The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Local
    • Palmdale
    • Lancaster
    • Los Angeles County
    • Littlerock
    • Lake Los Angeles
    • Rosamond
    • Edwards AFB
    • Acton
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Advertise
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Show Search

Team Edwards says goodbye to Airman’s best friend

by Rebecca Amber, Edwards AFB • August 10, 2015

A memorial service for Rex was held July 31. During the service, the military working dog was honored with the reading of two poems, “I Wait by the Gate” and “Guardians of the Night.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Rebecca Amber)
A memorial service for Rex was held July 31. During the service, the military working dog was honored with the reading of two poems, “I Wait by the Gate” and “Guardians of the Night.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Rebecca Amber)

EDWARDS AFB – Born Oct. 18, 2005, Rex served at Edwards Air Force Base from Feb. 1, 2008 until June 5, 2015, when he died of cancer. He was certified as a patrol narcotics detector dog, and during his life Rex had nine responses in Afghanistan and 34 at Edwards and surrounding areas.

A memorial service was held for Rex on July 31.

Presiding official Lt. Col. Leonard Rose, 412th Security Forces Squadron commander, described Rex as the “grumpy old man” of the kennel.

Military Working Dog Rex served at Edwards Air Force Base from Feb. 1, 2008, until June 5, 2015, when he died of cancer.
Military Working Dog Rex served at Edwards Air Force Base from Feb. 1, 2008, until June 5, 2015, when he died of cancer.

“To put it lightly, Rex didn’t like kids. If the kennel had a front lawn, the neighborhood would have known to stay off of Rex’s front lawn,” said Rose.

The last time Rose saw Rex was during the Desert High School Graduation June 3. The day after graduation was a normal duty day for Rex. But the day after that he was found in his kennel “a little lethargic” and he died later that day.

“Literally, his body covered in cancer, he never complained once because he was doing what he loved,” said Rose.

Tech. Sgt. Andy Lansdowne, 412th SFS, MWD Section kennel master, was Rex’s last handler and the narrator at his service.

“The compassion that Rex would show was unlike that of any other military working dog that I have seen – unless you were a small kid,” said Lansdowne. “Rex loved everyone and in my eyes he was much more than a dog. He was a coworker, friend, and part of my family.”

At the front of the church an empty kennel where Rex once slept represented the life he gave to protect our freedom. A leather leash and chain represents the everlasting eternal bond between dog and handler. An inverted bucket is a reminder that they are no longer here for the handler to fulfill their needs of food and water. Rex asked for nothing in return but companionship and affection.

Rex’s longest handler was Staff Sgt. Brett Hurley. Although he could not attend the service, he sent an audio message in Rex’s honor. Hurley is currently stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where he is an MWD instructor. Hurley worked with Rex for over four years at Edwards including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2010.

When Hurley first learned he was assigned to Rex, he was bitter. Rex, unlike Hurley’s previous dog, was not very good at patrol and detection. But after a little guidance, Rex learned to do his job well.

“From that point on our relationship flourished immensely…I realized that Rex wasn’t a bad dog, he just lacked guidance,” said Hurley.

Rex also didn’t have the same desire to bite that other patrol dogs had. Hurley recalled a time when Lansdowne thought of the perfect way to get Rex to bite. He would put on a bite suit and chase Hurley, encouraging Rex to protect his handler by biting Lansdowne.

And Rex did decide to bite…Hurley.

At the end of his shift, Rex would play with his best friend, military working dog Schmkyel, 412th SFS.

A  display at the front of the chapel represented the bond between dog and handler.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Rebecca Amber)
A display at the front of the chapel represented the bond between dog and handler. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rebecca Amber)

“Military working dogs are so much more than just dogs. They are our friends and brothers and sisters. So the next time you see them patrolling on base, don’t think of them as just a dog, think of them as a person, as your best friend, and that is exactly what they mean to us as handlers,” said Hurley.

Chaplain (Capt.) W. Rian Adams offered the invocation and spoke in Rex’s honor.

“Most of the dogs I have known are extremely faithful… [Rex] embodied service as most of us here only wish we could. He served his nation and put his life on the line protecting the ones he loved stateside and in Afghanistan.”

According to Landsdowne, military working dogs do everything that is asked of them. They detect and deter threats against Edwards and its population. They also support the President of the United States in Secret Service missions.

Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander, only met Rex once since he arrived at the end of March. The memorial service, which he described as outstanding, gave those in attendance a chance to learn about Rex’s dedication to his job.

“Just like our servicemembers, they deploy overseas and they do a lot of great work for our country,” said Schaefer. “These unsung heroes protect our gates day in and day out to make sure that we’re safe.”

After the playing of “Taps,” the other military working dogs and their handlers were invited to pay their final respects to Rex followed by anyone else in attendance who wished to do so.

–

 

Filed Under: Edwards AFB

3 comments for "Team Edwards says goodbye to Airman’s best friend"

  1. m says

    August 10, 2015 at 6:35 pm

    Rest in Peace, Rex boy.

    Thank you for covering this.

  2. pocahontas says

    August 10, 2015 at 5:03 pm

    Wow. Teary eyed even for the 4-legged. What a great service animal and part of the American Team. Thanks REX and to all your handlers!! No one seems to care that these animals are a big part of our safety. Even taking a bullet for us so that none of us dumb two-legged get shot and they are the ones with NO FEAR. No concept of cheating with a gun, they know to REACT, and ACT sharply..

    Thanks again Rex never met you but hope you do rest in piece we know you worked as hard as the serviceman you worked along with.

    Thanks armed Service ppl as well!!

    • pocahontas says

      August 10, 2015 at 5:04 pm

      Hate typos from the cellphone!

      I apologize!

Recent Comments

  • OKFine on LACo health officials: Unused COVID vaccines aren’t being trashed: “Got caught didn’t they…Bureaucratic Double Speak at it’s finest.” Jan 15, 09:31
  • Magnetlady on Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy reported being at Capitol on day of insurrection: “As the former wife of a Police Officer, they have ”lives” outside of the Police Department.. LEO’s are allowed to…” Jan 15, 07:01
  • Heart broken American on Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy reported being at Capitol on day of insurrection: “Look up the definition of insurrection. It doesn’t matter whether a person is a liberal, conservative, or doesn’t have a…” Jan 15, 06:26
  • View on Law enforcement reassures public amid concern over inauguration violence: “The LACSD doesn’t have a handle on anything in the jurisdictions they serve.” Jan 14, 22:06
  • Matt on Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy reported being at Capitol on day of insurrection: “Wrong Mr.Zink, But according to AV illegals comment that’s why he is here.” Jan 14, 19:11

© 2021 · The Antelope Valley Times. All rights reserved. Terms of Use