Diken Medal Winning American

[Mickey Finn 3,087]

 

LONDON (AP) — A U.S. Marine Corps dog that sniffed out explosives and protected thousands of troops has been honored with a prize for animals serving bravely in military conflict.

Lucca, a 12-year-old German Shepherd, won the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, a decoration for bravery. She is the first U.S. Marine Corps dog to receive the honor.

Lucca is credited with saving thousands of allied troops and never had a human casualty on one of her patrols. On her final patrol in Afghanistan, she discovered a 30-pound (13.6-kilogram) improvised explosive device and was searching for more when a second device detonated. Lucca lost her left leg, but survived.

Her owner, Gunnery Sergeant Christopher Willingham of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was by her side Tuesday in London as she received the medal.

 

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4e4d4a9de40c4998a0cc7717a0cc37c3/us-marine-corps-dog-named-lucca-who-saved-lives-wins-prize

 

ATB

 

 

[lanesra 4,007]

They really are mans best friend . . Well deserved .

[TOMO 29,359]

Brilliant stuff,,,,

 

Glad to see they bring the animals back now,,,I remember watching a documentary about the war in Vietnam,,,and they put the dogs down,,,they interviewed one of the handlers,,,and he was still cut up about it years later...

[Deker 3,491]

All credit to the dog and particularly those that trained her.

 

[Mickey Finn 3,087]

Brilliant stuff,,,,

 

Glad to see they bring the animals back now,,,I remember watching a documentary about the war in Vietnam,,,and they put the dogs down,,,they interviewed one of the handlers,,,and he was still cut up about it years later...

Much better now for both dogs and handlers. There is a website for adopting the retired service dogs. The waiting list is years long.