The Patriot Post® · Profiles of Valor: A Dog Named DASY
We are a “dog family.” I grew up with several breeds always present in and around our mountain home. The first of those was a Collie, a “baby gift” the week I was born — seriously, somebody gave my parents a puppy to contend with the week I arrived. While many breeds are fine, it is the rescue dogs we have adopted over the last two decades that have been the best of the bunch.
In a sense, I am ashamed to say that though I have had people die in my arms, the strain in the moment when losing one of our mutts has been unexpectedly comparable. Maybe some reading this will understand.
With that as a backdrop, let me tell you a story about a Navy SEAL Veteran and his dog.
In my Profile of Valor on an exceptional American Patriot, PO1 Marcus Luttrell (USN), I noted that he describes himself as a God-fearing Christian and East Texas redneck, and despite his friendly demeanor, his 6'5", 240 lb. frame made him an imposing adversary.
Marcus first deployed to Iraq with SEAL Team 5 in April 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, assigned to search and destroy missions to take out Saddam’s remaining Iraqi resistance. In 2005, he was deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
It was there in June 2005 that Marcus and two other SEALS were on a mission with LT Michael Murphy, who would receive a posthumous Medal of Honor for his actions. Their counterinsurgent mission was code-named Operation Red Wings, and by the end of that fateful day, a total of 19 special forces operators would be killed in action — the deadliest day ever for SF operators KIA.
Marcus was the “Lone Survivor” of that mission, as outlined in his outstanding book by that title and the movie that followed. For his actions, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the USN’s second-highest decoration under the Medal of Honor. But it is the next chapter of his life — his recovery — that most people have not read.
When I met Marcus years ago, my first words were, “Brother, I am sorry about DASY.” He nodded and quietly said, “Thank you.”
In 2005, the year he returned from Afghanistan, Marcus received a Yellow Labrador puppy from a Veterans support group, a pup to help him heal from the trauma he had suffered. He named her “DASY” — an acronym with the first letters of the names of his closest SEAL friends who did not survive his last mission. DASY was critical to his recovery.
Four years later, at about 0200 on April 1, 2009, a gunshot outside his home in Huntsville, Texas, startled Marcus, who at the time was recovering from surgery. Instinctively, he grabbed two 9mm Beretta pistols, then checked to see if his mother was OK.
Exiting his house, which he describes as being in “the middle of nowhere,” there was just enough moonlight to see a couple of strangers at the end of his driveway next to their car. He quietly crawled under a fence and approached their location. As he walked toward them, he recalls: “I saw my dog in a ditch and two men standing outside their car. I could hear them laughing.” He yelled, “Which one of you guys killed my dog?” and then, “They started talking smack” as they got into their car to flee. He found DASY dead: “I could tell she tried to get away because there was a blood trail. When I saw she was dead, the only thing that popped into my head was, ‘I’ve got to take these guys out.’”
Marcus quickly got to his truck and gave pursuit, calling 911 to alert the police. As he caught up with the fleeing car, he let the dispatcher know, “You better get someone out here because they got a gun, and I got one too, and this is going to turn into a gunfight.” He declared, “If I catch them, I’m going to kill them.”
That was the beginning of a 30-mile high-speed pursuit across Walker, San Jacinto, and Polk counties, with Marcus in his truck barely able to keep up with the thugs but on the line with the 911 dispatcher the whole way. Excerpts from that call, as he is patched through from one dispatcher to the next, can be heard here.
At the 4:30 mark into the 911 call, when asked his speed, Marcus said, “110.” The dispatcher says, “Sir, I don’t need you to keep up with them. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.” He responded, “Ma'am, I’m a Navy SEAL and have been for 10 years. I am not worried about hurting myself; I know what I am doing.”
Finally, a patrol officer was in position to give pursuit. He pulled out behind the fleeing vehicle and stopped the suspects. The officer was concerned about his personal safety confronting the three men in the middle of nowhere until Marcus pulled in behind his patrol car and advised the dispatcher he was going to provide backup. Two of the three suspects were arrested.
Of all the rural 0-dark-30 vehicle stops I made early in my career as a uniformed officer, I never had a SEAL as a backup — and on a few of those, that would have been helpful!
Texas Ranger Steven Jeter later noted: “Marcus is trained to do certain things; he fell back on his training,” but added, “I wouldn’t advocate to the general public to do what he has done.”
Alfonso Hernandez and Michael Edmonds were both convicted of killing DASY, and they had been involved in at least five other animal killings in the same area. At their trial, Walker County Assistant District Attorney John Hafley said in his closing argument, “This time they shot the wrong dog.”
Ironically, it is clear from the 911 call recording that Marcus demonstrated a remarkable level of composure as he pulled in behind the arresting officer and confronted the three suspects. I say ironic because if not for his recovery with the help of DASY, those three might well be dead. Marcus says: “I was trying to talk myself out of being who I am, talking to myself about not doing the one thing I am good at.”
Though DASY’s death was an enormous setback, Marcus soon received another Yellow Lab named “Rigby,” and that service dog remained with Marcus until Rigby died in 2021.
Today, Marcus, his wife Melanie, and their family are doing well.
PO1 Marcus Luttrell and your fellow SEAL operators and Army Night Stalkers: Your examples of valor — American Patriots defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty, and in disregard for the peril to your own life — is eternal.
Friends, because of our affinity for “man’s best friend” combined with honoring wounded Veterans, The Patriot Post has been a sponsor of two outstanding organizations aiding Vets with PTSD. Those service groups are Honoring Their Sacrifice Foundation and Warrior Freedom Service Dogs, and they would welcome your support.
Footnote: In a recent column, “Congressional Veterans Condemn Walz for Stolen Valor,” I referenced the current Veterans serving in the 118th Congress. Notably, one of them is Marcus Luttrell’s twin brother, Morgan (R-TX), who was also a seal. He joins other outstanding Texas warriors in Congress, including fellow SEAL Rep. Dan Crenshaw.
“Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Live your life worthy of his sacrifice.
(Read more Profiles of Valor here.)
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776
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