Amazing Heroes
I recently received an email announcing one of last year’s recipiant of the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is the highest military honor. The winner of this award surprised me, but once I read about his actions I was touch, amazed, and proud. Here is a picture of this amazing hero.
Yes, the winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor was a dog named Brutus.
Brutus won the Congressional Medal of Honor last year from his tour in Iraq . His handler and four other soldiers were taken hostage by insurgents. Brutus and his handler communicate by sign language and he gave Brutus the signal that meant ‘go away but come back and find me’. The Iraqis paid no attention to Brutus. He came back later and quietly tore the throat out of one guard at one door and another guard at another door.
The guys were being held in an old warehouse and Brutus jumped against one of the doors repeatedly until it opened. He went in and untied his handler and they all escaped. He’s the first K9 to receive this honor.
Despite these amazing acts, if Brutus knows you’re ok, he’s a big old lug and wants to sit in your lap and enjoys the company of cats.
I absolutely love animal stories like this, because they show us that animals are more than possessions or something to look at in a zoo. They have personalities and needs not all that different than our own. I encourage you this week to look a the animals in your life and be thankful for the joy and compassion they bring to your life.
Tags: Dogs, Iraq, Medal of Honor
March 18th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Sorry, though this story is compelling, it’s an urban legend. No animal has ever received the Congressional Medal of Honor and it sadly dilutes the memories of the four service people who lost their lives to earn their’s in Iraq. A simple web search on a unique part of the story is all that is needed to find out if a story is correct. For example, see: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/b/brutus.htm.
I love dogs too but let’s not place them on impossible pedestals since the dogs that actually do something valent will seem less heroic compared to the mythical dogs in email/web urban legends that quietly rip out throats, break down doors and untie bound hands. It kind of makes a valiant dog that saves a life by barking for hours above an old well to alert someone about a trapped child seem like a simple act.
Stefan
March 20th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Thank you Stefan,
I appologize for not looking into the truth or fiction of this email chain submission.
I have seen animal mistreated, abused, and devalued many times, even though it is our humanity that is charged with caring for the animals that we bring into our lives, so a story like the one above is an encouragement to me. The above story may be false, but there are many true stories of animals proving their unconditional love and loyalty to a humanity that often sees animals as just another thing or part of ‘the American dream’.
I will be sure to research the truth behind any future posts I put on this site. Thank you.