Warrior-Dog Teams
Garland & Smitty
Garland Shirley retired in 2009 from the City of Des Moines where he served as a firefighter and paramedic. Shirley spent the entirety of his career with the Des Moines Fire Department, working out of Station 2 located on East 18th and Walnut specializing in rapid extrication. Because of his paramedic level training, he was often assigned to medic squads throughout the other stations in the city. In 2007, while performing ice water training at Grays Lake, he aspirated ice water into his lungs that caused severe scarring. Due to the injury, he was forced to medically retire in 2009. After years of treatments and declining lung function, in 2017 Shirley had a bilateral lung transplant. In addition to being a firefighter/paramedic, Shirley has also coached club and high school softball. Shirley was named Clarke University's head softball coach in July of 2018.
Shirley has four children: Vanessa, Dominique, D’riece, and Dion Shirley He resides in Dubuque, Iowa with his Fiancé, Angela McGuire.
Smitty is named for Lowrie (Smitty) Smith. Smitty was born in 1924, in Scranton, Iowa, went to Dubuque Senior High School through 10th grade, and joined the U.S. Navy in 1943, where he was a Corpsman (medic). He was later given a high school diploma for service to his country. While stationed at Corpus Christi, Texas, Smitty met Gloria, whom he married in 1945. When Smitty received orders to go to sea on August 1, 1945, he didn't know where he was going. Once at sea, he and his shipmates learned they were on their way to invade Japan. The U.S. dropped the atomic bomb in August 1945, which caused Japan to surrender. Smitty returned on December 10, 1945, and mustered out on December 18, 1945. Smitty was donated by Chris & Ron Shanahan at Iron Hill Retrievers.
Steve & Doc
Steve Vincent is an Army Veteran who deployed two times to Iraq between 2003 and 2010. He knew he was joining the army before he left high school in 1980 as his father and two brothers all went into the military. In 2003, Vincent sustained a substantial head injury that went untreated, after he encountered an explosion. He completed the deployment in 2004 but would later be deployed again in 2009. In 2010, Vincent was medevac'd to Fort Campbell where he would recover from his injuries for the next year. Vincent was medically retired and honorably discharged from the Army in 2012. Vincent was a civilian truck driver for over 20 years. He loved crisscrossing the United States and meeting new people.
Vincent’s life changed drastically in the spring of 2013 when he was matched with his first service dog, Degree. Dee has worked tirelessly by Vincent’s side and has been his lifeline. Dee will enjoy her retirement next to him in the recliner as Vincent’s companion.
Vincent has seven children: Joshua, Tara, Jessica, Steven Jr., Paul, Michael, and Ben Vincent and four step-children: Chris, Kyle, Katie, and Cody Schveiger. He resides in Maquoketa, Iowa with his wife, Julie Vincent and his favorite companion, Buddy.
Doc is named for Jeremy “Doc” Bradley. Jeremy joined the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman on September 6, 2001, less than a month after his 19th birthday and just five days before the attacks of September 11. He graduated second in his Corpsman training class, then completed Field Medical Service School (FMSS) at Camp Johnson, North Carolina, in October 2002. It was during FMSS that he earned the nickname “Doc.” Jeremy’s deployments include Iraq in 2003, Djibouti in 2003-04 and again in 2004-05, and the Iraq/Syria border in 2005-06—where his unit faced daily sniper and mortar fire daily, improvised explosive devices and an attack by three suicide vehicle bombs. He left the Navy in 2007. His awards include the Fleet Marine Force Warfare Device badge, two combat action ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and a Navy Unit Commendation. Doc (Bradley) was donated by Hero Labradors.
Jeremy & Bric
Jeremy is a military veteran who was medically retired in 2018 after 20 years of service in the Marine Corps and Army National Guard. During a deployment in 2016, Jeremy served as the Mortuary Affairs NCO for his unit. In this role, he was exposed to some of the most unfortunate and horrific sides to war, including his response to an attack on American Military and Civilian personnel that occurred on Bagram Air Base (BAF). Returning from this deployment Jeremy was diagnosed with PTSD. Jeremy continues to serve the members of the Iowa Army National Guard as a federal technician.
Jeremy lives in Waukee with his wife Amy and two sons, Owen and Brayden.
Bric is named after Brittney and Eric Mann. “Our daughter Brittney was our warrior as she fought cancer. Her brother Eric was her biggest supporter and stood by her until she lost her battle. Bric is the combination of the first three letters of her name and the last three of his.”
Bric (Thelma) is donated by Hero Labradors.
Steven Graham
Steven was born in Port Hueneme California and is a self-described “military brat”. Steve and his family moved to Des Moines, Iowa where he was raised. Steve graduated from Des Moines East High School and Iowa Central Community College.
In 1996, Steve joined the United States Navy E-4 Seabee Steve was an NCO, heavy equipment operator and squad leader. His service led him to several different countries including Bosnia and Kosovo.
Military combat took a toll on Steve and he suffers from several injuries, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Steve and his wife have five children and live in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jaylee is named for Jay E. Brown and Jim Lee Cary.
Jay Brown was born in 1924 in Mason City, Iowa. Jay enlisted in the Navy in 1942, where he ultimately became a Gunnery Officer on an LSM (Landing Ship Medium). He served in the Asiatic Pacific theater during 1945 and 1946, landing in China prior to the close of WWII. Jay was awarded the Victory Medal for his service.
Jim Lee Cary was born in 1933 in Red Oak, Iowa. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953, and trained at Fort Riley, Kansas as part of the 10th Infantry Division and at artillery school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He then trained as a field wireman and communications chief. Jim served in Korea as part of the 27th Infantry Regiment Wolfhounds. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation. Following his service Jim returned to Lincoln, Nebraska and joined the fire department. In his early years with the department, he was a firefighter. Then with his communications and switchboard background he played a key role in helping set up Lincoln’s 911 Emergency Service System and Dispatch, and served the rest of his career in the Fire and Rescue 911 Dispatch Center.
Jaylee (Yellow Female) is donated by Hero Labradors.