BRITISH ARMY DOG WHO DIED IN AFGHANISTAN HONORED

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BRITAIN_HERO_ANIMALS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-10-25-08-04-00


This is a undated Ministry of Defence handout photo made available on Thursday Oct. 25, 2012 of Lance Corporal Liam Tasker and his Springer spaniel mix Theo. Theo the bomb-sniffing army dog who died in Afghanistan on the day his handler was killed has been honored with Britain's highest award for animal bravery. Springer spaniel mix Theo was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal on Thursday at a ceremony in London. (AP Photo/ MoD)

LONDON (AP) -- A bomb-sniffing army dog who died in Afghanistan on the day his handler was killed has been honored with Britain's highest award for animal bravery.

Springer spaniel mix Theo was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal on Thursday at a London ceremony.

Theo worked for five months in Afghanistan with Royal Army Veterinary Corps Lance Cpl. Liam Tasker, searching out roadside bombs.

Tasker was killed in a firefight with insurgents in Helmand Province in March 2011. Theo suffered a fatal seizure hours later at a British army base, likely brought about by stress.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8374577/Dog-lovers-gather-for-repatriation-of-soldier-and-spaniel-from-Afghanistan.html

Dog lovers gather for repatriation of soldier and spaniel from Afghanistan
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8374577/Dog-lovers-gather-for-repatriation-of-soldier-and-spaniel-from-Afghanistan.html

Hundreds of mourners lined the main street through the Wiltshire town to honour Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, who was shot while on patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan on March 1.

The crowds were swelled by family pets and a dozen police and Prison Service dogs at the repatriation ceremony for the 26-year-old soldier, whose dog Theo died from a seizure three hours after his master was killed.

L/Cpl Tasker’s family said they believe the dog died from a broken heart.

The body of L/Cpl Tasker, from Kirkcaldy, Fife, and the ashes of Theo had earlier been flown back to RAF Lyneham in the same aircraft.

[RKP5637]

1. K&R !!! K&R !!! K&R !!! K&R !!! K&R !!! K&R !!! ... n/t

[sarge43]

2. Liam was waiting for Theo on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

Hand salute soldiers and have the peace denied you in this life