Lucca (dog)

Last updated
Lucca
Homeward bound Lucca retires 120702-M-KW153-143.jpg
Lucca with her handler, Cpl Juan M Rodriguez
Species Dog
Breed German Shepherd/
Belgian Malinois
SexFemale
Born2003or2004 [1]
Netherlands
Died (aged 14) [2]
California, US
Employer United States Marine Corps
Notable role Dogs in warfare / Detection dog
Years active6
Awards

Lucca (born 2003 or 2004, [1] died 2018) [2] was a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois service dog who was employed by the United States Marine Corps for 6 years. She was trained to detect explosives. She was deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. In her over 400 missions, no human fatalities occurred under her watch. In 2012, while on patrol in Afghanistan, she was injured by an IED blast, necessitating the amputation of her left leg. After recovering at Camp Pendleton, Lucca officially retired in 2012 and was adopted by her original handler, Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham.

Contents

On 5 April 2016, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a veterinary charity in the United Kingdom, awarded Lucca the Dickin Medal. [1] It is considered to be the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, and was the 67th time that the medal has been awarded. [1] [3] [4] [5] [6] This was the first time a U.S. Marine Corps dog was awarded this honour. [7] [8] [9] Lucca also received an unofficial Purple Heart plaque and ribbons from a two-time Marine recipient of the award. [10]

Lucca is interred at the Michigan War Dog Memorial in South Lyon, Michigan.

Military career

Lucca was born in the Netherlands. The Israel Defense Forces brought her to Israel and she trained there for six months with an American team. She was then inducted at Lackland in the United States and brought to the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona for training in an environment similar to Iraq. [11] She served two tours of duty with the U.S. Marine Corps during her six years of service. During that time, she completed more than 400 missions. She was trained as a specialized search dog, and belonged to an elite group of canines capable of working off-leash at long distances from their handlers in dangerous situations. On her missions, no humans accompanying her were ever injured. [12] [5] Specifically, the dog's record of military service included Afghanistan with more than 400 patrols and three combat tours in Iraq. She was credited with finding ammunition, explosives and insurgents at least 40 times, without a single human fatality under her watch. [8] [9]

The PDSA noted that she protected thousands of human lives as part of her assignments. On her last mission in 2012, when she was on patrol in Afghanistan, she sniffed out a 30-pound (13.6-kilogram) IED and was continuing her search when she lost one of her legs when another IED detonated underneath her. [1] Cpl. Juan Rodriguez, her handler, thought she had been killed, but was able to rescue her. [13] [14] He administered first aid, and Lucca was then airlifted to Germany for medical treatment and rehabilitation. Ten days after the explosion, she was walking again. Following her recovery from her injury, Lucca was retired. She lived in California with Gunnery Sgt. Chris Willingham and his family. [15]

According to Amy Dickin, the dispensary's spokesperson, the award of the Dickin Medal to Lucca garnered more "public attention than any other Dickin Medal honoree in the program's 73-year history." [8] In November 2019 Lucca became one of the first winners of the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery, bestowed posthumously on her in a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. [16]

The story of Lucca's life was turned into a book, Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca by Maria Goodavage. [15]

Lucca died on January 20, 2018. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dickin Medal</span> Award for animals in wartime

The PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in World War II. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown, and pale blue. It is awarded to animals that have displayed "conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving or associated with any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Units". The award is commonly referred to as "the animals' Victoria Cross".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chips (dog)</span> US Military dog (1940–1946)

Chips (1940–1946) was a trained sentry dog for United States Army, and reputedly the most decorated war dog from World War II. Chips was a German Shepherd-Collie-Malamute mix owned by Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York. He was bred by C.C. Moore, and was the son of Margot Jute, a half collie, half German shepherd, and Husky, a malamute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PDSA Gold Medal</span> Bravery award to animals

The PDSA Gold Medal is an animal bravery award that acknowledges the bravery and devotion to duty of animals. It was created by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in 2001, and is now recognised as the animal equivalent of the George Cross. The Gold Medal is considered as the civilian equivalent to PDSA's Dickin Medal for military animals. An animal can be awarded the PDSA Gold Medal if it assists in saving human or non-human life when its own life is in danger or through exceptional devotion to duty. The medal can also be awarded to animals in public service, such as police or rescue dogs, if the animal dies or suffers serious injury while carrying out its official duties in the face of armed and violent opposition.

Sadie, (1996–2019), a black Labrador Retriever, was a recipient of the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. She was awarded for detecting an explosive device outside the United Nations headquarters in Kabul in November 2005, and was awarded by Princess Alexandra on 6 February 2007. Her handler at the time of the action which resulted in the award was Lance Corporal Karen Yardley.

Apollo was a search and rescue dog who served with the K-9 unit of the New York Police Department. He was awarded the Dickin Medal, the animals' equivalent of the Victoria Cross, in recognition of the work done by all search and rescue dogs following the September 11 attacks. Apollo and his handler were working at the World Trade Center site soon after the attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam (army dog)</span> Army dog

Sam was an army dog who served with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps Dog Unit. While serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, Sam helped to apprehend an armed man and also to hold back an armed mob besieging a compound where Serbs were taking refuge. He received the Dickin Medal, the animals' equivalent of the Victoria Cross, in 2003 for these acts of bravery.

Treo was a black Labrador Retriever-English Springer Spaniel crossbreed and a retired Arms and Explosives Search dog with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. He was awarded the Dickin Medal in February 2010. The military nominated Treo for the award in recognition of his help uncovering a number of improvised explosive devices (IED) during his time serving in Helmand Province, an insurgency hot spot, in 2008. Treo was the medal's 63rd recipient.

Crumstone Irma, a.k.a. Irma, was a German Shepherd Dog who assisted in the rescue of 191 people trapped under blitzed buildings while serving with London's Civil Defence Services during the Second World War. During this period she worked with her handler and owner, Mrs Margaret Griffin, and another dog named Psyche. Noted for her ability to tell if buried victims were dead or alive, she was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1945, and is buried at the PDSA Animal Cemetery, Ilford.

Buster, an English Springer Spaniel, was a military detection dog who was active during the Iraq War. Because of his actions in discovering a hidden weapons cache, the dog was credited with saving service personnel from insurgents operating in the southern Iraqi town of Safwan. He was awarded the Dickin Medal, referred to as being the animals' Victoria Cross.

Beauty, a wirehaired terrier, was a Second World War search and rescue dog considered to be the first rescue dog, who was awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery in 1945. She is among a number of Dickin Medal winners who are buried in Ilford Animal Cemetery.

Peter (1941–1952) was a collie dog who in 1945 was awarded the Dickin Medal, considered to be the Victoria Cross for animals. During the later stages of the Second World War he served as a search and rescue dog in London. He attended the 1946 Civil Defence Stand–Down parade, where he was presented to the King and Queen, and Princess Elizabeth. His medal was auctioned in 2000 for £4,600 (US$6,964).

Tich (1940–1959) was a military dog during the Second World War. She was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1949 for her actions during the war as a battalion mascot to the King's Royal Rifle Corps. After the war she lived with her battalion handler at his home in the UK. When she died she was buried in the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)'s Ilford Animal Cemetery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Goodavage</span> American writer and journalist

Maria Goodavage is a journalist and editor, and author of two New York Times best selling books about military dogs. Goodavage has been a staff writer for USA Today and the San Francisco Chronicle among other newspapers.

Theo DM (2009–2011), was an English Springer Spaniel who served as a bomb detection dog for the British Army whilst stationed in Afghanistan. His handler, Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, was killed in March 2011, and Theo died within hours, following a seizure. The pair had set a new record for bomb finds during their time on deployment. Theo was awarded the Dickin Medal, also known as the animals' Victoria Cross, in 2012.

Ricky was a dog who received the Dickin Medal in 1947 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.

Lucky was a dog who received the Dickin Medal in 2007 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Malayan Emergency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equine recipients of the Dickin Medal</span>

There have been five equine recipients of the Dickin Medal since its creation in 1943. The first three were British horses Regal, Olga, and Upstart, followed by the Canadian Corps Cavalry horse Warrior and the American Sergeant Reckless. The first three received their awards at a ceremony on 11 April 1947 at Hyde Park in recognition of the courage they exhibited during World War II. These three were mounts used by members of the Metropolitan Police Service during official duties and to aid civilians during the Blitz and later bombings from September 1940 to late 1944. Warrior served on the Western Front during World War I and was awarded an honorary posthumous medal in September 2014. Another posthumous award was given in 2016 to Sergeant Reckless, a mare who served during the Korean War with the United States Marine Corps and was given the rank of staff sergeant. Of the recipients, three were honoured for courage during active duty, one for remaining calm when his stable was bombed on two occasions and one to commemorate the actions of animals during the First World War. The first three horses were selected primarily as a way to honour the entire mounted police force instead of singling out any particular deed. Olga, Upstart and Regal are buried at the Metropolitan Police Mounted Training Establishment at Thames Ditton which also displays their medals in a museum.

Sasha DM (2004–2008) was a Labrador Retriever who served as a bomb detection dog for the British Army whilst stationed in Afghanistan. Sasha and her handler, Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe, were killed in July 2008. Sasha was awarded the Dickin Medal, also known as the animals' Victoria Cross, in 2014.

Kuga (2007-2012) was a male Belgian Malinois military dog serving with the Australian Army. In 2011, Kuga was shot five times while grasping an insurgent fighter with his mouth, while on patrol in Khas Urozgan District, Afghanistan. Kuga died in 2012 of complications from the wounds despite veterinary treatment. In 2018, Kuga was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal considered the Victoria Cross for animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery</span> Award

The Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery was instituted in 2019 in the United States by Robin Hutton and Mari Lou Livingood to honor the work of American animals in war and peace. The medal was created to be the American equivalent of the Dickin Medal, awarded in the UK for any animal displaying conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty particularly in the armed forces or civil emergency services.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "War-wounded military dog awarded charity medal". BBC News . 5 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Lucca K458". Facebook.
  3. ↑ "Lucca the heroic three-legged war dog wins medal" (Video). The Guardian . 5 April 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  4. ↑ Wakefield, Jessica (5 April 2016). "Adorable military dog, Lucca, who lost leg in combat gets medal for bravery" (Video). Irish Independent . Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  5. 1 2 Heywood, Victoria (5 April 2016). "PDSA Dickin Medal for Hero Girl Lucca". Dogs Monthly. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  6. ↑ Ryder, Bradley (8 August 2016). "Dogs In The News: Mountain Dog Thought 'Dead' Miraculously Lives, German Shephard [sic] Receives Medal For Bravery" . Retrieved 23 January 2018. According to the PDSA website, Lucca's award was bestowed "for tireless service to the military communities of the United States of America and coalition partners from 2006 to 2012.
  7. ↑ "PDSA Dickin Medal for Lucca". PDSA. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 Phan, Hieu Tran (11 April 2016). "How Marine dog Lucca made history". San Diego Union Tribune . Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  9. 1 2 "U.S. Marine Corps Honors Dog for Wartime Bravery" (Video). CBS. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  10. ↑ Carpenter, Rhonda (21 October 2014). "Book Review – Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca". Defense Media Network. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  11. ↑ Goodavage 2015, pp. 13, 22–23.
  12. ↑ Goodavage 2015, p. 9.
  13. ↑ Lucca the Marine dog receives medal for service CNN, 5 April 2016
  14. ↑ US Marine Corps dog named Lucca who saved lives wins prize Fox News, 5 April 2016
  15. 1 2 Kyung Kim, Eun (27 November 2014). "Handlers of retired Marine hero, bomb-sniffing dog give thanks for animal's duty". Today . Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  16. ↑ The Washington Post, "New animal bravery medal honors heroic dogs, pigeons and horse," Nov. 18 2019

Bibliography

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