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Edwards says goodbye to two military working dogs

  • Published
  • By Kate Blais
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
He carefully but thoroughly searched an abandoned bunker halfway around the world thought to house insurgent activity. Then taking point in the pursuit of an unidentified enemy, Telin confidently led the squad of troops through a desert trail, following footprints in the dirt.

Telin didn't carry a weapon. He didn't have any specific intelligence on the situation. Nevertheless, he fearlessly executed his task to track. Telin was a Belgian Malinois and military working dog deployed from Edwards to support military operations in the Middle East.

"I trusted him with my life," said Master Sgt. Craig Young, 95th Security Forces Squadron and one of Telin's former handlers. "I learned to read Telin and his behavior, so I had full confidence in him that he'd be able to find anything, and find it before we were in danger."

For dog handlers in the military, military working dogs serve as partners and fellow servicemembers, enduring patrol and even deployment duties with their human counterparts.

"Military working dogs are a force multiplier," said Young. "Dogs have keener senses than a person does and when it comes to explosive detection or narcotics detection, dogs can find stuff so much easier."

Staff Sgt. Kathryn Jackson, 95 SFS and Telin's most recent handler, said Telin's desire to do his job was readily apparent. Telin was the first military working dog Jackson handled. She got certified with him.

Through their mutual training she developed a bond with her partner.

"Every day was a learning experience," said Jackson. "Telin was a high-drive, hard-working, happy and energetic dog."

"Telin was a dog that kept you on top of your game," said Young. "It was a little bit of a challenge [to work with him], but it was more fulfilling, you could see the possibilities with him. He was one of the best that I've handled."

Much like Telin, Eddy, a German shepherd and former military working dog at Edwards, was also loved and trusted by his fellow servicemembers.

Eddy deployed to Iraq in 2007 with his then-handler, Tech. Sgt. John Ricci, now flight chief with the 50th SFS at Schriever AFB, Colo.

Ricci recalled a particular mission to search a coffee factory for explosive devices with intelligence revealing that there was a sniper in the area, said Ricci.

Tasked to track down the sniper, Ricci, Eddy and the Army unit they were attached to quickly locate the enemy.

"I saw four guys jump down from a building so I sent Eddy after them," said Ricci. "They saw him coming so they stopped and all laid down. Eddy caught the four-man sniper team. And by [Eddy] catching them first, the gunner from a Humvee in the area didn't shoot so we actually got intel off of the insurgents."

"That was one of my proudest moments of Eddy," shared Ricci.

Because of poor health and medical conditions that had become untreatable, Telin and Eddy had to be euthanized, said Army Capt. Allison Schroder, Edwards Veterinary Treatment Facility, officer in charge.

A memorial service was held for the two dogs, Nov. 30, outside of the MWD kennels on base. With the playing of taps, Telin, Eddy and their years of service to the U.S. Air Force were remembered.

Telin served nine years in the Air Force and Eddy 11. Deploying to Qatar, Iraq and Afghanistan, Telin served in the Middle East in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Eddy also spent time in the Middle East, deploying to Kuwait twice and Iraq three times from 2003 to 2009.

"Ever loyal, ever faithful," said Maj. Brian Clouse, 95th Air Base Wing chaplain, of the dogs during his opening invocation.

Reverence surrounded the memorial service for Telin and Eddy, remembering them as fellow servicemembers, because that's what they were to their handlers.

"There's no better partner in the world," said Ricci. "Once you get a bond and rapport with that dog and that dog trusts you, that dog will do anything for you."