Law enforcement officials honor military working dog

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon White
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  A memorial in honor of a Malmstrom working dog was held at the Grizzly Bend Club Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. 

Malmstrom Airmen, fellow working dogs and local police officers from Helena, Great Falls and Pondera County were in attendance to honor Brenda, a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois. She was born March 1, 1998, and was euthanized Oct. 17 due to cancerous tumors in her respiratory system. 

The memorial was narrated by Staff Sgt. John Johnson from the 341st Security Forces Squadron and an invocation was given by Chaplain (Capt.) Jeromy Wells, 341st Space Wing chaplain. 

Brenda's kennel, leash, bowl, badge and toys were placed on display and Sergeant Johnson described each item because they held a certain meaning. For instance, the leash represented the connection between dog and handler. 

This connection was described by her former handlers Senior Airman Bryan Tarantella and Staff Sgt. Mark Chandler, both 341st SFS military working dog handlers. 

"A lot of people don't understand the bond handlers have with their dog," Sergeant Chandler said. "You think of them as one of your kids. Brenda sacrificed a lot for this country and never asked for anything in return except maybe a pat on the head." 

Senior Airman Tarantella was Brenda's most recent handler and his remarks were similar to those made by Sergeant Chandler. 

"I did not get a chance to deploy with her, but I did go on Secret Service missions with her," Airman Tarantella said. "I knew she had my back all the time. She will be missed and was loved." 

Sergeant Johnson also read the poem "Guardians of the Night," written by an unknown author, during the memorial. The poem captures the author's interpretation of a working dogs thoughts and feelings toward its handler. 

After the reading of "Guardians of the Night," a slide show accompanied by bagpipe music was played. The slide show included pictures of Brenda in the local community, at Malmstrom and deployed locations. 

Following the slide show, Malmstrom Honor Guard simultaneously fired three rounds from their rifles and Airman Tarantella was presented with the flag. 

During Brenda's time at Malmstrom, she supported local law enforcement agencies throughout Montana by responding to numerous homeland security threats. She also supported numerous taskings with the United States Secret Service and the State Department in support of the President, Vice President, First Lady and the Secretary of State. 

Brenda was deployed to Al Jabar, Kuwait, May to September 2000; an undisclosed location September 2001 to March 2002; Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, August 2002 to January 2003; and Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia, January 2005 to August 2005. Brenda entered explosive detection training Aug. 1, 1999. 

She then entered patrol-dog training Aug. 25, 1999, and was certified as a patrol and explosives dog Dec. 10, 1999. Brenda was then assigned to the 341st Security Forces Squadron at Malmstrom where she served the remainder of her military career. 

"It was an honor to handle her," Sergeant Chandler said.