Rinny: The Story of a Modern-Day War Dog and His Pack

By Troy Basham

Rinny is a novel loosely based on characters, experiences, and anecdotes encountered during the authors military and special operations career. It is a mixture of fact, fiction, experience, and conjecture. Through the adventures of a five-man team of Navy SEALs and their Belgian Malinois dog, Rinny, the story delves into the minds and emotions of human and canine warriors and how they deal with the atrocities of war. It explores the devastating effects and conflict both on the battlefield and upon returning home.
The story explores the relationship of a loyal and heroic dog and his humans. Rinny portrays the dedication, understanding, and healing love that canines offer us as well as the many services and benefits that they continue to provide mankind.
Enjoy the adventures of Rinny as he leads and saves his pack of humans on the battlefield of Afghanistan and in a private war against a gang-led cartel of men who smuggle drugs and humans. Together, they embark on a daring rescue of a family from the strangling hold of the leader of a ruthless gang. Enjoy the warm feeling that only the story of a loyal dog can give as we join Rinny and his pack.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514477359

Troy Basham

Troy Basham was born in Kentucky. Spending his early years roaming the hills, streams, and farmlands, he developed a particular affinity for canine companionship. He spent thirty-five years’ combined active duty and reserve in the air force. Retiring as a chief master sergeant, he served during Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Enduring Freedom, holding multiple specialties. He received a bronze star for actions while serving in Baghdad in 2005. Troy retired from a career at Tampa Fire Rescue as a district chief. During his extensive multiple careers, he was a law enforcement officer, SWAT medic, helicopter medic, airborne rescue specialist, and hazardous-materials / weapons-of-mass-destruction technician. Over the span of forty years, he has been a part of operations and training for USSOCOM, CENTCOM, the FBI, and many private, local, state, federal, and military response teams. Having witnessed and experienced firsthand the tragedies of war, human suffering, and its toll on humanity, he carries a deep understanding of those emotional demons. His love of dogs and insight into their being stem from many years of close work and association with them. Along with his loving wife, Jennifer, and their devoted Belgian Malinois, Emma, they live in Tampa, Florida.

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Copyright © 2016 by Troy Basham.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2016904619

ISBN:       Hardcover       978-1-5144-7737-3

       Softcover       978-1-5144-7736-6

       eBook       978-1-5144-7735-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 03/18/2016

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Author’s Note

Chapter 1 Skirmish at Khost, Afghanistan

Chapter 2 Warriors Come Home

Chapter 3 The Visitor

Chapter 4 Matamoros Mission

Chapter 5 The Balloon Goes Up

Chapter 6 The Battle for Marisa

Chapter 7 The Legacy

Chapter 8 Aanval

Chapter 9 A Delivery

Chapter 10 A Drive in the Desert

Chapter 11 The Pack Is Safe

Epilogue

Author’s Personal Note

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to recognize photographer Michael Payne and his wife and my favorite dog wrangler Rachel Schroeder-Payne for the beautiful photography that graces the cover of this book.

Though there are no real people represented in this book, the characters are created from a collage of personalities from personal friends and fellow professionals. It is true that fact is more fanciful than fiction. Though this is indeed a work of fiction, the incidents and actions reflected herein are indeed based on real life events and circumstances. The camaraderie, professionalism and network is very real. We call ourselves "Operators". This group exists in the ranks of our armed forces as well as in the communities of our country. The individual acts of bravery and daring that make up daily life are only surpassed by their collective dedication to protecting our country and way of life. Just as in the book, they serve and sacrifice both on and off of the battlefield.

The fictional canine warrior referenced in this book is also made up of a compilation of dogs that have honored me with their presence my life. Their skills, talents, abilities, and behaviors eluded to in this work are all very real. Though much of the main character’s thoughts and actions are conjecture on my part, that conjecture is based on a real understanding and deep connection with dogs I have known.

Without specificity I would like to acknowledge those whose actions and behaviors have inspired me to write this tale. I have lived a long professional life and moved in many circles where I have been blessed with the company professionals of strong character and dedication. They are some of the best men and women in the world. Many will see themselves or their traits in the characters of these pages. I have tried to paint them as the heroes they are to me. Over these many years I have worked along side the best representatives of the following organizations:

• Security Forces of the U.S. Air Force

• Fire Protection Services of the U.S. Air Force

• U.S. Air Force Pararescue

• Tampa Fire Rescue and its Special Operations Division

• Tampa General Hospital Aeromedical Service

• Tampa Police Department and its Tactical Response Team

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation

• The Florida Department of Law Enforcement

• U.S. Special Operations Command

• U.S. Central Command

I was profoundly inspired by a group of close friends who, in keeping with the mantra, Quiet professionals shall remain nameless. I wish to express my thanks and continuing admiration for this cadre of men who call themselves Operators, they are my brothers. It is these men and women who are the heroes to me. They all serve the combined purpose of keeping us safe. And they are the best at what they do.

I wish to thank my two biggest inspirations. They are the girls of my life who have rescued me from the demons of my lifelong experiences. My biggest inspiration is my loving wife Jennifer McCormick Basham. She is my angel and my rock. She is my confidant and anchor to reality. Without her I truly would have perished. The other is a Belgian Malinois named Emma. She was the inspiration for the main character. The brilliance of this dog never ceases to amaze me. The connection that we have is beyond my understanding. She is my constant companion and my therapist extraordinaire. Both her antics and the view I get into her brown eyes have afforded me an insight into canine behavior and love that escapes words.

This book is entitled with the name of the first dog in my life, an Australian Shepherd. He helped see me through a difficult and depression-ridden childhood. He taught me the value of canine companionship. It was his love that made me realize that without a dog there would be a hole in my life. I salute all of the dogs that have been there for me; Rinny, Midnight, King, Cuddles, Poseidon, Onyx, Magellan, Riley, and especially, Angel Emma Bean von Basham. Collectively, they have provided me a lifetime of love, devotion and education.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Shortly after mankind became societal and began living in communities and villages, they have had canine companionship. The first animals to join us were not drawn by desire for our company or by a partnering in the hunt. Instead, it was our collective leftovers that brought them near, an easy meal. They were drawn to our dumps and garbage heaps for the food that we discarded. Most of the wild dogs would bolt and run at the scent or sound of man. But some would remain close by and be the first to return to the spoils as man left. Since the bolder dogs did not dash for cover, they had the pick of the leftovers and became the stronger and more nourished animals. From those creatures grew a few who were brave enough to not flee. They began to accept man, and man accepted them.

Millennia of evolution have changed the appearance and the demeanor of canines. The descendants of our ancestors’ friends vary dramatically from the creatures that first joined us at fireside. But many breeds retain a lot of the character and appearance of those animals that first joined man. Certainly, all have held fast to some of the ancient habits. The propensity of a dog to turn in circles several times before lying down is demonstrated by almost every breed. This trait is a throwback to having to flatten down the grasses or the brush of fields before lying down. The practice of male dogs urinating on trees and poles by lifting a leg then sniffing the spot and scratching the earth is reminiscent of wolves and wild dogs marking territory. A higher mark and a deeper scratch were reflective of a bigger and stronger male dog that demanded respect. The urge to bury a treasure for later, the chasing of anything that moves—all are part of a list of ancient behaviors that remain instinctive. But at the top of the list is a trait that is part instinct, part learned, and part just being a dog: loyalty.

Scientific studies indicate that dogs are unique in that they have a highly advanced and rapid evolutionary adaptability. These studies have shown that canines can change their behavior and physical attributes to meet the needs of their environments in as few as three generations for as little as ten years.

Dogs have been bred for all manner of service to mankind. Over the centuries, we have engineered various breeds that were hunters, herders, pullers of carts, and many other tasks. Most of these wonderful creatures are happy to live their lives in the loving care of their humans, warming their laps, lying at their feet, and being put through all manner of behaviors and rituals that would humiliate the noble canines who first sought our company. But an elite few of these magnificent beasts have retained many of the physical characteristics and behavioral drives of their ancestors.

As civilization progressed and population expanded, mankind’s life became more complicated. Inevitably, conflicts arose. Humankind employed every resource to gain advantages over opponents as these conflicts became confrontations. When war became an integral part of human history, the faithful dog was there at man’s side. At first, the use of war dogs was generally employed in ways that pale in comparison to their current application. Their purposes varied widely. History has shown that these dogs were used to carry messages, as beasts of burden, to pull carts, to serve as a warning of attack, and to guard camps and fend off intruders. Limited were the instances of direct canine use on the battlefield in early civilization. But as war progressed, so did the utilization of dogs.

In today’s modern warfare, the exploitation of canine talents is at its highest efficiency. Just as they have shown a remarkable ability to make evolutionary changes in their genetics, dogs have also demonstrated an unparalleled adaptability and aptitude for combat-related tasks. With a combination of keen senses, physical capabilities, and trainability that far exceed any other animal, they are ideally suited for detection, deterrence, and disruption of enemy actions.

Canines may not think in a cognitive manner that we call higher intelligence, but they think nonetheless. In many ways, their thinking is on a higher level than ours. Fueled by an incomparable level of instinct, their intuitive intellect is often more accurate in its deductions than our own. Years of the survival-driven necessity for instant and accurate decision making have resulted in a biological machine that pulls it all together better and faster than any creature or computer.

But one thing makes the dog stand out as the perfect warrior companion. No creature on earth comes close to the dog in having the dedication and drive to bond with and please its humans. This arguably greatest trait of a dog of war exists in even the smallest of lapdogs. The characteristic of loyalty is present to a greater extent in the dog than in any other animal. I believe that trait to be stronger than the level that can be found even in humans. Whether evolved or learned and passed from generation to generation, a dog’s capacity for devotion is nothing short of astounding.

This book is dedicated to the canine guardians who have protected, comforted, and served us for thousands of years, only wanting our love and an occasional affectionate touch. This work is also dedicated to the men and women of our armed forces who sacrifice so much in the protection of our freedom and way of life. Joined together, the two—dog and warrior—contribute more to the continued existence of our way of life through their dedication and sacrifice than many of us will never fully comprehend.

CHAPTER 1

Skirmish at Khost, Afghanistan

The sun-scorched earth radiated searing heat through its paws as he worked his way through the terrain covered by jagged concrete, rock, and assorted sharp metal fragments. His was a route carefully chosen. He paid no mind to the easy path to follow. Rather, he chose a passageway that led over many obstacles. Tough, they tore at his feet; these by-products of the bombardment and destruction of war were of little concern to him. He had been on patrol for more than two hours in a stifling 110-degree temperature. His breathing was unlabored and steady. He drew air through his nostrils at almost three times per second, sensing each molecule, with amazing accuracy, for telltale signs of danger. The wind was steady and strong. Like a huge hair dryer, it drove the sweltering heat unrelentingly from his right side. With so much torrid air passing through his sinus and the sun bearing down on his head, his brain was becoming increasingly heated. He was near the edge of sensory shutdown. But this environment was routine for him. He had gone on many long patrols in the deserts of Afghanistan.

He wore no leash. His handler urged him on with his soft and encouraging tone. Though he needed rest, he would not stop. The men behind him trusted and relied on him, and he knew it. They followed him. Their faith in this dog made him more than just a piece of military equipment; he was a team member.

Rinny was a Belgian Malinois. His kind had served Navy SEALs and other Special Operations Forces (SOF) throughout the Afghanistan and Iraqi wars almost to the exclusion of all other breeds. A slightly smaller breed than the traditional German shepherds, they were ideally suited for the austere methods by which these units deployed and operated. Often finding themselves strapped to the chest of their handler, they parachuted, rappelled and fast-roped to land, and jumped alongside their team in water from the backs of helicopters and boats. Being a breed of dog that was compact, intelligent, and capable of handling the rigors of SOF, the Malinois fit the need precisely. Their smaller stature belied their superb physical strength and agility. With abilities to run, leap, strike, and bite that far exceeded those of many of the other canine warriors, they topped the list of choices for SOF operations. Their sense of smell outmatched those of most of the