Congratulations to our Honorable SGT. Brian Sykes for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SGT. Brian Sykes for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable SGT. Brian Sykes was awarded The Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Service Medal, Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Armed Forces Service Medal. Our Honorable SGT. Brian Sykes served in designated imminent danger areas and now has the service German Shepherd puppy he wanted to go travel with him and his family. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

Special thank you to our Shelly Kirby for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Airborne Specialist Vivian Carter for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Specialist Vivian Carter for your service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Airborne Specialist Vivian Carter served in Germany and Saudi Arabia. She is an Airborne Light/Heavy Diesel Mechanic/ Recovery Specialist from Desert Storm. Her German Shepherd service dog had passed from old age. Our Marine, Mark Mason found her just in time to fulfill her dream of a white German Shepherd. She has the best trainers in our region and ready to go! πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Jessica Williams, with the coming soon, Doc & Bravos K9 Companions for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable SFC David Obermiller for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SFC David Obermiller for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable SFC David Obermiller enlisted in the Army in 1989. He served on active duty until 2010 when he retired. He served two tours in Germany and one in Korea. He was stationed stateside in Oklahoma and Alabama. His last assignment was in Hawaii. He deployed to Kosovo in 2002 and twice to Iraq, 2004 and 2008. His awards include, AGCM, AAM, ARCOM, MSM, Bronze Star and The Global War on Terrorism.

Our Honorable David Obermiller is going to train and utilize his award as a Therapy German Shepherd to help and comfort others to continue to serve the people of our great nation. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Jessica Williams, with the coming soon, Doc & Bravos K9 Companions for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Army MSG Doug Elkins for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Army MSG Doug Elkins for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable MSG Doug Elkins was on his 3rd deployment in Iraq and he was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 101st Internal Mobile Training Team (MITT) for the Iraqi Commando Brigade (Mountain Lions). He was an Intelligence Officer. He had a team of 14 Soldiers and over 1,500 Iraqi Soldiers. They were having a lot of rockets and mortars shot at their Forward Operating Base (FOB) daily. They started to gather intelligence from different people throughout their Area of Operations (AO) and planned to search a certain area in their AO. During this preparation time, they were living in a large metal building with hard rooms inside so they had two layers of protection. Suddenly they were hit with a major rocket attack which resulted in a large amount of damage, including hitting the large metal building and collapsing it onto the hard rooms inside. This resulted in him being blown out of his hand built bunk bed computer room. After the dust settled, they found out that 4 guys next door to them had been killed or injured. The rocket that hit their building was a 107mm rocket from Iran. A large piece of shrapnel had cut his pillow in two pieces and lodged in his headboard. He still has it.

The culprit of this attack was fired back at by Apache helicopters from right over their building which was “cool as hell”. After that they found out that the rockets had also hit a large supply of artillery shells which caught fire and were constantly exploding and raining down on them for a few days.

They proceeded to start to search the suspected area and searched for a couple days. They finally found the stuff they were looking for. They had found the biggest cache found in Baghdad in 5 years. This cache consisted of 28 107mm rockets, 300 EFPs, a lost US drone, approximately 500 homemade claymore mines. 200 pounds of explosives, multiple small rockets and 1000s of rounds of ammunition. When he was in Desert Storm, he was attached to the 24th INF DIV. where they would set up hide sites to stop the other sides reconnaissance teams. He kept the gear and weapons collected from the Iraqi Republican Guard for intelligence and later donated what he had to The Museum of the Soldier in Portland, Indiana. MSG Doug Elkins was awarded The Purple Heart, The Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, 3rd Award. Army Achievement Medal, 3rd Award. Meritorious Unit Commendation, 2nd Award. Army Good Conduct Medal, 7th Award. National Defense Service Medal, 2nd Award. South West Asia Service Medal W/ Bronze Service Star. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal W/ Campaign Star. Non Commissioned Officer Development Ribbon, 3rd Award. Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, 5th Award. SW Asia SM 4th Award. Combat Infantryman Badge, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Special.

Forces Tab Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

His puppy’s family were Special Operations dogs. 🐾

Special thank you to our Debbie Manning for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Army Airborne Intelligence Analyst Gary Maltby for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Airborne Intelligence Analyst Gary Maltby for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Airborne Intelligence Analyst Gary Maltby joined the Army January 9, 2003 out of Little Rock, Arkansas. After basic training and advanced individual training, he was stationed in the 172d Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Fairbanks, Alaska (Fort Wainwright). After a couple years of training they deployed to Mosul Iraq from AUG 2005 to DEC 2006. During this deployment he went on multiple convoys as either the driver or the gunner for the Commander and First Sergeant and filled his role as an Intelligence Analyst during the day. Once he redeployed back to Alaska, he volunteered to go back to Iraq with an Aviation Unit (Task Force 49), this deployment was from NOV 2007 to DEC 2008. During this deployment he was attached to the Commander’s Security Detachment, along with performing his duties as an Intelligence Analyst. After redeployment back to Alaska he was stationed at Special Operations Command Central in Tampa, Florida. While in Tampa he supported special operations forces from the states and deployed with them to Iraq. He also graduated from Jump Master School, and he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his actions while deployed to Iraq with the operators. After being stationed there for three years, he was selected for Recruiting Duty. He moved to Tyler, Texas where he recruited men and women for 5 years. While he was recruiting he was published in the Army Recruiter Journal for 5th Recruiting Brigades Innovator of the year award. His final duty station was at Fort Carson, Colorado, attached to the 10th Special Forces Group. During this assignment, he was responsible for the planning and training of our current forces.

He is now home with his family and practicing Search and Rescue with his new puppy. 🐾

Special thank you to our Collin Pickerd for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Army SSG Isaac Perez for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SSG Isaac Perez for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable SSG Isaac Perez served in combat, 11B, with 4 deployments to Iraq in 10 years from 2003 to 2013.He was awarded The Iraq Campaign Medal, W/3 Campaign Stars. Army Campaign Medal. Army Commendation Medal. Army Achievement Medal. Meritorious Unit Commendation. National Defense Service Medal. Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Global War On Terrorism Service Medal. Humanitarian Service Medal. NCO Professional Development Ribbon. Army Service Ribbon. Overseas Service Ribbon. Combat Infantry Badge. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

SSG Isaac Perez grew up with a German Shepherd and has great experience with them. He loves the breed and is looking forward to this friendship again. 🐾

Special thank you to Reno, with Souders’ Haus German Shepherd Dogs, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Sergeant William Tyson Sr. for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Sergeant William Tyson Sr. for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Sergeant William Tyson Sr. left at age 18 to join The United States Military. After basic training at Fort Knox in Kentucky, he went on to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for AIT then stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington. He was deployed in 2005 to Mosul Iraq. During that tour, his platoon stayed in their main palace. He was then reassigned to another mission where his truck was hit with an IED. He volunteered to go again in 2006-2007 to Al.Asad, Iraq.

He now spends his time helping fellow veterans and their families. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

Special thank you to our Janet Daneen Murphy, with GSD’s from the Midwest to the Southeast Show Line & Working Line Group, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Lena Bella for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Corpsman Third Class Lena Bella for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Lena HM3 served in the US Navy from 1999-2009. She worked for EMS as an Ambulance Instructor, Mail Petty Officer, Physical Readiness Training Coordinator, Overseas and Sea Duty Screening women’s health. OB/GYN Records. Jump Training Support for Navy Seals. Fleet Hospital Training Camp Pendleton California. Biohazard Control and Prenatal Teacher.

She has The National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbons and The Good Conduct Medal. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈAnd now she is joining our team!

Special thank you to our Sheila Skow Hoffman and family, with Lone Star King Shepherds, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist Stephen Sweeney for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Specialist Stephen Sweeney for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Specialist Stephen Sweeney is a 100% Disabled Veteran from the Vietnam era. He was lucky to have survived 6 hits from a Chinese Claymore Mine in 1967. He spent a month in the ICU in Vietnam before they moved him because among other serious wounds he had a fractured pelvis. One of the pieces of shrapnel about the size of a pineapple grenade chunk, went through the pelvis but did not break the structural integrity of the pelvis.

From there he shipped off to Japan to be taught how to walk again and how to eat and what to eat since his insides got scrambled by the metal and bone fragments. The nerve damage to his right leg initially was total paralysis for 2 weeks and once he was able to get vertical again he started getting sensation back into the leg. He had the femoral artery patched and the femoral vein removed which has led to muscle issues in that leg ever since. He is just lucky to be walking now. The shrapnel got the thigh and the right knee completely through both of them, not glancing blows. The doc that put him back together said β€œyou were lucky” but at the time he sure did not feel that way. This happened on the 4th of July 1967 in a Vietnamese graveyard. He was on a mission from Bearcat, the 9th Division Basecamp.

He was an Engineering Technician on the Apollo Guidance Systems before he shipped off to Vietnam. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

Special thank you to our Andra Chester and Joshua Harding with A & J Kennels for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable PFC Ryan Latham for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you PFC Ryan Latham for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable PFC Ryan Latham served in Afghanistan and was in the Army from 2010 to 2022.He was awarded the Purple Heart after his truck was hit with an IED. He is 40% disabled. He has a wonderful family and is looking forward to training with his German Shepherd as a new family member and his travel buddy. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

Special thank you to our Janet Daneen Murphy, with GSD’s from the Midwest to the Southeast Show Line & Working Line Group, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Combat Medic SSG Chris Langford for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SSG Chris Langford for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Combat Medic SSG Chris Langford deployed to Iraq 2005-2006. He deployed again in 2009-2010. He was awarded The Combat Medic Badge and The Combat Action Badge. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Phil Lay Crist, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist Aaron Smith for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Specialist Aaron Smith for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Specialist Aaron Smith served in the US Army, Fort Bragg, from 2012 to 2017. He served one tour in Afghanistan for 7 months in 2014. March to October. He has 2 AAM’s, 1 ARCOM, 1 AGCM among others. Very happy to have made the right match.

Special thank you to our Tajias Angels, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable 3rd Class Petty Officer Emilio Gonzalez for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you 3rd Class Petty Officer Emilio Gonzalez for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable 3rd Class Petty Officer Emilio Gonzalez enlisted and went overseas.

He ended his enlistment as a Machinist Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer (MM3) aboard one of the two oldest steaming Aircraft Carriers and warships in the fleet. The USS Kitty Hawk. CV-63. Boiler, and plant operations were his jobs. They were the heart of the ship. The Kitty was his home for four years. He sailed aboard her from San Diego to Kitsap Naval base in Bremerton Washington where he got to see her undertake an amazing overhaul while in dry dock. At the end of that overhaul he even got to walk her entire length while she was on massive blocks. From there they were Japan bound where they would deploy to the Persian Gulf for six months to aid in the enforcement of a no fly zone. Returning from there again to Japan to finish his enlistment.πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

He is a really great man with great values and ethics. He puts others before himself.


Congratulations to our Honorable SGT. Jessie Thompson for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SGT. Jessie Thompson for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Medic, SGT Jessie Thompson deployed with her MASH unit of other medics, doctors and various emergency medical technicians.

Her last mission included taking command of a facility helping soldiers because there was an outbreak of covid that killed 84 veterans in a very short period of time. Her unit saved many soldiers lives by implementing medical protocols that stopped the outbreak. It was reported that she saved dozens and dozens of veterans lives. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈShe also received The National Defense Service Medal, The Humanitarian Service Medal and The Overseas Training Ribbon. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our generous Dale Locklear family, with Locklear K9 Kennel, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible. And to our generous members who made this happen!


Congratulations to our Honorable SSG Jesse Cote for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SSG Jesse Cote for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable SSG Jesse Cote served from 2003 to 2007 as a 63J at Fort Hood, TX. He deployed to Camp Liberty Baghdad, Iraq from 2005 – 2006 where he reclassified to 11b. He served as an 11B from 2007 – 2013 in 1/26 Infantry Battalion. He deployed to Afghanistan 2008-2009 (Team leader), Iraq 2011-2012 (Bradley Section Leader)with 1-5 Cav. Recipient of 5 ARCOM, 6 AAM,PLD, ALC, GCMx3, GWOT, Afghan Campaign, Iraqi Campaign, NATO ISAF. Level 1&2 Combatives, Combat Life Savers, Distinguished Honor Graduate AIT Aberdeen proving grounds 2003.πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ “Always do your best” Jesse Cote.

Special thank you to our Dee Storey family with K9519 for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd and delivering her to our USA from Ontario, Canada to make this award possible. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²


Congratulations to our Honorable SGT Curtis Burton for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SGT Curtis Burton for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable SGT Curtis Burton has the Combat Infantry Badge, Southwest Asia w/2 Bronze Stars, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Army Commendation, Service Ribbon, Army Achievement 3rd Oak Leaf, NCO Professional/2. He also has a wonderful family helping him as he heals.

Special thank you to our Mercy Peterson family with Mercy’s White Shepherds for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡² And Feeders Pet Supply for making this award even better!


Congratulations to our Honorable Navy Seal Master Chief Adam Smith for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden in Loving Memory of our founding supporter, Navy Seal Rudy Davis. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Thank you Master Chief Adam Smith for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Master Chief Adam Smith is a retired SEAL Master Chief with 20 Years of outstanding service. 5 years SEAL TEAM 8. 15 years NSW Development Group (DEVGRU) with 16 Overseas deployments. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²He was also awarded The Silver Star, 3x Bronze Stars with Valor. Job well done.

Special thank you to our Mercy Peterson family with Mercy’s White Shepherds for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist Cindy Pawlitschek and to our Honorable Specialist Anthony Del Valle for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Specialist Anthony Del Valle and Specialist Cindy Pawlitschek for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

We awarded a wonderful German Shepherd to them and it bonded to the husband. So now we awarded a wonderful King Shepherd to our Honorable Specialist Cindy Pawlitschek. They are a great team! πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

Our Honorable Specialist Anthony Del Valle and his wife, our Honorable Specialist Cindy Pawlitschek are both from The 82nd Airborne. They both were awarded The National Defense Service Medal, Service Ribbons and Good Conduct Medals. She was stationed in Korea and was awarded The Korea Defense Service Ribbon and Global War On Terrorism Medal as well as an AAM for meritorious service and achievement. He has 2 AAMS for meritorious service and achievement. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈTheir goals are to train their German Shepherds to be therapy dogs so that they can bring the same joy to others as they bring to them. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Julie Gordon family, with Cascade King Shepherds, for contributing this wonderful King Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist Cindy Pawlitschek and to our Honorable Specialist Anthony Del Valle for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Specialist Anthony Del Valle and Specialist Cindy Pawlitschek for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Specialist Anthony Del Valle and his wife, our Honorable Specialist Cindy Pawlitschek are both from The 82nd Airborne. They both were awarded The National Defense Service Medal, Service Ribbons and Good Conduct Medals. She was stationed in Korea and was awarded The Korea Defense Service Ribbon and Global War On Terrorism Medal as well as an AAM for meritorious service and achievement. He has 2 AAMS for meritorious service and achievement. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

Their goals are to train their German Shepherd to be a therapy dog so that they can bring the same joy to others that she brings to them. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Robbie Hansen family, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist Robert Strange for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Specialist Robert Strange for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Specialist Robert Strange served 7 years in the US Army. He went from Panama to China to Iraq until he was shot and had his left hand burned by a grenade. He takes his time putting words together after some heart issues but is now getting better and walks a half mile at a time. He now has a wonderful service dog and they have a great friendship. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Rhett Aho family, with Haus Ostmen German Shepherds, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.. And to our Daniel Burris Family, with Southern Kentucky K9, for driving 1000 miles to make this happen. With the help of our generous contributors, Barry, Mark, Casey, Brian, Diane & Kenneth, Holly, Chali, Heather and Cassie!


Congratulations to our Honorable SGT Roy Asprea Bucarelli for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SGT Roy Asprea Bucarelli for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable SGT Roy Asprea Bucarelli served as an Infantry man. He was stationed in FT Campbell and during his time In 2BCT he performed as an Automatic Rifleman, Designated Marksman, Team Leader, Assistant Operations NCO, graduate of Air Assault School, CBRN School and completed several field training exercises and then air assaults. While performing his duties, he was injured. After some surgeries and therapy he is able to have a service dog. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Benjamin Ickes, with White Paw Stud Service, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Sergeant, Ohio Air National Guard Master Sergeant and Lieutenant with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, William Nelson for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Master Sergeant William Nelson for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Marine Corps Sergeant and Ohio Air National Guard Master Sergeant William Nelson began at the Marine Corps duty station Camp Pendleton, CA and HQ Marine Corps, Washington DC. A Member of the 179th, Airlift Wing, Mansfield, OH. He continues his service today as a law enforcement officer. He left the Marine Corps as a Sergeant after eight years. He then joined the Ohio Air National Guard and served 12 more years and retired as a Master Sergeant. He has been with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for 18 years and currently holds the rank of lieutenant. He works at the training academy, preparing our next generation of law-enforcement officers. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Sarah Dubena family, with Hallow & Lennox, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd (Tank) to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Air Force Sgt. And Army Sgt. Scott Lent Sr. for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Sgt. Scott Lent Sr. for your outstanding service with the Air Force and the Army on behalf of the American people.

Our honorable Scott Lent Sr. from Waterford Ohio. Was stationed in Germany at Ramstein AFB in the beginning of his career, then Malmstrom AFB in Montana, moved to Texas which is where he joined the ARNG and did most of his different MOS like tank commander, gunner, mechanic, truck driver then moved back to his hometown in Ohio. He was with an engineer unit until he found his home with WVARNG in Moundsville, WV and was back to his MP MOS which is the unit when he went to Iraq. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

Special thank you to our Julie Gordon family, with Cascade King Shepherds, for contributing and delivering this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Corporal Tom Myers for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Corporal Tom Myers for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our honorable Corporal Tom Myers served in the US Marines from 2009-2015. He was in the 1st Medical Battalion where he worked with Navy Corpsmen. Corporal Tom Myers was deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan in 2012 where he was security for the Shock Trauma Platoon where they were tasked with emergency medical care to allied wounded and local national wounded. He also has The Afghanistan Campaign Medal. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Daniel Burris family, with Southern Kentucky K9, for contributing and delivering this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable Corporal Rob Bankston for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Corporal Rob Bankston for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Marine Corporal Rob Bankston was deployed in Operation Inherent Resolve. He was awarded The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

He is still protecting and serving at home. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our generous Dale Locklear family, with Locklear K9 Kennel, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.. And an extra special thank you to our own Stewart Thomas Kerr for renting an SUV and driving me and this awesome puppy 37 fun hours to make this award happen.


Congratulations to our Honorable Navy 3rd Class Petty Officer Ashley Adelaine Cruz-Senteno for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you 3rd Class Petty Officer Ashley Adelaine Cruz-Senteno for your service on behalf of the American people.

Our honorable Ashley Adelaine Cruz-Senteno was a master At arms. She was deployed and medically separated. Now she is very happy to have her service dog. She received The Service Medal and Sharp Shooter. She continues to help senior citizens in nursing homes. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Kristi Hicks, with Giant German Shepherds, for contributing and training this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible..


Congratulations to our Honorable PFC Barry Marzian for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you PFC Barry Marzian for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable PFC Barry Marzian with The 101st Airborne, started in ROTC and ended up as a great Cobra helicopter mechanic.

He was going to work on a Cobra for a test pilot because she needed to fly that weekend and when he was almost to the helicopter, he went over a pile of fresh gravel to cross high water and his truck rolled 3 times, breaking his neck. He is paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair but has some use of his arms and a great love for his new service dog. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Benjamin Ickes, with White Paw Stud Service, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.. And an extra special thank you to our Benjamin and Stefani Stamford for sponsoring the trip and driving me to Tennessee to pick up and deliver this wonderful award.


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist McCall SD for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Specialist McCall SD for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Specialist McCall SD served as a Combat Engineer (12B) stationed at Fort Drum, NY. Deployed to Afghanistan 2009-2010 primary job was route clearance. They had to check the roads before all other patrols left the FOB so that there was no explosives placed overnight by the Taliban. He reclassed to Correctional Military Police (31E) stationed in Fort Leavenworth, KS as a Correctional Officer at the MWJCF.

Our honorable Specialist McCall SD was awarded The Afghanistan Campaign Medal 2 Campaign Stars, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO (ISAF) Medal and The Certificate of Achievement, Driver Mechanic Badge w/ Wheeled Vehicle Clasp. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Andrew Gomez family, with Pure Bred German Shepherd, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.. And an extra special thank you to our honorable Rob Smith and trainer Sabina Aulicino-Mattern for nominating our hero, making this award happen.


Congratulations to our Honorable SGT Ken Justis for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SGT Ken Justis for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Air Force SGT Ken Justis enlisted in the Air Force in 1967. He was stationed at Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi Mississippi. Then Duty Station at Wasserkuppe Germany. He remained an Air Traffic Controller. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

His award, Riggs, is very even tempered, willing to do anything and very solid. He is highly trained to be a service dog and security.

Riggs went to accompany his hero on an appointment an hour after beginning his mission.

Special thank you to our honorable Zenobia T Gomm, Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd service dog. And an extra special thank you to Charlie and Jamie for driving over 18 hours each way from North Carolina to Arkansas and back to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Navy Counselor Chief Gordon Daly for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Counselor Chief Gordon Daly for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Navy Counselor Chief Gordon Daly is a Combat Veteran from the Vietnam War. He has earned and been awarded more than a dozen medals. He is a happy husband of 64 years and is still helping other veterans! πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Thank you to our honorable Jessica Schwarzkopf, our Award Overseer, for improving our organization and awards.

Special thank you to our Amber Renee, with Von Neu Und Stark German Shepherds, for contributing this beautiful German Shepherd and driving over 1,500 miles to make this award possible. We are also very thankful to SOME generous team member for contributing the gas and hotel to help make this happen!


Congratulations to our Honorable Air Force Technical Sergeant Stu Richardson for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Technical Sergeant Stu Richardson for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our honorable Technical Sergeant Stu Richardson was stationed in Arizona, Germany, Las Vegas and Georgia. He served in Turkey as part of Operation Northern Watch.

His greatest adventure was being a United States Air Force Thunderbird for 3 years. Traveling the world to showcase our Air Force at air shows. Technical Sergeant Stu Richardson has been awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Longevity Service Award, and other medals and ribbons.

Special thank you to our Steven Richards, with German Shepherd Puppies A1elitek9 German Shepherds, for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Army Transportation Specialist Salita Hudson and her Honorable husband, SFC Jason Hudson for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd awards from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Transportation Specialist Salita Hudson and SFC Jason Hudson for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Specialist Salita Hudson drove the big truck with the tanks on the back. She deployed 2 times to Iraq. 2 times to Germany. She was mostly stationed at Fort Bliss before she was hurt.. Her husband, our honorable SFC Jason Hudson was a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. He served 21 years in the Army. He deployed 5 times. 1 to Jordan. 3 times to Iraq. 1 time to Kuwait. He was stationed in Japan, Alaska, Texas, Germany and North Carolina. He also went to Korea, Australia, Guam and the Philippines. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

We awarded a service dog to our honorable Salita Hudson and her puppy decided she wanted to belong to her husband, our honorable SFC Jason Hudson so we awarded an awesome male so now the mission begins and they both have their service dogs .. They volunteer a lot.

Special thank you to our Sawyer Johns, with Sawyer”s Shepherds, for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist Geoffrey Fale for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Specialist Geoffrey Fale for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Army Specialist Geoffrey Fale volunteered to go to Vietnam in 1966 as transportation. He was on the Honor Guard Burial Detail for several years. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²His son went to West Point and was active duty from 1994 to 2023.

Special thank you to our Andra Chester with A & J Kennels, for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible. And Thank you to our hero’s daughter, Lori Fale for helping this precious award get transported to Washington.


Congratulations to our Honorable Petty Officer 3rd Class Manda Nichole for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Officer Manda Nichole for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Petty Officer 3rd class Manda Nichole is a United Sates Navy Veteran, Engineman 3rd class. She completed two deployments overseas, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was stationed on board the USS Pearl Harbor, LSD 52 for both deployments, from December 2001⭐ to September 2004. She along with her unit was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, and 2 Sea service Deployment Ribbons. She personally worked towards receiving her Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Good Conduct Medal. Moving forward she has been a police officer for over 5 years now. She has received numerous awards of excellence during that time frame for her accomplishments with the department. She has also been awarded the Chief’s Commendation Award for an Operation of her team, there were 3 of them, where she conducted an operation over a 6 month period, to stop violent crime in a specific area where they patrolled. They were very successful in this operation. She was also recently awarded the Departments Lifesaving Award, for saving the life of a citizen that was suffering an overdose from a secondary exposure, that had just provided another citizen, that was overdosing, cpr and mouth to mouth because she had stopped breathing. That scene was as amazing as it sounds, she said, “I just want the opportunity to feel the unconditional love and friendship that comes from a dog again. You cannot find that emotional support and the feeling of comfort they provide from anywhere else”. God Bless.

Special thank you to our Dawn Stults and family for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible. And Thank you to our honorable Officer Manda Nichole’s parents and family for going with her to transport her precious award.


Congratulations to our Honorable USAF Staff Sergeant Michael R. Trumble for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Staff Sergeant Michael R. Trumble for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our honorable Staff Sergeant Michael R. Trumble was a Special Operations Crew Chief for C-130’s and Talons. Also in the picture is his active duty Chief son Brian, on the left, with 18.5 years service, who provided transportation from New York to Pennsylvania and back.

Special thank you to our Kirk Smouse, on the right, with Dwarven Acres, for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Army Transportation Specialist Salita Hudson and her Honorable husband, SFC Jason Hudson for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Transportation Specialist Salita Hudson and SFC Jason Hudson for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Specialist Salita Hudson drove the big truck with the tanks on the back. She deployed 2 times to Iraq. 2 times to Germany. She was mostly stationed at Fort Bliss before she was hurt.. Her husband, our honorable SFC Jason Hudson was a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. He served 21 years in the Army. He deployed 5 times. 1 to Jordan. 3 times to Iraq. 1 time to Kuwait. He was stationed in Japan, Alaska, Texas, Germany and North Carolina. He also went to Korea, Australia, Guam and the Philippines. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

We are still looking for another service dog they can train and travel some apart but mostly as a family. They volunteer a lot.

Special thank you to our Cynthia Ann, Larissa Lanham and olde Wolf German Shepherds for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Lance Corporal Suzanne Harper for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Lance Corporal Suzanne Harper for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Marine Lance Corporal Suzanne Harper has received Good Conduct and Overseas Ribbons. She was stationed at Camp Pendleton where she had the honor of driving General Colin Powell around. Also served in Australia and Japan. She also has helped at home in a hurricane. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Lance Corporal Suzanne Harper is also married to another Honorable Marine.

Special thank you to our Bryan Christopher Matheny for contributing this puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable SFC Joshua Smith for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SFC Joshua Smith for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable SFC Joshua Smith served in the Army from November, 2000 to December, 2020, honorably retired December, 2020. He served 2 tours to Iraq, 1 tour in Afghanistan, and a couple rotations, UAE, Israel, Poland, Turkey, Thailand. He was stationed in Hawaii, Fort Campbell, Germany, Fort Sill, and Fort Bliss. While in, he earned 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 1 Joint Service Commendation Medal, 4 Army Commendation Medals, 4 Army Achievement Medals, 6 Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal w/4 stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/2 stars, 3 NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, 3 Overseas Service Ribbons, 1 Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. He retired as a SFC, but held positions from Team Leader all the way to Operations Sergeant’s Major. He has been married to his wife Tessa for 16 years in Feb. They have 2 boys, Camden 14, Hayden 12.Probably the biggest thing he enjoyed from his service is getting to experience living around the world and meeting different people from different cultures, leading soldiers, and volunteering in the Community. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Sandra Flack with Ozark Mountain Corgis, Shepherds, and Bernese. For making this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine SFC Jason Price for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SFC Jason Price for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Marine SFC Jason Price has served for 18 years. He was deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. He loved serving and seeing the world.

Special thank you to our Kelly Simmons with with 3N1 Shepherds for breeding and training this wonderful puppy to make this award possible. And our Honorable Zenobia T Gomm, Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, with our Melinda Murph for transporting and training this wonderful puppy from North Carolina ready to start his mission.


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Combat Sergeant Wayne Rydberg for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Sergeant Wayne Rydberg for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Sergeant Wayne Rydberg served 8 years on 3 deployments to Iraq. He joined the Marines after graduating high school. On October 5th, 2004, he was blown up by an IED. Shrapnel went through his shoulder and exited by his collar bone. The President of The United States of America has awarded The Purple Heart to our Sergeant Wayne Rydberg for wounds received in action.

Special thank you to our Kelly Simmons with with 3N1 Shepherds for breeding and training this wonderful puppy to make this award possible. And our Honorable Zenobia T Gomm, Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, for transporting and training this wonderful puppy from North Carolina.


Congratulations to our Honorable Staff Sergeant Lindsay Briggs and our Honorable Lieutenant Braden Lucas Briggs, husband and wife hero family for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Staff Sergeant Lindsay Briggs and Lieutenant Braden Lucas Briggs for your 34 years combined outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our honorable Lieutenant Braden Briggs met his combat medic wife, Lindsay, when they were in the Air Calvary Squadron. He was an Apache Mechanic and she was a Squadron Medic. They both joined the Air Force after deployment. Aeromedical Evacuation Technician. Air Crew Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman.

Many awards in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Including Outstanding Unit Award, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon With Gold Border, AF Longevity Service, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, NATO Medal and more.

They are going to train their award to be a Therapy dog to visit and comfort veterans at the Veterans Hospital and others where they currently work. β€οΈπŸ™πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Glenn Hunter with Menominee County Shepherds for breeding and training this wonderful German Shepherd puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Sergeant Barry Edwards for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Sergeant Barry Edwards for your outstanding 22 years of service on behalf of the American people.

Special thank you to our Andra Chester with A&J Kennels for breeding and contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable SSGT Nate Besmer for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SSGT Nate Besmer for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.Our honorable SSGT Nate Besmer was at Fort Bragg NC from 2003 to 2009 and was deployed 3 times to Iraq where he received The Purple Heart on his 3rd deployment in 2007 from an Explosively Formed Penetrator.

Special thank you to our Glenn Hunter with Menominee County Shepherds for breeding, training and delivering this wonderful German Shepherd puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Army Staff Sergeant Melinda Murph for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Staff Sergeant Melinda Murph for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Staff Sergeant Melinda Murph served 20 years in the Army. She went on two combat deployments with her MOS 68w Tank SSG/E-6. She retired as a civilian medic.

Our honorable Staff Sergeant Melinda Murph is using her new highly dual trained Czech service German Shepherd in our new partnership with RISE for search and rescue and to help guard relief supplies.

Special thank you to our Zenobia T. Gomm Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina and our Sylvie de Kappelle-Langevin with RISE for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Sergeant Rob Smith for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Sergeant Rob Smith for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Sergeant Rob Smith served 4 years in Camp Lejeune NC with one combat deployment to Iraq. 2 years in Camp Pendleton CA with 1 combat deployment to Iraq, and 2 1/2 years on I&I duty where he was assistant coordinator for the “Toys for Tots” to help gift presents to over 65,000 children.

He received two Good Conduct Medals. Three Iraqi Campaign Medals. Three Navy Unit Commendations. And three Letters of Appreciation. Our honorable Rob Smith is now going to train and bring his award to the VA hospital to visit other veterans.

Special thank you to our Lorelei Keeton for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Communications Specialist Tom Wilson for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Communications Specialist Tom Wilson for your service on behalf of the American people.

Our honorable Communications Specialist Tom Wilson served on the USS Forrestal with John McCain in Vietnam. He has raised and handled German Shepherds for 48 years. Even though he lost the use of his hand and voice, he wanted another German Shepherd to share in his retirement.

Special thank you to our Leigh Ann Ball for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable SFC Kenneth Scarlett for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SFC Kenneth Scarlett for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

SFC Kenneth Scarlett has honorably served us since 1998. His first deployment was to Iraq in 2003 and then again in 2005. His third deployment was to Afghanistan in 2013 and his fourth deployment was to Kuwait in 2015. He is currently stationed at The United States Military Academy at West Point, NY where he serves as BDE OPS NCO.SFC Kenneth Scarlett has received The Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Meritorious Unit Commendations, 8 Army Achievement Medals, The Air Assault Badge, The Combat Action Badge and The Master Gunner Badge.

Special thank you to our Daniel Burris and Emily Burris with Burris German Shepherds for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd puppy to make this award possible. And to our honorable Rob Smith for nominating and transporting this award from Kentucky to New York! πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²


Congratulations to our Honorable Captain Bronson Anderson for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr Belgian Malinois Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Captain Bronson Anderson for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Honorable Captain Bronson Anderson was in the QRF Task Force that was part of the Security Extraction Team that helped rescue Marcus Luttrell. “Lone Survivor”.

He joined the Army in 2001.He has had tours in Afghanistan attached to the 25th ID under Operation Enduring Freedom (as an infantryman during all tours) He has an ARCOM and CIB (Combat Infantry Badge), Afghan campaign medal. Bronze Star (no V device). He also has several other medals, but the one he prizes most is the CIB. Both of his grandfathers got theirs (one in WWII and the other in Korea). Having earned his the same way they earned theirs, was a high honor.

Thank you to our honorable Cadlee Whitmer Family, Paul William Whitmer and Rhonda Sprouse Whitmer for nominating our hero. And our honorable Jarod Davis Family, John Davis and Stephanie Davis with, “Adventures of Jarod and Levi” for their generosity in traveling for two days to transport this award to her hero.

Special thank you to our Chris Bohnert with, Mayhem Stables, for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Deputy Sheriff Paul Henson for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Deputy Paul Henson for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our honorable Deputy Sheriff Paul Henson saved 2 police officers that were shot in the face by providing emergency first aid until paramedics arrived.

The police officers are back on the job and the shooter was brought to justice. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Special thank you to our Andra Chester for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Combat Medic Specialist Doc Morgan for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Specialist Doc Morgan for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Specialist Doc Morgan volunteered to deploy to Iraq and ended up being the only female in a male combined arms unit. She was a combat medic (68W). During her deployment, she volunteered to be a flight medic with GSAB 2-135. A Kansas/Colorado National Guard Unit. She enjoyed being a medic so much that some in other platoons said she was their medic. She was the one chosen in Iraq to be their flight medic (68WF6). She has expert badges in rifle, pistol, machine gun, grenade, and expert driver’s badge, driver and mechanics badge with wheeled vehicle class. And Army Commendation with Valor/device. She also got that award when she was in a bad situation and again was the only female. She is renewing her animal therapy license to be a counselor with this puppy as her therapy dog. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²Special thank you to our Julia Anne for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Vietnam Military Police Sergeant Kenneth Michael Dodds for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Sergeant Kenneth Michael Dodds for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Special thank you to our Jennifer Campbell family for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable SFC Nathan Jefferies for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you SFC Nathan Jefferies for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

SFC Nathan Jeffries was 17 in 2001. He went into the Infantry and went to Qatar. By March 2003, he was deployed to Baghdad and spent 15 months there. He was part of the battle of Najaf. Then he ran a Personal Security Detachment Team for MG Wightman in Bosnia for 15 months and received a Joint Services Commendation Medal there. Then ran a crew gunnery range at Fort McCoy for 2 years. Then helped stand up the Homeland Response Force in Missouri.

Special thank you to our Michelle and Lori Bell for planning and fostering and our Honorable Zenobia T Gomm (Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina) for training and transporting this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Sergeant Rob Smith for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Sergeant Rob Smith for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Sergeant Rob Smith served 4 years in Camp Lejeune NC with one combat deployment to Iraq. 2 years in Camp Pendleton CA with 1 combat deployment to iraq, and 2 1/2 years on I&I duty where he was assistant coordinator for the “Toys for Tots” to help gift presents to over 65,000 children.

He received two Good Conduct Medals. Three Iraqi Campaign Medals. Three Navy Unit Commendations. And three Letters of Appreciation.

Special thank you to our Kim Hiltabidel for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Deputy Sergeant Shawn Baab for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from “Shepherds of Mount Eden”.

Thank you Deputy Sergeant Shawn Baab for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Deputy Sheriff Shawn Baab is medically retired. He had to retire due to an officer involved shooting in which he was struck by a vehicle. He enjoyed being a K-9 Officer and his K-9 partner, “the best ever” lived to be 15 years old before he was struck with degenerative neuropathy.

He still has issues from his injuries and wants to continue to serve with this award as a certified therapy dog to comfort children at a youth camp for dealing with the loss of a family member, and encouraging patients in the hospice unit he has been volunteering in for almost 10 years.

Special thank you to our Kim Hiltabidel for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable TSgt Joe Knoetgen for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you TSgt Joe Knoetgen for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Our Air Force Medic TSgt Knoetgen has served on the NY Air National Guard CERFP (Chemical High Yield Explosive Response Force Package) Team for five years, and also severed on the Joint Anti Terror Task Force in NYC for five months. TSgt Knoetgen currently serves in an active duty capacity as the lead medic at his base and responsible for ensuring over 1,000 service members, including Pararescueman, are healthy and fit to fight 24/7-365. This June he received The Air Force Achievement Medal for outstanding work and leadership.

Special thank you to our Lisa Gabbey Zdunek for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Army Sergeant David Shaw for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Sergeant David Shaw on behalf of the American people!

This is our most courageous cuddles with 3 legs.

Special thank you to our Brooke Bays for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Staff Sergeant John Phillips for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Staff Sergeant John Phillips on behalf of the American people!

Staff Sergeant John Phillips, an E6 with 1st-623 Field Artillery is a Gulf War Army veteran and was recommend that he would benefit from a service dog.

Special thank you to our Missy Crews and Rockie Crews for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Seaman Apprentice Dustin Coots for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Seaman Apprentice Dustin Coots on behalf of the American people!

Seaman Apprentice Dustin Coots was a Master at Arms, Navy Police. He is going to work with Shepherds of Mount Eden in assisting other veterans with other opportunities including referrals, sporting events, fishing trips and more. He is also going to assist us in training other service dogs for veterans and law enforcement.

Special thank you to our Missy Crews and Rockie Crews for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Air Force Sargent David Hawes for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Sargent David Hawes on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Deborah Woodruff for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable K-9 Officer Nick Safrit for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Officer Nick Safrit for your service on behalf of the American people!

This award is bred for detection and tracking.

Our Honorable Officer Nick Safrit and his puppy will be training within our networks to perform this work.

Thanks to our Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, Zenobia T Gomm for bringing this all together and transporting this wonderful puppy from Mississippi to North Carolina! And a special thanks to our Laurel Anne Getchell for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist Kendale Williams for his beautiful German Shepherd award.

Thank you Specialist Kendale Williams for your service on behalf of the American people!

Specialist Kendale Williams served as an Army Animal Care Specialist 68T.Specialist Kendale Williams stayed close to our enemy lines to secure, protect and treat our K-9 military heroes. He now works at the Carolina Veterinary Orthopedic Clinic where they can take their dogs to work with them. He also has a fully fenced in back yard.

Thanks to our “Shepherds of Mount Eden” North Carolina, Zenobia T Gomm for bringing this all together! And a special thanks to our Lisa Burr for contributing this beautiful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable CPL Derrick Durham Jr. for his wonderful German Shepherd award.

Thank you CPL Derrick Durham Jr. for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Our Honorable CPL Derrick Durham Jr. is the son of our Honorable Command Sergeant Major Derrick Durham Sr. The German Shepherd puppy we awarded to the honorable son, from our contributor, the Cheryl Henning family, fell in love with his honorable dad, so he awarded it to him, so we could award the son again with the wonderful German Shepherd puppy in this picture.

Thanks to our “Shepherds of Mount Eden” North Carolina, Zenobia T Gomm for bringing this all together, another hero!πŸ™We hope to follow up with “Derricks Journey”. Our partnership with Sarasota Search And Rescue to train dual purpose detection.

Special thank you to Lesley Szenay for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Lieutenant Colonel Ervin William Eddings Jr. for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from “Shepherds of Mount Eden”.

Thank you Lieutenant Colonel Ervin William Eddings Jr. on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Walt Altmann for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Lance Corporal Paul Harper for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Lance Corporal Paul Harper on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Elizabeth Hahn with for contributing this wonderful puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Sergeant Marcus Christofferson for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Sergeant Marcus Christofferson on behalf of the American people!

Sergeant Christofferson served as a Huey/Cobra helicopter mechanic and inspector ensuring hundreds of helicopters were safe for flight. Sergeant Christofferson was awarded the Meritorious Mast for saving the lives of two aircrew members by discovering a hazardous discrepancy during a pre flight inspection just minutes before takeoff.

Sergeant Marcus Christofferson then joined the Wyoming Air National Guard where he was awarded a Letter of Appreciation for outstanding service, an Exceptional Achievement Ribbon and a Meritorious Achievement Ribbon. After 12 years of service, his children are following in his footsteps. Natalie is an Aeromedical Evacuation Technician. Hallie is in Tech School for The United States Air Force. His youngest, Tyler is considering joining the USAF and becoming a military working dog handler.

Special thank you to our Kate Godby Benish with Benish German Shepherds for this puppy and making this award possible.


Congratulations to our honorable Pv2 Dalton Patrick Shew for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Pv2 Dalton Patrick Shew for your service in Military Police on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Ross Elliot for this puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our honorable Sgt. Nathan Blanchard for his Dutch Shepherd award.

Thank you Sgt. Nathan Blanchard for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Gill Corey with “Cartwright Creek Dutch Shepherds” for contributing and getting this wonderful puppy to our Sgt. Nathan Blanchard to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our honorable Sergeant Alex Mo for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Sergeant Alex Mo for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our First Sergeant Zenobia Gomm Shepherds of Mount Eden (North Carolina), for making this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Corporal Jason Brisbane for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Corporal Jason Brisbane for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Jason Brisbane served for almost 7 years before becoming medically discharged. He is now managing a veterans outreach program with 10 veterans who love this puppy!

Special thank you to our Jessica and Bryan Langston for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to the loving family of our honorable fallen officer Arthur J. Ohlsen III for accepting the Jacob Charles Kerr German Shepherd award from Shepherds of Mount Eden.

Thank you Officer Arthur Joseph Ohlsen’s family for his outstanding service on behalf of the American People.

Special thank you to our Stephanie and DeLani Green for breeding and raising this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.

Police officer Arthur J. Ohlsen was struck and killed by a New Jersey Transit Train while responding to reports of a brush fire near the railroad tracks under the South Salem Street overpass in Dover New Jersey. Officer Ohlsen was directing fire department personnel to the scene when he was struck. He was flown to Morristown Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries 45 minutes later at the age of 44. (End of Watch: Tuesday, December 30, 2003).Officer Ohlsen had served with the town of Dover Police Department for over 18 years and is survived by his wife and two sons. Officer Arthur J. Ohlsen III graduated from Dover High School in 1978. He then joined the Dover Volunteer Fire Department where he served under his dad, Arthur J. Ohlsen Jr. Who was the Fire Chief in 1982. Next, Arthur J. Ohlsen became a Special Police Officer for the Town of Dover in 1984. In 1985 he began his full time career as a police officer by attending and successfully completing the 24th Basic Police Training Class at the Morris County Police Academy. Officer Ohlsen was involved in several Areas of law enforcement. He received training as a Police K-9 handler and worked with his K-9 partner Hammer. Officer Ohlsen was also a Crime Prevention Officer. He worked closely with the community. He assisted the citizens of Dover with securing their homes and teaching them how to properly report suspicious activity to the Police. Officer Ohlsen was also assigned to the Detective Bureau where he was involved with investigations. He was also in charge of the patrol unit fleet and made sure the vehicles were properly maintained and equipped. During his career, Officer Ohlsen was a recipient of the Chief’s Citation, The Meritorious Service Citation and the Good Conduct Citation. Police Officer Ohlsen owned and operated Shield Graphics. Shield Graphics is a decal company where he produced decals and signs for vehicles. He developed a special decal in memory of all whom perished in New York City on September 11, 2001. This decal can be seen on all Dover Police Patrol Units as well as many other Police vehicles in Morris County, New Jersey. Police officer Ohlsen was also involved in the NASCAR Busch North Series with James Pritchard Motor Sports and was the Car Chief for the racing team. His duties included final preparation of the vehicle as well as final preparation of the driver. He also served as a mechanic for the team and was in charge of placing all of the decals on the vehicle. For more information on his racing career, you can view the James Pritchard Motor Sports web site at www.JamesPritchardMotorSports.com.Police Officer Ohlsen leaves behind his wife Bonnie and two sons, A.J. and Trevor who received this Jacob Charles Kerr award from Shepherds of Mount Eden. Mrs. Ohlsen stated that β€œThe Police Department and the Racing Team was what Art loved, that was his life, that’s what he did. He gave his life doing what he wanted to do.” Shepherds of Mount Eden Jacob Charles Kerr Award


Congratulations to our honorable SGT Jeff Main for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you SGT Jeff Main for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our First Sergeant Zenobia Gomm Shepherds of Mount Eden (North Carolina), and McKenna Pendry and Melanie Yates for caring for and training this wonderful German Shepherd.


Congratulations to our Honorable SGT Joelle Pruyne for her German Shepherd award.

Thank you SGT Joelle Pruyne for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Jessica and Bryan Langston for contributing wonderful German Shepherds and making this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist Brian Pruyne for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Specialist Brian Pruyne for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Jessica and Bryan Langston for contributing wonderful German Shepherds and making this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Chief Petty Officer Christopher Taylor for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Chief Petty Officer Christopher Taylor for your outstanding service of 16 years on 5 different great Navy Ships, on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Robert Tipper for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist Lazlo Holmes for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Specialist Lazlo Holmes for your service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Rick Maloney for training in obedience and public access to contribute such a wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable SGT Ross Elliott for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you SGT Ross Elliott for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Karla Hazlewood for breeding, raising and contributing such wonderful German Shepherds to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our active Honorable Sergeant Eric Seagrave for his Sheeperdoodle award.

Thank you Sergeant Eric Seagrave for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

We are eternally grateful for your duty as a Scout Sniper Leader with The National Guard.

Special thank you to our First Sergeant Zenobia Gomm and McKenna Pendry for offering this wonderful Sheeperdoodle from our Kim Humphrey with “No Goats No Glory Farm” who bred this Sheeperdoodle and contributed the pick of the litter to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Senior Airman David Tibbitts for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Senior Airman David Tibbitts for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Sandra Flack with Ozark Mountain Corgis and Shepherds for breeding and training this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.https://www.facebook.com/Ozark-Mountain-Corgis-and-Shepherds-100237791373984/


Congratulations to our Honorable Sgt. Benjamin Bloomer for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Sgt. Benjamin Bloomer for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Lysandra Schmidtke with Shepherd Nation, for breeding and training this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible. https://www.facebook.com/shepherdnationpuppies/


Congratulations to our Honorable Medic, PFC Riley Tarsi for her German Shepherd award.

Thank you PFC Riley Tarsi for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!PFC Riley Tarsi is an active reserve medic also.

Special thank you to our Honorable First Sargent Zenobia T Gomm Shepherds of Mount Eden (North Carolina) for breeding and training this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist Jerome C. Hammer for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Specialist Jerome C. Hammer for your service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Stephanie Fox Smith for breeding and contributing this beautiful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Task Force Officer Chesley Rickard for her German Shepherd award.

Thank you Task Force Officer Chesley Rickard for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Task Force Officer Chesley Rickard was a K-9 officer and is now an investigator with the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Department drug and gang Task Force. Special thank you to our Honorable First Sargent Zenobia T Gomm “Shepherds of Mount Eden” (North Carolina) for breeding and training this beautiful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Sargent Wayne McCoy for his German Shepherd award.


Thank you Sargent Wayne McCoy for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to Errica Bradley for contributing this beautiful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable CPL Derrick Durham Jr. for his wonderful German Shepherd award.

Thank you CPL Derrick Durham Jr. for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to the Cheryl Henning family for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable Cabarrus County Sheriff’s K-9 Department Stephanie Ritchie for her beautiful German Shepherd award.

Thank you Stephanie Ritchie for your outstanding service to our security on behalf of the American people!

Thank you to our honorable First Sargent Zenobia T. Gomm Shepherds of Mount Eden (North Carolina) for nominating and facilitating this award.

Special thank you to our Donna Bonney for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable First Sargent Zenobia T. Gomm for her beautiful German Shepherd award.

Our 100th German Shepherd award! πŸ™‚πŸ™‚πŸ™‚ Thank you First Sergeant Zenobia T. Gomm for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Our honorable First Sargent Zenobia T. Gomm Shepherds of Mount Eden (North Carolina) has been contributing and training German Shepherds for “Shepherds of Mount Eden” for several years. She has done everything else from building fences for our honorable veterans we have awarded to supplying service vests and transportation for awards. We can never thank her enough for her service then and now.

Special thank you to our Donna Bonney for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd puppy to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable retired K-9 officer Brian Wright for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you Brian Wright for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, Zenobia T. Gomm for breeding, raising, training and transporting this beautiful award for our honorable Brian Wright.


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Cpl Wayne Garrido for his beautiful German Shepherd award.

Thank you Cpl Wayne Garrido for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our honorable Marine VW Sharp for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable SGT Shuler Guinn for his German Shepherd service award!

Thank you SGT Shuler Guinn for your outstanding service to our freedom on behalf of the American people!

A special thank you to our Tammy Yarbrough for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible! And an additional grateful thank you to our Mona Johnson for nominating our honorable SGT Shuler Guinn.


Congratulations to our Honorable Specialist Kyle Koepke, Airborne Infantry for his German Shepherd service award!


Thank you Specialist Kyle Koepke for your service to our freedom on behalf of the American people!


A special thank you to our Rachel Gullickson for breeding and contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible!


This award is given in memory of the Honorable SGT Jonathan K. Peney.
The late honorable Jonathan K. Peney was born on July 1st, 1987, and died one month short of his 23rd birthday.
Jonathan served as an Army Ranger Medic with the 75th RANGER REGIMENT, 1/75, 2nd Platoon D Co, from 2005 to 2010.
We recieved this information from his Gold Star mother, our honorable Sue Moma Peney, who we met at a memorial service. “Doc” as his brothers-in-arms called him, always wanted to serve his country. At the age of fourteen, he wanted to enlist. On September 11th 2001 when he witnessed the twin towers being flown into by the terrorists on live TV, he began his preparation to become a United States Army Ranger. Jon deployed 4 times. Participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
His Awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, Expert Field Medical Badge, and the Parachutist Badge, he has also been awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with combat star, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. He was posthumously Awarded the Silver Star Medal, Purple Heart, and the Meritorious Service Medal.
SGT Jonathan K. Peney distinguished himself through exceptionally valorous achievement which was on the last day of his life during a ferocious firefight lasting from May 31st to June 1, 2010. As Jon would have said, he was just doing his job (MOS) as a Ranger Platoon Medic. When the call came out for “Medic”, Jon without hesitation and with total disregard for his own personal safety, he knowingly responded, climbing through the barrage of enemy fire in a valorous attempt to reach a wounded team leader to provide him with critical medical treatment. At the top of his climb, as he crested the rooftop, Jonathan was mortally wounded by sniper fire. His valorous actions under direct fire, plus his overwhelming dedication and commitment to the welfare of his ground force on the battlefield inspired the men of his platoon to gain fire superiority over the enemy.
Jon laid his life down for another and for all of America’s freedoms. Jonathan was more than a soldier and hero, he was a dedicated son and loving husband to his wife, Kristen. A picture of our late Honorable SGT Jonathan K. Peney in uniform is with our Honorable Specialist Kyle Koepke and his award.


Congratulations to our Honorable CPL Alex Potter for his German Shepherd service award!

Thank you CPL Alex Potter for your service to our freedom on behalf of the American people!

A special thank you to our Karla Hazlewood for breeding and contributing this wonderful German Shepherd to make this award possible!


Congratulations to our honorable CPO John Davis for his German Shepherd award to be a service dog for his son Jarod.

Thank you CPO John Davis for your service to our freedom on behalf of the American people.


Congratulations to our Honorable Combat Medic, Corporal Josh Anderson for his German Shepherd award!

Thank you Corporal Josh Anderson for your outstanding service to our freedom on behalf of the American people!

A special thank you to our Nan Huff for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd, having him transported from Legendary K-9 Breeders and Trainers in Vasquez Puerto Rico and our Zenobia T Gomm, “Shepherds of Mount Eden” North Carolina for making this award possible!


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Corporal Stacy Cunningham for her German Shepherd service award!

Thank you Corporal Stacy Cunningham for your service to our freedom on behalf of the American people!

A special thank you to McKenna B Pendry for contributing this wonderful German Shepherd and our Zenobia T Gomm for making this award possible!


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine combat veteran Corporal Chris Scamahorn for his new German Shepherd puppy award!

Thank you Corporal Chris Scamahorn for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people.

Special thank you to our Janett Dominski for making this award possible.


Congratulations to our Honorable E4 SPC Jonathan Gott for his German Shepherd puppy award!

Thank you SPC Jonathan Gott for your service on behalf of the American people!

A special thank you to our Melissa Hoskins Caldwell for providing and awarding this magnificent German Shepherd to the SPC Jonathan Gott family.


Congratulations to our Honorable Airforce MSGT Sonny Reynolds for his German Shepherd award.

Thank you MSGT Sonny Reynolds for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, Zenobia T. Gomm for breeding, raising, training and transporting this beautiful award for our MSGT Sonny Reynolds. MSGT Sonny Reynolds is retired after 20 years with the US Airforce. When he retired, he was maintenance superintendent over multiple electronic maintenance workcenters. He started his career as a minuteman missile maintenance technician for 6 years, then he crosstrained into flight facilities maintenance for 14 years. MSGT Sonny Reynolds completed one remote tour in South Korea for one year. He had a German Shepherd that lived 16 years, was a great companion and went with him everywhere and was an outstanding dog! His German Shepherd has been gone for 28 years and he still misses him like it was yesterday. MSGT Sonny Reynolds wanted to find another dog like him for his wife and him to have for companionship and security.

Thanks to God, our Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, Zenobia T Gomm, produced a German Shepherd that our Honorable MSGT Sonny Reynolds said that is just like his original German Shepherd.


Congratulations to our Honorable SGT Joe Tunuufi for his German Shepherd service puppy award!

Thank you SGT Joe Tunuufi for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

SGT Joe Tunuufi first deployed with the Navy in 2002 in “Iraqi Freedom”. Then again in 2004 to 2005 with the Navy Seabees in camp Fallujah. And again in 2008 with the Army convoy TCN. And again in 2013 to 2014 completing 5 deployments with the US Navy and 1 deployment with the Army and now with the Army transportation 88H.SGT Joe Tunuufi lost his best friend on his first deployment and another on his second.

Even though SGT Joe Tunuufi and the people with him on base delt with incoming attacks on a nightly basis in Iraq and Afghanistan, he still deployed 6 times and still serves.

Special thank you to our Sarah Southard family for breeding and training this wonderful German Shepherd puppy award as part of their family! They have been planning this for a very long time and selected our Honorable SGT Joe Tunuufi as soon as their wonderful German Shepherds were conceived.


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Lance Corporal Lorrie D. Bennett for her beautiful German Shepherd award.

Thank you Lance Corporal Lorrie Bennett for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, Zenobia T. Gomm and her team for transporting this beautiful award from Florida to Georgia.


Congratulations to our Honorable Marine Corporal Price Bush for his two white German Shepherd puppy awards and a third white German Shepherd puppy award for his Navy brother, the Honorable Andrew Bush.

“Shepherds of Mount Eden” would like to thank you both on behalf of the American people for your outstanding service to our freedom.

Corporal Price Bush is in school to be a service dog trainer and will be our “Shepherds of Mount Eden” goto person in South Dakota honoring veterans!

A special thank you to our wonderful breeder/trainer, Tina Tee Vermeulen for making these awards possible!

The three white German Shepherd awards slept great riding on their way home to their mission with Price and Andrew driving from Michigan back to South Dakota.


Congratulations to our Honorable SGT Eric Kennedy for his German Shepherd service puppy award!

Thank you SGT Eric Kennedy for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

SGT Eric Kennedy is not yet released to ride because of his injuries in battle. In Iraq, the Iraqi police were so afraid, that they were taking off their uniforms at dusk, so SGT Eric Kennedy and his team were getting called out to protect a certain dangerous area and on the fourth night, SGT Eric Kennedy was hit by an IED and then they got ambushed by small arms gunfire. SGT Eric Kennedy took shrapnel through his neck from the IED blast and had taken a gun shot wound through his left arm. He remembers telling a few of his battle buddies that he was going to puke blood and they pointed lights down on him because he was laying down at that point and there was blood everywhere. He then did start to puke blood and was bleeding through his left arm really bad and the shrapnel was down in his lungs. He was awake for about six more hours. He remembers his medic looking down at him and blood was spraying out of his neck and he asked the medic if he was going to live or die? He said it was just a scratch and smiled at him but tears were coming out the medic’s eyes so SGT Eric Kennedy knew it was bad and knew that he was going to die. They tried to call in a medevac to get him out of the firefight but they denied the helicopter because they were taking too much fire so they got him into a vehicle that was still working and drove him back to the camp. They put SGT Eric Kennedy on a steel table, cut all of his clothes off and began to examine him. He asked them for a Tylenol for the pain and they could not give him any pain medicine because the shrapnel had nicked his carotid artery and laying there in pain on the steel table, he could see his Lieutenant Colonel and Sergeant Major walk in and they usually hold a formation and ceremony for someone receiving a purple heart and because of the extent of his injuries, they had brought his to him that night. Right then he knew for sure he was going to die. He knew he was going to die before that, but that just confirmed it for him. He had an indescribable feeling that he was going to try to live. He then woke up almost a month later after they induced him into a coma and he was on the top floor of Walter Reed and was on a life support ventilator with a tracheotomy. It was a horrible experience and hard for SGT Eric Kennedy to talk about but wanted to share. He is one of the most patriotic people I know. We have been working with him for many months as he recovers and is now ready for his service German Shepherd puppy award.

A special thank you to our Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, the Zenobia T. Gomm family, for acquiring and training this wonderful German Shepherd puppy! And a big thank you to our generous team sponsors, the Carlos and Sheila Mitchell family who transported this magnificent award while paying for all of the transportation and related expenses!


Congratulations to the Honorable SGT Kenneth Reese for his new German Shepherd puppy award!

Thank you for your honorable service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to Adel Ragheb for making this award possible!


Congratulations to the Honorable Sergeant Cody Corber for his German Shepherd puppy award!

Thank you for your outstanding service on behalf of the American people!

A special thank you to our Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, the Zenobia T. Gomm family, who wonderfully bred, trained and transported this magnificent award far across the country!


Congratulations to McKenna B. Pendry for her outstanding service to our veterans. Finding “Creed”, helping train and care for some of these awards.

We are honored to award McKenna with a wonderful German Shepherd puppy, bred to become a part of her valuable search and rescue training program. McKenna trains with other K-9 officers and plans to train her award in Search and Rescue with explosives detection. She is on call with Yadkin County North Carolina Police and available to others in the area.

Thank you for your service to our veterans on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, the Zenobia T. Gomm family for making this award possible!


Congratulations to the Honorable Air Force Pilot Mark Ward for his new Search and Rescue German Shepherd award! The Honorable Mark Ward’s new 18 month old Search and Rescue partner “Creed” is a highly trained life saver and he is ready to begin his mission serving Mark working with the Spartanburg South Carolina Police.

Thank you for your honorable service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Shepherds of Mount Eden North Carolina, the Zenobia T. Gomm family for making this award possible!


Congratulations to the Honorable E-5 Jerry Boone for his new German Shepherd puppy awards!

Our Honorable Jerry Boone has also been awarded a medical service puppy “Rambo” black German Shepherd puppy for his grandson, Henderson. Along with his female sable German Shepherd service puppy for his outstanding service as a machine gunner and sniper in the Vietnam war.

Thank you for your honorable service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our “Shepherds of Mount Eden” North Carolina, the Zenobia T. Gomm family for making this award possible!


Congratulations to the Honorable active duty Air Force E-4 Luis Maisonet and his Honorable active duty Air Force E-3 wife Hannah for their new German Shepherd puppy award!

Thank you both for your honorable service on behalf of the American people!

They accepted this award to train for Search and Rescue with other K-9’s at Langley Air Force Base. This award will serve them on base as they assist others with companionship and potentially search and rescue missions. We are honored to be a part of this brave young couples mission!

Special thank you to our “Shepherds of Mount Eden” North Carolina, the Zenobia T. Gomm family for making this award possible!


Congratulations to the Honorable Army E4 Terry Henderson for his new German Shepherd puppy award!

Thank you for your honorable service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our “Shepherds of Mount Eden” Pennsylvania, Bryan Langston and his family for making this award possible!


Congratulations to the Honorable Michael Maxson for his new German Shepherd puppy award!

Thank you for your honorable service on behalf of the American people!

Special thank you to our Shepherds of Mount Eden Pennsylvania, Bryan Langston and his family for making this award possible!


Shepherds of Mount Eden is awarding Special Operations Chief Aaron Charles Reed, with a Lieutenant Alexandria and Colonel Emmanuel male sable puppy as a “Thank You Award” for his outstanding, honorable service on behalf of the American People.

Special Thank You to Brian Marchesseault with “Watchmen Defense Training Group, LLC” for nominating Special Operations Chief Aaron Charles Reed and donating the Full Training Package to Mr. Reed’s German Shepherd Award!https://www.facebook.com/watchmendefensetrngrp/?__mref=message_bubble


Congratulations to Jason Woolum!

Thank You for your service on behalf of the American People! Army Strong!

Anondra has been picked up and is a houseguest for about a month until Jason Woolum returns from training, with Erin Garcia, who made this award possible! Thank You Erin! : )


Hello everyone! Shepherd’s of Mount Eden has selected a veteran we would like to honor with a “German Shepherd Thank You Award”.

When we asked for SFC Paul William Whitmer’s rank and some adventures he was involved with or served at, this was his reply. My rank was Sergeant First Class and I was a convoy commander in charge of gun trucks, military flatbeds and KBR personnel delivering supplies and equipment all over Iraq and Kuwait. I was also a company medic during convoys and on post. I was stationed in Balad, Iraq at LSA Anaconda, aka Mortar-Rita-Ville. I was in charge of a convoy returning to LSA Anaconda and we were driving through Baghdad at midnight on New Year’s Eve when the booms begin and the radio lit up with talk that we were being ambushed. I asked for a sit-rep and very quickly determined that they were setting off fireworks celebrating the new year. Got a great laugh and how many people can say they spent New Year’s in Baghdad. Another time I was the medic in a gun truck and we entered town at sun up, it was Fallujah. We were lost and in the wrong place. Quickly QRF got on the radio and said get the H%\! out of there. Thank God it was 5a.m. and no one was awake. One more. November of 2005 a battalion of 101st Airborne soldiers we’re standing down for their rotation back to the States when a rocket attack took out one of their tents packed with soldiers resting. Before the dust settled I was helping triage the wounded along with another medic from their company. A second attack was coming in but we held our ground. We loaded up the wounded in the back of my humvee and continued critical care to the Air Force Base Hospital. Thank God again no deaths but some serious scars. I am so thankful for the time I served with the Army and so grateful for the many friendships that are bonded together. I lost way too many friends on that soil and it haunts me every day. I still continue to serve for my community as a Lieutenant with the Waynesboro Fire Department as a Medic and firemen. Thank you for reading this and considering me for a Search and Rescue companion aiding in my recovery with my PTSD while still helping my community with such a great resource.

“Shepherds of Mount Eden” is very happy to announce that our Honorable SFC Paul William Whitmer has picked up his “Thank You Award”, search and rescue partner, “Volker”! Thanks to Jayne Athey! Great work Jayne!” Volker” will be training and working long hours with Paul at his firehouse. Since Paul Whitmer is currently on the streets saving lives, “Shepherds of Mount Eden” determined that Paul will be awarded a working partner to help fulfill his dream of being able to save more lives using a German Shepherd and his personal service puppy that will live in his home.

“Shepherds of Mount Eden” would like to officially thank “Paul William Whitmer”, on behalf of the American People for his honorable and continued service to our USA!


Scott and Alicia picked up his “Thank You German Shepherd Award” today thanks to Stephanie Baliko! : )Scott and Alicia. Waterford Ohio. Were stationed in Germany at Ramstein AFB in the beginning of his career, then Malmstrom AFB in Montana, moved to Texas which is where he joined the ARNG and did most of his different MOS like tank commander, gunner, mechanic, truck driver then when they moved back to his hometown in Ohio. He was with an engineer unit until he found his home with WVARNG in Moundsville, WV and was back to his MP MOS which is the unit he went to Iraq with and caused his PTSD, agoraphobia, high vigilance, anxiety. He is still in therapy, still dealing with physical issues from a roll over from Iraq. Pryor to war he loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping with his kids.Scott wanted a male German Shepherd to train for search and rescue to get back out into nature and help his community. Thanks to Stephanie Baliko, Scott and Gunner’s mission has begun! : )


Congratulations to our Honorable USAF Amanda Young for accepting this award.

Thank you USAF Amanda Young for your service on behalf of the American People.

I asked Amanda to share some adventures and what she would do with a German Shepherd puppy and this was her reply, “My name is Amanda and I am USAF disabled veteran where I served as an aircraft engine mechanic, with two deployments to the desert during “Operation Enduring Freedom” and “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. I am now an engine records assistant on an air base in Oklahoma. I am an Army wife to an Army veteran and a mother to our two wonderful children. I suffer from MΓ©niΓ¨re’s disease which is a progressive deafening disease. It is a struggle everyday, with attacks of vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, dizziness and more. Unfortunately there is no cure and as my attacks lesson I will lose more and more of my hearing eventually becoming deaf. I have spoken with my doctors and they have agreed that with how debilitating this disease can be, a service dog could help me. I need assistance with guiding while walking, retrieving, alerting, and responding to my side when I have an attack. I also suffer from PTSD and anxiety so aid and that would be wonderful. My dream is to have a Service Dog who can go through my life by my side ever learning tasks that will help me lead a semi-normal life. And be able to be more available for my children. Thank you for listening to my story.”