Laminated and carved poplar, cherry tongue and maple teeth. The eyes are hammered and painted copper. Colors are airbrushed acrylic, and the final coat is a matte spray finish. K9 vest provided by K9 Storm, Inc.
Remco was a US Navy SEAL, combat assault dog (CAD), killed in action on July 9, 2009. A Belgian Malinois, Remco died in the line of duty during a hostage rescue attempt in southeastern Afghanistan. The mission was conducted to retrieve Army Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had walked away from his post and was being held by the Taliban.
Remco had arrived in Afghanistan approximately 4-6 weeks prior to the mission. Remco had been on several prior operations with his handler and partner Navy Senior Chief Michael Toussaint and had proven his battle readiness. However none was as complex as the night of July 9th.
On that night, Toussaint and Remco were dropped from a helicopter, along with additional members of their unit, into the middle of a firefight. Remco and Toussaint coordinated with Navy SEAL Jimmy Hatch to outmaneuver enemy fighters as they tried to approach the spot where they believed Bergdahl was being held.
Insurgents tried to keep them from getting to their target area, but Remco had the upper hand. Despite the chaos on the scene, with bullets and grenades flying, Remco stayed focused. In the final seconds, as the decision to send Remco out to detect and engage the terrorist was made, Remco stopped and solemnly stared at Senior Chief Toussaint. According to Toussaint it was like Remco had the intuitive ability to know that we wasn’t coming back. This was completely out of character and still haunts Toussaint today.
Remco ran through a spray of bullets before he was shot and killed. Toussaint described the event as “watching the most beautiful and horrific thing he had ever witnessed” -having his partner selflessly give his life so he, and countless others, could live.
Toussaint received the Silver Star for pursuing the two men and ending the engagement. Remco also received the Silver Star posthumously, for sacrificing himself “as he aggressively engaged the enemy, drew effective fire onto himself, and gave his teammates the split seconds needed to change the balance of the fight.” Remco was the first dog to receive the Silver Star since WWII.