KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- A retired military working dog was honored during his final walk, here, May 9.
Approximately 50 members of the 81st Security Forces Squadron rendered a goodbye salute to 12-year-old Ares, who’d spent the majority of his life serving and protecting his country.
Ares, a German Sheppard, was born June 2006, stationed at Keesler AFB in December 2008, and retired in January 2017. Staff Sgt. Jordan Leiter, 81st SFS working dog trainer, was Ares’ handler and brought him into his family's home after his long service to our country.
“He’s been retired, living on my couch for a little over a year now,” said Leiter. “We’ve been together for almost four years and deployed together.”
Ares served three combat operations deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as an explosives patrol dog.
“A year and a half ago he returned from a six-month deployment, and shortly after, he retired,” said Staff Sgt. William Herron, 81st SFS kennel master. “He was in the house for a little over a year before his health started to deteriorate.”
Herron described Ares as the Eeyore of the kennels – slow and goofy.
“He was a big goofball,” Herron said. “He loved kids. He took to Leiter’s wife and kid and would follow them around everywhere. He loved being in a house with a family. I watched him while Leiter would drive home on leave, and he'd run around the house playing with my kid.”
Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Lambert, 81st SFS Operations superintendent, said the ceremony offered respect to Ares for his service as well as support for his handler.
“There were probably 50 Defenders out there, which shows you the close bond we have with each other and our dogs,” Lambert said. “Those dogs are a part of our lives, too. We work with them and they support everything that we do.”