KIA 4 Apr 2007
Baghad, Iraq
USAF MWD Marco #D108
USAF 2D Brigade Combat Team
(Handler SSgt Alissa Jones)

On January 20, 2007, MWD Marco D108 was Killed in Action (KIA) while on patrol in Baghdad in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Marco, a seven year old Belgian Malinois, an Explosive Detector and Patrol Dog (EDD), died while doing what he loved. Marco and SSgt Alissa Jones were attached to the 2D Brigade Combat Team, working in support of C-5/20 Infantry in Baghdad, Iraq when Marco suffered from acute cardio respiratory arrest secondary to electrocution.

The MWD team was assisting with a Cordon and Search, looking for weapon’s caches, explosives and materials used to make improvised explosive devices (IED’s). During this tour in Iraq, Marco assisted me and the US Army in locating numerous finds, allowing coalition forces to seize and destroy potentially deadly materials. Along with explosive detection, Marco also served as a
physical and psychological deterrent to Iraqi Nationals while conducting missions in downtown Baghdad.

Handler, Staff Sgt Alissa Jones, were assisting the Army’s 2nd Brigade Combat team. MWD Marco and Sgt Jones were in Baghdad searching for weapon’s caches, explosives and materials to make improvised explosive devices.

“There was only 15 to 20 minutes left of the search when it happened,” Sgt Jones said prior to the service. After the incident, Sgt Jones called Tinker Air Force Base and asked to bring his remains home. She returned with MWD Marco’s cremated remains April 5th.

“He was my baby,” Sgt Jones said. “He was ornery, loving and devoted. He was a 6-year-old child trapped in four legs with hair, and he saved my life or someone else’s.“Had anyone else touched that area, it could have been one of us (that was killed),” Sgt Jones said. “He gave his life doing what he loved.”