Rebecca Frankel is the author of "War Dogs: Tales of Canine Heroism, History, and Love," a book in which she describes the untold stories of how canines in the military bond with their handlers on and off the battlefield.
From helping soldiers who suffer from PTSD, just like in this hero's story, to being a companion and source of comfort for soldiers on deployment, these furry soldiers do a lot more for our soldiers than just sniff out bombs. However, uncovering hidden dangers usually is a dog's most important job in the military and many times they do a great job of it, as we can see from this dog who saved many lives in the line of duty. Yet, these working dogs can't get to every bomb in time and sadly, some soldiers die as a result.
This heartbreaking scenario is exactly what happened to Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Ashley and his K-9 companion, Sirius. This duo serves as one of many inspirations for Frankel's book, as she met them early on in their training and recalls in the video how excited Ashley was to get overseas with Sirius and start fighting for their country.
When Lance Cpl. Ashley stepped on an IED bomb and was killed in combat, Sirius was affected in a way that may surprise you. In the clip from PBS, Frankel revealed what exactly happens to dogs and dog handlers when they're slain in the line of duty. It not only touched my heart, it gave me great insight into this little-known topic and I hope you'll take the time to learn about these fallen heroes.
Please SHARE this touching video to remember all military heroes killed before their time.
[Photo Source]
