FORT RUCKER, Ala. (April 9, 2015) -- Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, on two legs and four, and Fort Rucker remembered two of its four-legged heroes who served the nation as loyally as they served their military police handlers.
A memorial service was held at the main post chapel April 7 for Military Working Dogs Sgt. 1st Class Zeus K121 and Sgt. Maxi L601 of the 906th MWD Detachment.
Zeus was a patrol explosive detector dog who came to Fort Rucker in February of 2007 and passed Dec. 10 at the age of 10 when he was euthanized because of cancer.
Maxi was a patrol, drug detector dog who came to the installation in July of 2007 and passed Feb. 24, 2014, at the age of 8 when he was euthanized due to a tumor growth in his mouth that had grown too large, and was causing him immense pain and suffering.
Over the span of their service, Zeus and Maxi conducted thousands of military working dog demonstrations in support of the Total Army Initiative -- recruiting, law enforcement and force protection support to Fort Rucker and the community -- and are veterans of two deployments -- Operations Iraqi Sovereignty and Enduring Freedom.
"Built through a relationship of trust, a bond of companionship through a brotherhood of shared sacrifice and steadfast dedication, their rigorous training is honed by the finest instructors on Earth, but at their core they possess a courage that can't simply be learned," said the narrator for the service. "Comprised of partners who never flinch in the face of danger … these K9 units serve beside our nation's warriors as we fight to preserve what we cherish. They have shown us what unconditional love looks like. Bravery is in their blood and valor is an instinct."
Staff Sgt. Ryan Hastings, 906th MWD Detachment and Zeus' handler, and Spc. Donovan Jenkins, 906th MWD Detachment and Maxi's handler, were presented flags during the service to symbolize that the dogs' tour of duty is complete.
Hastings said he remembered Zeus as a gentle giant that worked with him throughout the years.
"Zeus was one of the most frustrating and rewarding dogs that I had ever had the privilege of working with," said Hastings. "His overall personality and overall determination was one of a kind. There was a not a day that went by that Zeus did not teach me or challenge me. As the old man in the kennels, Zeus was loved by everybody, and even though he looked like a big, scary dog, he really was not."
Jenkins' memory of Maxi could be summed up in one word -- loyalty.
"Man's best friend," he said during the service. "It was never more apparent to me of the meaning of this phrase than from the time I spent working with Maxi. His loyalty knew no bounds and there wasn't a moment he was not by my side. I have many memories of the times we spent together. My most fond was going in every morning, and seeing his ears perked and his tail wagging, ready to go to work."
Readings of "A Working Dog's Oath" and "Guardians of the Night" were read during the service to showcase what it means to be a military working dog, and give a glimpse to what the relationship is like between dog and handler.
"When you work with one of these warriors, you're working with something that doesn't give up, and that's why we won't give up on them," said the narrator. "These dogs have been bred to serve. Honor is their birthright. When you work with these warriors, you learn that loyalty isn't something that is taught -- it's what they're born with."
K9s have serve in support of the U.S. military since World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, said the narrator. Their acuteness of the senses, docility, affection for man and the animal's speed enabled the K9 to be of great value for military purposes. Today's military working dogs are employed across the globe, serving in all branches of service detecting explosives, weapons, improvised explosive devices and illegal drugs, both in garrison and forward-deployed environments.
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