Team Kirtland member recognized via Portraits in Courage

  • Published
  • By Jim Fisher
  • Kirtland Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  One of Kirtland's own received recognition on a world-wide level Feb. 4 in Arlington, Va., as the Air Force lauded Airmen featured under the 2014 Portraits in Courage program.

Tech Sgt. Daniel Wilson, a military working dog handler and the kennel master with the 377th Security Forces Group, was selected for courage displayed during combat action near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in 2013.

During his tour of duty, according to the "Portraits" narrative, Wilson and his Military Working Dog Dan, trained to detect the presence of explosives, were prolific in the detection of improvised explosive devices, mines and other ordnance. This team of human and K-9 defenders was assigned to a unit of Army Pathfinders, 1st Cavalry and an Air Force Security Forces unit. During more than 60 missions outside the wire, the two located 14 landmines, 12 rockets, and three IEDs.

Wilson said the duty of a MWD handler demands that upmost diligence and commitment.

"The sense of duty I have is incomparable to anything else in life," Wilson said. "As a military working dog handler, if you make a mistake, people die. If you and your dog miss something, the people behind you will die."

This ethos led Wilson and Dan to display exceptional courage and effectiveness in two combat situations, saving countless lives and thwarting two insurgent-led attacks, according to the narrative.

The first incident occurred Sept. 10, 2013. Wilson and Dan found themselves and their squad in an ambush by enemy forces, and though surrounded by Taliban fighters, managed to return fire, neutralize enemy targets and find a safe egress for his squad without sustaining a single casualty. During this incident, Dan identified an IED and did not move from the spot in the midst of a firefight.

Nearly a month later, Oct. 9, 2013, a motorcyclist came close to running over Dan.  According to Wilson, intelligence indicated the Taliban had listed MWDs as targets in an effort to eliminate their effect on the battlefield in terms of explosive ordnance detection and as K-9 defenders.

When Wilson perceived the motorcyclist approaching at a high rate of speed, the sergeant leapt to his partner's defense shoving Dan to safety and unfortunately absorbing the brunt of the impact from the motorbike. Witnesses estimated that motorcyclist to be going more than 50 miles per hour, Wilson said.

"I yelled at the dog, and his immediate reaction was to turn toward me and put himself even more in the direct path of the rider."

The next thing Wilson remembers is being strapped to a litter and preparing to be airlifted back to Bagram. His right knee was destroyed, and his right forearm, including his wrist, was crushed, he had deep lacerations in several locations and sustained a concussion. The attacker was captured and imprisoned.

Nearly 18 months later, after numerous procedures, Wilson is the fully-functioning kennel master at Kirtland. He still has pain and the residual effects of the concussion.

"I've finally got my wrist back and doing pushups is painful but I can tolerate it," Wilson said, explaining that his knee has made aerobic exercise difficult as well. "I try to push myself. I still have blurred vision, migraines and things that normally come with a concussion."

While Wilson was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor and the Air Force Combat Action Medal, he did not envision recognition on the scale of the "Portraits" program.

"I never believed in my wildest dreams that I would receive recognition at this level," Wilson said.

For an in-depth look at the events Wilson and Dan were lauded for, and the recognition they received, visit the Portraits in Courage site at http://static.dma.mil/usaf/courage. 

Editor's Note:  Military Working Dog Dan retired in April 2014 and now lives at home with Wilson. Additionally, Wilson was also named the 2014 Col. Billy Jack Carter Award winner. The Air Force-level award is given each year to the Airman deemed to have made the most significant contribution to the protection of Air Force personnel and resources.One of Kirtland's own received recognition on a world-wide level Feb. 4 in Arlington, Va., as the Air Force lauded Airmen featured under the 2014 Portraits in Courage program.