Remembering Kory and Cooper

Originally posted 10 July 2007.


From the Soldiers' Angels members forum:

It is with a very heavy heart that I make this post. We lost one of our K-9 teams. CPL Kory Wiens and his MWD [Military Working Dog] Cooper gave the ultimate sacrifice Friday 6 July 2007 in a combat mission / IED attack. They were assigned to Camp Victory.

Please say a prayer for these Heroes, their families, and the brothers/sisters they leave behind. I know Kory & Cooper had many other K9 teams stationed at Victory with them as well, so keep them in your hearts and prayers too.

May you both rest peacefully in God's arms, you will never be forgotten!!!

CPL Kory Wiens & MWD Cooper... RIP

Kory and Cooper were featured in an article earlier this year about Specialized Search Dogs (SSDs) and their handlers.

Pfc. Kory Wiens of the 94th Engineer Detachment has been with his dog, Cooper, for nearly a year. The 20-year-old combat engineer said he's grateful to be a dog handler. When Wiens first met the yellow lab, the pup didn't know simple obedience commands. That's all changed.

"I got to teach him all the things he knows, today," Wiens said. "Seeing him out there working is very rewarding. It's amazing to see how far he's come."

Cooper has become more like a kid than a dog to Wiens. He introduces Cooper to everybody as his son, and said being with him is just like watching a kid grow up.

"It's a lot of fun having him in Iraq," Wiens said. "There's never a dull moment with him."