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April 2, 2003
| BUSTER - THE DOG OF WAR |
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A real Dog of War has been hailed the
hero of a British Army raid on an Iraqi stronghold.
Explosives sniffer dog Buster unearthed a hidden cache of arms from an enemy camp in the southern Iraqi village
of Safwan.
The Springer Spaniel's find was followed by the arrest of 16 Saddam Hussein supporters.
Brown-eyed Buster, who is five, took part in a raid launched by 200 troops.
His handler, Sergeant Danny Morgan, 37, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps said: "The soldiers had found nothing
so I unleashed Buster and sent him in.
"The rule is that the dog always goes first in case there are booby traps and I was obviously concerned for
him as he started his search. Within minutes he became excited in a particular area and I knew he'd discovered something.
"The Iraqis we spoke to had denied having any weapons. But Buster found their arms even though they'd hidden
them in a wall cavity, covered it with a sheet of tin then pushed a wardrobe in front of it.
"I'm very proud of him."
Buster's haul included AK47 assault rifles, a pistol, grenades, ammunition and bomb-making equipment.
Suitcases full of cash, a suspected stash of heroin and crack cocaine and pro-Saddam Hussein Ba'ath Party
literature were also discovered in the buildings used by the mafia-style gangs.
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Sgt Morgan keeps Buster at his home in Aldershot, Hants, where he doubles as a family pet for his five-year-old daughter
Emma and wife Nicki.
"I trained him by teaching him to fetch weapons like guns and ammunition instead of sticks and balls," he said.
"He loves his job simply because he thinks it's a game and obviously has no idea he's going into dangerous situations.
"I end up doing all the worrying because he's not only doing a job out here - he's my best friend. Buster is the only arms
and explosives search dog working in Iraq right now and has been worth his weight in gold today.
"But my daughter Emma is missing him terribly - even more than she misses me!
"She was upset when I went off to war but wept buckets when she was saying goodbye to Buster. She's been sending him more
treats than me since we arrived."
Buster is so valuable to the army that he has even been given his own protective gear in case of chemical or biological
attack.
When Scud or gas attack warning sound, he leaps into a special sealed pen equipped with an electric motor that pumps air
through a gas mask filter. |
New Video in Honor of our Friends and Allies
Click on Remember below.
"Remember"_______________________________________________________________________
Medal for 'bomb sniff' dog
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Buster usually lives in Hampshire with Sgt Danny Morgan and family | A dog is to be awarded the animal "Victoria Cross" for sniffing out hidden bomb-making equipment in Iraq.
Buster, a five-year-old springer spaniel, broke an armed resistance cell in the southern Iraqi town of Safwan with his
discovery in March.
The Army search dog is to receive the People's Dispensary for Sick Animal's (PDSA) Dickin Medal from Princess Alexandra
at the Imperial War Museum on Tuesday.
By his side will be proud handler Sergeant Danny Morgan, from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, based at Aldershot in Hampshire.
Sgt Morgan, 37, who describes Buster as his best friend, usually looks after him at home, where he is also a family pet
for his five-year-old daughter Emma and wife Nicki, a 32-year-old nurse.
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 We would never have found the weapons without him and they would still be a threat to our troops 
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He said of the medal-winning incident: "The soldiers had found nothing so I unleashed Buster and sent him in.
"Within minutes he became excited in a particular area and I knew he'd discovered something.
"Buster found the arms even though they had hidden them in a wall cavity, covered it with a sheet of tin then pushed a
wardrobe in front.
"We would never have found the weapons without him and they would still be a threat to our troops and the local population."
Outstanding bravery
The stash included Russian AK47 assault rifles, a pistol, six grenades, fuses, ammunition and large quantities of cash,
drugs and pro-Saddam literature.
There have been no attacks in the town since Buster's discovery and soon afterwards troops were able to replace their steel
helmets with soft berets.
Buster is only the 24th dog to receive the PDSA Dickin Medal and his award marks the 60th anniversary of the honour, which
was inaugurated by the PDSA's founder Maria Dickin in December 1943 to recognise outstanding bravery of animals in World War
II.
The award is the highest decoration for gallantry that can be bestowed on any animal member of the British and Commonwealth
forces.
So far it has been presented to 59 animals - 32 pigeons, three horses and one cat as well as 23 dogs.
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CAMP DOGWOOD DOGS OF WAR
MEET Lance Corporal Jenny Chester and Bonnie - the bravest girls in Iraq.
The 19-year-old army dog handler and her black Labrador are the Black Watch's new front line of
defence against suicide bombers.
At huge personal risk, the duo carry out a vital role at the troops' vehicle checkpoints that allows
the Scots unit to keep up their block on rebel fighters fleeing battle- ravaged Fallujah.
As soldiers wait inside armoured Warrior fighting vehicles, Jenny and Bonnie go forward alone to
check cars for the deadly devices.
The pair from 102 Military Working Dogs Support Unit in Basra were rushed up to the 850-strong battle
group's base at Camp Dogwood near Baghdad five days ago.
Last night, Jenny said: 'It's scary when you think what could happen when we approach target vehicles.
Tactics 'But I'd rather it be me and my dog than five soldiers.
'To be honest, I try not to think about the consequences too much, because if I did I wouldn't be
able to do my job.'
Two suicide attacks in one week, which killed three soldiers and wounded 10, have forced Black Watch
commanders to change their tactics.
Jenny, from Kent, said: 'I do it because I trust Bonnie 100 per cent.I know if there's something
there, Bonnie will find it and hopefully we'll be able to get out in time.'
And of her canine partner, she said: 'She's my best friend. And she's the one I talk to when I'm
upset about something.'
'If she didn't enjoy her job, we wouldn't keep on making her do it.'
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