America is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year, a milestone made possible by the service members who have answered the call of duty since 1776. But the story of our country – and how we got here – is incomplete without the contributions of the four-legged heroes who served alongside our brave men and women in uniform.
These dogs deserve an extra treat and belly rub this Veterans Day (March 13) – especially my Dutch Shepherd, Dasty.
Brave canines have fought alongside American troops since the Revolutionary War, helping guard ammunition supplies and serving as messengers on the battlefield. More than 150 years later, the K-9 Corps was officially established during World War II, with approximately 1,600 working dogs now serving in our armed forces.
Whether bomb sniffers, trackers or assault support units, the American soldier has no better ally than man’s best friend. My four-legged sidekick is part of this patriotic legacy.
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Retired Sergeant. Michael Fletcher with his dog Dasty. (Inset) Dasty and Fletcher served together in Afghanistan. (American Humane Society/Inset courtesy of Michael Fletcher)
Our story began in 2018 when I was paired with Dasty – then 3 years old – at Fort Huachuca out west. Although we initially worked with base police, we were soon sent to Missouri for explosive detection training, a 60-day course in which we learned to work as a team to detect deadly weapons. From there we were deployed to Afghanistan.
Dasty and I shared a modest tent at Forward Operating Base Dahlke in Logar province, where double mattresses awaited us. My canine partner was a huge morale booster on the base and, as you can imagine, was quite popular among the military. Other soldiers visited our tent just to spend time with Dasty – petting sessions that I can assure you he enjoyed as much as they did.
Dasty not only provided comfort to soldiers far from home, but also saved lives. He located enemy IEDs and weapons, which too often prove deadly to U.S. service members, and performed admirably in combat situations. While under enemy contact, Dasty remained calm and focused.
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After the deployment ended, we returned to the United States and were stationed at a military base in Northern Virginia, where Dasty’s important work continued. We participated in multiple Secret Service missions for both Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and we also helped train other military dog ​​teams. It was satisfying to see others form such strong bonds with their dogs – a kind of relationship I had come to appreciate in my own life.
Ultimately, I retired from the military in 2022 to pursue a new career in Wisconsin and spend more time with my family. Although I looked forward to the next phase of my life, the change meant saying goodbye to Dasty, who would remain in the military – a heartbreaking separation that I hoped wouldn’t last forever. Luckily we had one last chapter.
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When Dasty retired two years later, I contacted the American Humane Society – which my wife had heard about – to see if they could help reunite us. The organization took a big step by moving Dasty from Arlington, Virginia, to my home in Green Bay, Wisc. to fly and promise to cover any future veterinary bills. The financial support proved invaluable a few months ago when the nonprofit paid for spinal surgery that restored Dasty’s ability to walk.
U.S. military dogs have their paws on the ground all over the world – helping protect American lives and advance strategic national security interests as we celebrate 250 years of independence. Dasty is one of these loyal and patriotic heroes who deserves recognition. Now that he’s finally out of commission, he can get some well-deserved rest – and a chew toy.
