Sgt. 1st Class Gabe may have been the most successful detection dog in Iraq in 2006-2007, but here he proves he'€™s a typical Labrador retriever at heart as he runs after a ball in a training session with his then-handler, now-owner Sgt. 1st Class Charles Shuck. Military working dog handlers typically use tennis balls, rubber chew toys known as Kongs and food as rewards in training. (Photo courtesy of Sgt. 1st Class Charles Shuck)

Dog, veteran, hero

11 October 2012

Meet Gabe. He’s a noncommissioned officer and combat veteran with some 40 awards to his name. He is also the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog of the Year.