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The motto of the United States Marine Corps is Semper Fidelis. It means “always faithful” or “always loyal”. While he does not have the ability to speak these words, Sgt. Goodwin L518 certainly exemplifies them.
Upon connecting with a family about a senior Black Labrador who served in the military simply to see if a canine wheelchair might be a possibility for him in the future, an opportunity presented itself to pay it forward and give back to not only a dog but an entire family who have given so much to this country and in turn, each one of us.
Sgt. Goodwin L518 is a retired Marine who served as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detector Dog. He is the namesake of Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin, a Marine who was killed in action on May 8, 2005. Sgt. Goodwin currently lives in Mount Holly, NJ with Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin’s family.
In 2007, a Black Labrador puppy was named “Goodwin L518” and began training to become an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detector Dog with the Marine Corps. His training was done at Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, NC and Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA. Over the course of his service Goodwin L518 earned the ranking of Sergeant, the highest ranking for a canine in the Marine Corps. In 2012 Sgt. Goodwin L518 retired after **FIVE** tours of duty; one tour in Iraq and four tours in Afghanistan. Most IED dogs pay the ultimate sacrifice doing what they do; to have survived long enough to serve on so many tours is testimony to Sgt. Goodwin L518’s ability and performance in what he was trained to do. As a result, he saved many Marines during his service.
Funds donated to this campaign will be used to make sure Sgt. Goodwin L518 (“Sgt. Goodwin”) has the most effective medicines, supplements, products and therapies on-board to ensure he is feeling the best he can, for as long as he can. Some toys and treats will be added to the list for Sgt. Goodwin and his rescued canine sister, Emma, as well!
On Tuesday, July 24th, Sgt. Goodwin went to Dr. Howe-Smith at PetPT for a consultation. Sgt. Goodwin is now set with a regimen to help with his physical aches and pains resulting from injuries sustained during his military service and age. Sgt. Goodwin also suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from his military service; we are happy to say some changes to his medication related to that were made as well! Upon leaving, Sgt. Goodwin was able to climb up into the truck with ease using a donated ramp provided to him by Dr. Howe-Smith. Thank you to the donor and to Dr. Howe-Smith for paying forward the kind gesture!
The following will be paid for with your contribution:
Help’Em Up Harness (1) $115
Orthopedic dog beds (2) $200
Consultation at PetPT $97
Medications $75
Water and laser therapy sessions (3 weeks, twice a week) $600
Blood work $94
Additional money raised will be used strictly for veterinary care (including prescribed physical rehabilitation modalities) and medications/supplements as we would like to continue our support of Sgt. Goodwin.
The Goodwin family didn’t ask for help- this campaign is a very small gesture to say THANK YOU for their service and for your sacrifice. Still, they insistently give heartfelt thanks.
During an interview with CNN’s Alex Quade, Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin said, “The only thing I’ve got to say to the families for the most part would be to support your troops. Stand behind them. That’s all we want.” So, when you see a man or woman who is currently serving our country or a veteran who has served our country- let them know you support them and thank them for their service.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCIV7sGj6q0
PLEASE read the Goodwin family’s story below, it is one you will never forget.
Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin entered the Marine Corps in 1989. His tours of duty include Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2005. Ssgt. Goodwin was a highly decorated soldier. Among several honors bestowed upon him, SSGT Goodwin had been awarded multiple Purple Hearts.
On Mother’s Day, May 8, 2005, while conducting combat operations, two Marines went down during enemy crossfire. Ssgt. Goodwin put together a fire team to provide cover and retrieve the two Marines. Ssgt. Goodwin was shot and killed while saving them, he was 33 years old. Ssgt. Goodwin was awarded the Bronze Star of Valor, posthumously (after the recipient’s death) for his bravery. It was presented to and received by his mother, Brenda Cheney, with his brother, Sgt. Greg Goodwin, by her side.
Serving in the US military runs in the family. Sgt. Greg Goodwin entered the Army in 1990 and retired as an Army Ranger in 1997 after serving on tours of duty in Bosnia and Somalia.
There is a program where you could submit a name for a puppy being trained for the military. A Marine friend of Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin’s asked if he could submit the name of “Goodwin” to Honor his Marine Brother. With the acceptance of that submission, a Black Labrador Retriever puppy received the name, “Goodwin L518”. The news was shared with Brenda and Sgt. Greg Goodwin.
Goodwin L518 entered training to become an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detector Dog with the Marine Corps in 2007. His training was done at Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, NC and Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA.
The Marine Corps tracked Goodwin L518’s service and kept Brenda updated. There were periods of time over the years they could not provide Brenda with updates for confidential reasons.
Over the course of his service Goodwin L518 earned the ranking of Sergeant, the highest ranking for a canine in the Marine Corps. In 2012 Sgt. Goodwin L518 (“Sgt. Goodwin”) retired after five tours of duty; one tour in Iraq and four tours in Afghanistan. Brenda was made aware of Sgt. Goodwin’s upcoming retirement.
When a military dog is retired, that dog’s handler is given the first opportunity to adopt. For reasons unknown, Sgt. Goodwin’s handler chose not to adopt him. And so, Brenda and Sgt. Greg Goodwin went to Virginia to meet Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin’s namesake. Sgt. Goodwin was going home with the family he never knew he always had.
On the way they visited Arlington National Cemetery, Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin’s final resting place. I lost my breath and become teary when Brenda told me, “As we walked toward Anthony’s grave, Goodwin made a bee-line to the grave and laid down. He never met Anthony, he had never been there.”
When asked why she thinks the handler passed on Sgt. Goodwin’s adoption, Brenda offered, “I think that because I kept inquiring about Goodwin and my wish to adopt him after retirement, it was a clear case for the handlers and the (Marine) Corps who Goodwin was going to be with. Plus, I explained to them that Goodwin would help Greg because he was named in Honor of his brother and Goodwin would help with Greg's PTSD, so Goodwin became a different kind of Service Dog without going through the training. And since both suffer with the same symptoms, they help each other and me.” When suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, certain triggers can bring back memories of a tragic or traumatic event or experience and cause intense emotional and physical reactions in response.
Sgt. Goodwin is happy and loving life in his senior years with the family who seemingly was destined to be his after such tragic loss. His service didn’t end after retiring from the Marine Corps. He serves as a very special purpose with the Goodwin family- not only is he a support to Sgt. Greg Goodwin, he is a connection to a man dearly missed by his family and friends.
The motto of the United States Marine Corps is Semper Fidelis. It means “always faithful” or “always loyal”. While he does not have the ability to speak these words, Sgt. Goodwin L518 certainly exemplifies them.
Upon connecting with a family about a senior Black Labrador who served in the military simply to see if a canine wheelchair might be a possibility for him in the future, an opportunity presented itself to pay it forward and give back to not only a dog but an entire family who have given so much to this country and in turn, each one of us.
Sgt. Goodwin L518 is a retired Marine who served as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detector Dog. He is the namesake of Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin, a Marine who was killed in action on May 8, 2005. Sgt. Goodwin currently lives in Mount Holly, NJ with Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin’s family.
In 2007, a Black Labrador puppy was named “Goodwin L518” and began training to become an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detector Dog with the Marine Corps. His training was done at Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, NC and Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA. Over the course of his service Goodwin L518 earned the ranking of Sergeant, the highest ranking for a canine in the Marine Corps. In 2012 Sgt. Goodwin L518 retired after **FIVE** tours of duty; one tour in Iraq and four tours in Afghanistan. Most IED dogs pay the ultimate sacrifice doing what they do; to have survived long enough to serve on so many tours is testimony to Sgt. Goodwin L518’s ability and performance in what he was trained to do. As a result, he saved many Marines during his service.
Funds donated to this campaign will be used to make sure Sgt. Goodwin L518 (“Sgt. Goodwin”) has the most effective medicines, supplements, products and therapies on-board to ensure he is feeling the best he can, for as long as he can. Some toys and treats will be added to the list for Sgt. Goodwin and his rescued canine sister, Emma, as well!
On Tuesday, July 24th, Sgt. Goodwin went to Dr. Howe-Smith at PetPT for a consultation. Sgt. Goodwin is now set with a regimen to help with his physical aches and pains resulting from injuries sustained during his military service and age. Sgt. Goodwin also suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from his military service; we are happy to say some changes to his medication related to that were made as well! Upon leaving, Sgt. Goodwin was able to climb up into the truck with ease using a donated ramp provided to him by Dr. Howe-Smith. Thank you to the donor and to Dr. Howe-Smith for paying forward the kind gesture!
The following will be paid for with your contribution:
Help’Em Up Harness (1) $115
Orthopedic dog beds (2) $200
Consultation at PetPT $97
Medications $75
Water and laser therapy sessions (3 weeks, twice a week) $600
Blood work $94
Additional money raised will be used strictly for veterinary care (including prescribed physical rehabilitation modalities) and medications/supplements as we would like to continue our support of Sgt. Goodwin.
The Goodwin family didn’t ask for help- this campaign is a very small gesture to say THANK YOU for their service and for your sacrifice. Still, they insistently give heartfelt thanks.
During an interview with CNN’s Alex Quade, Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin said, “The only thing I’ve got to say to the families for the most part would be to support your troops. Stand behind them. That’s all we want.” So, when you see a man or woman who is currently serving our country or a veteran who has served our country- let them know you support them and thank them for their service.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCIV7sGj6q0
PLEASE read the Goodwin family’s story below, it is one you will never forget.
Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin entered the Marine Corps in 1989. His tours of duty include Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2005. Ssgt. Goodwin was a highly decorated soldier. Among several honors bestowed upon him, SSGT Goodwin had been awarded multiple Purple Hearts.
On Mother’s Day, May 8, 2005, while conducting combat operations, two Marines went down during enemy crossfire. Ssgt. Goodwin put together a fire team to provide cover and retrieve the two Marines. Ssgt. Goodwin was shot and killed while saving them, he was 33 years old. Ssgt. Goodwin was awarded the Bronze Star of Valor, posthumously (after the recipient’s death) for his bravery. It was presented to and received by his mother, Brenda Cheney, with his brother, Sgt. Greg Goodwin, by her side.
Serving in the US military runs in the family. Sgt. Greg Goodwin entered the Army in 1990 and retired as an Army Ranger in 1997 after serving on tours of duty in Bosnia and Somalia.
There is a program where you could submit a name for a puppy being trained for the military. A Marine friend of Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin’s asked if he could submit the name of “Goodwin” to Honor his Marine Brother. With the acceptance of that submission, a Black Labrador Retriever puppy received the name, “Goodwin L518”. The news was shared with Brenda and Sgt. Greg Goodwin.
Goodwin L518 entered training to become an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detector Dog with the Marine Corps in 2007. His training was done at Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, NC and Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA.
The Marine Corps tracked Goodwin L518’s service and kept Brenda updated. There were periods of time over the years they could not provide Brenda with updates for confidential reasons.
Over the course of his service Goodwin L518 earned the ranking of Sergeant, the highest ranking for a canine in the Marine Corps. In 2012 Sgt. Goodwin L518 (“Sgt. Goodwin”) retired after five tours of duty; one tour in Iraq and four tours in Afghanistan. Brenda was made aware of Sgt. Goodwin’s upcoming retirement.
When a military dog is retired, that dog’s handler is given the first opportunity to adopt. For reasons unknown, Sgt. Goodwin’s handler chose not to adopt him. And so, Brenda and Sgt. Greg Goodwin went to Virginia to meet Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin’s namesake. Sgt. Goodwin was going home with the family he never knew he always had.
On the way they visited Arlington National Cemetery, Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin’s final resting place. I lost my breath and become teary when Brenda told me, “As we walked toward Anthony’s grave, Goodwin made a bee-line to the grave and laid down. He never met Anthony, he had never been there.”
When asked why she thinks the handler passed on Sgt. Goodwin’s adoption, Brenda offered, “I think that because I kept inquiring about Goodwin and my wish to adopt him after retirement, it was a clear case for the handlers and the (Marine) Corps who Goodwin was going to be with. Plus, I explained to them that Goodwin would help Greg because he was named in Honor of his brother and Goodwin would help with Greg's PTSD, so Goodwin became a different kind of Service Dog without going through the training. And since both suffer with the same symptoms, they help each other and me.” When suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, certain triggers can bring back memories of a tragic or traumatic event or experience and cause intense emotional and physical reactions in response.
Sgt. Goodwin is happy and loving life in his senior years with the family who seemingly was destined to be his after such tragic loss. His service didn’t end after retiring from the Marine Corps. He serves as a very special purpose with the Goodwin family- not only is he a support to Sgt. Greg Goodwin, he is a connection to a man dearly missed by his family and friends.
The motto of the United States Marine Corps is Semper Fidelis. It means “always faithful” or “always loyal”. While he does not have the ability to speak these words, Sgt. Goodwin L518 certainly exemplifies them.