Support USMC K-9 Combat Veteran MWD Sgt Beyco

SUPPORT Sgt Beyco by submitting your VOTE at www.herodogawards.org for BEYCO. Sgt Beyco is listed in the Military Dog Category.

Operation Beyco: Marine Corps MP Explosive Detection Dog and Military Working Dog Sgt Beyco, a K-9 Combat Veteran, has entered the 2012 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards Contest www.herodogawards.org and needs your support and VOTES. (Photo Credits: Joe Kelly Sturm)

(LOUISVILLE, KY) - Marine Corps MP Explosive Detection Dog and Military Working Dog Sgt Beyco, a K-9 Combat Veteran, has entered the 2012 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards Contest and needs your support and VOTES. MWD Beyco worked and gave her whole life to the MARINE CORPS and was honored to be a MWD MARINE. She retired November 10, 2011 at Cherry Point, North Carolina. She now lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her handler, Joe Kelly Sturm, who cares for her medically and also provides her with lots of love, patience and comfort.

"Sgt Beyco is my hero," says Joe Kelly Sturm. "She is retired now and living a comfortable dog's life. She suffers from back and digestive problems. She also has PTSD and requires expensive medication, but I knew that when I adopted her. She is the only K-9 Veteran member standing with the Kentucky Patriot Guard http://www.barnbunch.com/id2.html and still standing for her fellow warriors. It is an honor to care for a K-9 War Hero. I want to see her win the 2012 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards. Once you read her story (see below*), she will be your hero also.

"SGT BEYCO is a combat veteran who served two tours in Iraq 2005-2008. She has eight medals and ribbons, ten Letters of Appreciation and a Letter of Accommodation for her second Tour of Duty in Iraq. She worked four Secret Service missions, teamed with the U.S. Marshall's and other police agencies and is credited for finding numerous weapons, IED's, and ammunition. She is a MARINE K-9 Hero. As a K-9 warrior, she is worthy of this award. Please help us WIN!

"We entered the 2012 American Humane Association Hero Dogs Award Contest www.herodogawards.org/vote/?nominee=47436615 in HONOR of the WAR DOGS of Vietnam who were left behind, GONE but not Forgotten, and in remembrance of our nation's fallen war heroes, the wounded and returning veterans."

American Humane Association's Hero Dog Awards™ were created in 2010 to celebrate the powerful relationships between dogs and people, to serve as a catalyst to advance society's understanding of the human-animal bond. Dogs are an invaluable part of our lives every day; as companion animals, service and therapy animals, animal soldiers, police officers and first responders and emerging heroes. American Humane Association advocates for the American values of caring, compassion and hope. The first annual star-studded awards show, held in October 2011, and hosted at the Beverly Hilton Hotel by Carson Kressley, is a new and ambitious effort to continually recognize “ordinary dogs that do extraordinary things.”

Operation Beyco

SUPPORT Sgt Beyco by submitting your VOTE at www.herodogawards.org/vote/?nominee=47436615 for BEYCO April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012. You can submit one vote per dog per category every 24 hours. Sgt Beyco is listed in the Military Dog Category.

*Exclusive Interview with K-9 War Hero USMC MWD Sgt Beyco (Woof)

"After serving in the Marine Corps for ten years, I am retired now but still serving this great nation," says Sgt Beyco. "I live with my handler, Joe Kelly Sturm, a disabled Vietnam veteran, U.S. Army 1968-1972. We stand together as members of the Kentucky Patriot Guard Riders. I am one of only two K-9 veteran members in the nation, as I know of now. Since my retirement, I keep busy visiting schools, hospitals, prisons, rescue training programs, wounded warrior dinners, VFW and veterans functions. I was the only war dog in the first Welcome Home Iraq Veteran's Day parade in St Louis, Missouri. I enjoy telling my story and the stories of my fellow Military Working Dogs and informing others of the important and valuable work we do for our military and the lives we save. I love children and people. I love attention period! I am enjoying my retirement and am getting plenty of rest, exercise, care, love, attention and couch time.

"I was born in Germany December 2001 and brought to Lackland AFB in 2004. I worked and gave my whole life to the Marine Corps. I graduated from the University of Defeating Terrorist Iraq 2007 College: Finding Anything that Explodes and the Wires that Detonate Them. I received an Explosive Detection Master’s Degree. My Kennel Master said I was best Bomb Dog he ever had at Cherry Point, North Carolina. During my service, I brought two handlers home from a war zone to their loved ones. While serving in the Marine Corps I earned the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy and Marine Achievement Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal 3-Stars, a Certificate of Commendation for my second deployment and ten Letters of Appreciation. I was also awarded the United States War Dogs Association Medal and Certificate of Service.

"I will smell you long before you see me." - USMC MWD Sgt Beyco, K-9 Combat Veteran

"My Marine Corps handlers were Corporal Aaron DeSalvo and Corporal Stacy Chester. I served in Iraq, Fallujah and throughout the Al Anbar province with both of these fine Marines. It was an honor to serve with them. During my first deployment in 2005-2006 with Cpl DeSalvo, we ran ops with 1st Recon Battalion and FAST Company in Fallujah. I also assisted a few Marine/Army Infantry Battalions. We conducted countless cache and IED route clearance sweeps, building searches and random vehicles searches finding AK 47's and 7.62 rounds. There were a few instances when we came under fire. We had one close event in October 2005. An Army SFC was shot twice by insurgents about five feet away from us during a firefight. In 2006 Cpl DeSalvo and I thwarted an ambush attempt on our convoy. We pulled six insurgents hiding in a canal with weapons, one with a suicide vest, who were trying to hide from my nose. We obtained enough information from the insurgents to conduct a raid later that night. The raid led us to valuable Intel on insurgent activity in that area.

"In 2006 I started working with Cpl Stacy Chester. We deployed back to Iraq in November 2007. We served with USMC units 3/5 Task Force 1/10, Iraqi police and Army. Cpl Chester and I logged over 1900 mission hours. I had a total of six finds including mortars, rounds, fuses and blasting caps. We secured areas to provide local medical care for the Iraqi people including clearing areas to help reestablish daily activities. We were utilized to find high value targets and to clear roadways for units we were attached to. We also worked various vehicle entry control points throughout Al Anbar province.

"In 2008, we returned back to the states. Cpl Chester and I worked at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina. We worked four different Secret Service missions and teamed with the U.S. Marshals. We also assisted several local agencies with bomb threats at court houses, schools and other buildings. I supported three air shows at Cherry Point as well as multiple VIP searches to include the Commandant of the Marine Corps. I worked almost every day. Thanks Corporal DeSalvo and Corporal Chester. I had a great ride. My watch is done. Now it is time to be just an old dog and enjoy life. That's my story!"

Sgt Beyco's slideshow from Kizoa

MWD BEYCO H100 Cherry Point March 2005 - November 10, 2011. Sgt Beyco retired on the Marine Corps 236th Birthday. SUPPORT OUR TROOPS and all MWD'S and Handlers.

SEMPER "PAW" - Sgt BEYCO

Sgt Beyco's handler, Joe Kelly Sturm, hopes you will visit Sgt Beyco on her on her face book page http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003192300692 and