Photo By Master Sgt. Alexandre Montes | Senior Airman Jerry Quintanilla, 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron holds a...... read more read more
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AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar - "Man’s best friend" - term many have heard, used or encountered. The bond between a military working dog handler and his best friend intensifies daily. The hardest part is when they say goodbye, sometimes forever.
Security Forces Airmen and Soldiers gathered recently to pay their respects to a hard-charging friend that recently passed away due to medical complications. Jonny was a military working dog (MWD) deployed to the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron with his handler, Senior Airman Jerry Quintanilla for about three months.
Jonny’s career began the day he was accepted into to the Department of Defense MWD program in Lackland Air Force Base, Texas late 2009. In January of 2010, he was certified to conduct patrol and explosives detection. Throughout his six-year career he has deployed four times with four different handlers. He was a veteran to Iraq, twice in Afghanistan and lastly to Qatar.
“He completed over 2,000 vehicle searches, multiple explosive detection sweeps, and several anti-terrorism patrols,” said Tech Sgt. Andrew Rodriguez 379th ESFS.
Within three months Jonny established a certain bond and work ethic with the men and women of the 379th ESFS. While deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Jonny and Quintanilla worked side by side daily ensuring the protection of those around them and beyond.
“Jonny’s selfless service and loyalty will be forever missed by those who knew him, worked beside him and those few that shared that bond that only people like us would understand,” said Master Sgt. Jason Dearinger, 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.
The emotions were not only visible but could be felt across the theater as eyes watered and heads bowed in the remembrance of their friend, Jonny. The ceremony concluded with the folding of the U.S. flag presented to his handler, Quintanilla, and the playing of TAPS. The members of the 379th ESFS said a final goodbye to a friend, warrior, and guardian of the night.
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.11.2015 07:11 |
| Story ID: | 162854 |
| Location: | AL UDEID AIR BASE, QA |
| Web Views: | 292 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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