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Remembering MWD Baron, K9 troop turned family pet

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shelby Kay-Fantozzi
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  A loyal companion who served six years here, military working dog Baron was remembered fondly in a memorial ceremony Wednesday at the canine kennels.

“The purpose of today’s ceremony is to honor a fallen canine comrade,” said Staff Sgt. Joshua Fehringer, 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron K9 handler. “Military members have used canines as far back as the early Roman Empire; today they protect installations in the United States and abroad, fight in combat at deployed locations and augment the United States Secret Service in protection of the president, vice president and other foreign dignitaries.”

A prime model of the loyalty, dedication and skill of military working dogs, Baron served in several deployments to Southeast Asia, where he endured a roadside bomb explosion, secured an escaped detainee and provided explosive detection support.

Sharing Baron’s biography with the crowd that gathered to memorialize him, Staff Sgt. Aaron Jarman, 27th SOSFS K9 handler, noted that Baron was part of a select few MWDs to receive a U.S. Army Commendation Medal for his performance overseas.

After sustaining injuries and being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Baron retired from active duty in December of 2009 with a life expectancy of just six months.

Beating the odds, Baron enjoyed six more years of retired life after being adopted by his former handler, Tech. Sgt. Esther Standridge, 27th Special Operations Wing inspector general assistant director of complaints.

“When he came up for adoption, there was no question about bringing him home,” said Standridge. “He fit right in with our family, including my husband Chris, our two other dogs, and our baby daughter Ally.”

Sharing stories of the former warfighter’s strong bond with the family, Standridge remarked on Baron’s constant gentleness around Ally, from shielding her from a fall as an infant to heeling at her side in her early days of learning to walk.

“He followed us everywhere and really bonded with Chris,” Standridge said. “He was Ally’s protector and everyone’s friend.”

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