been dog and dog handlers that have paid the ultimate price for that and will continue doing that still.”
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