Back From IA

Parker was attached to Task Force MP with the Marines and provided support for point of entry (POE) teams, swept vehicles and looked for IEDS with the Quick Response teams.

"It was crazy cool," he remarked. "It like I trained to do this. I am doing this, but why am I doing this?"

"Working with the Marines was great," Parker said. "YOu couldn't ask for better people to have your back. We'd run point and you have to rely on them to have your back."

As a part of Task Force MP, Parker said that he travelled from the top of Iraq in Rabiyah and back down again to Ar Ramadia, but spent most of his time in Hit, Iraq.

While he said that he and Dago were shot at a few times, the atmosphere of Iraq has changed and "calmed down a lot."

"The mission in Iraq is really changing from a combat mission to a humanitarian mission," he said. "We've got a lot of [the Iraqis] back on their feet. It's real good that we're doing that."

Along with the duo's mission as an explosives response team, the K-9 crew acted as a visual deterrant for terrorists and a reminder of home for the Marines.

"A lot of the Marines had to leave their dogs, their pets, while they are deployed [to Iraq]", Parker said. Dago gave them a chance to reconnect and remember.

Parker will remain at NS Mayport for a couple more months before reporting to his next duty station in Greece. Dago is up for retirement and will not complete another overseas mission.

If you have an IA returning to you command, contact The Mirror at 270-7817 ext. 10 12.