From Candidate to Commando

Born on December 29, 2008, in the Netherlands, Herk’s journey to greatness began in April 2010 when he was hand-selected by the DoD. After arriving at Lackland AFB, he entered intense training where he didn't just meet the standards—he shattered them. His military trainers described him as dedicated, driven, affectionate, and loyal. On December 9, 2010, he officially earned the title of Military Working Dog.

Guardian of Vance Air Force Base

Assigned to the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance AFB, OK, Herk served as a Patrol/Narcotics Detector Dog from 2011 to 2017. His impact was massive:

A Loyal Partner: Served alongside five different handlers and hundreds of Airmen.

Criminal Deterrence: Conducted over 100 attack demonstrations and countless patrols.

Detection Capabilities: Credited with seizing over 5 ounces of marijuana and a final, critical find of felony-amount black tar heroin.

A Well-Deserved Retirement

In November 2017, Herk hung up his harness. He traded chasing decoys for hunting table scraps and playing with his family. Herk was a "normal" dog who finally got to roam free and fill their home with love. He was the best dog a family could ask for.

Final Honors

On August 10, 2024, Herk was laid to rest with full honors at the Michigan War Dog Memorial. He now stands among his brothers and sisters in arms, a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by our K9 heroes.