On Tuesday, Lance Corporal Liam Tasker was killed while serving with the U.K.'s Royal Army Veterinary Corps, 1st Military Working Dog Regiment. He was a dog handler and had been searching for explosives with his sniffer dog Theo. Working as a team, L/Cpl Tasker and Theo had found a record 14 hidden bombs and weapon caches in just five months. In an interview on the Ministry of Defense website, Tasker said, "I love my job and working together with Theo. He has a great character and never tires." And it was only last month that Tasker described his job and the close bond he had developed with Theo, "He can't wait to get out and do his job and will stop at nothing."
Tasker was gunned down by Taliban forces in Afghanistan while searching for hidden IED's, weapons and bomb-making equipment. Although Theo initially survived the attack, the springer spaniel later died after suffering a seizure.
The Ministry of Defense has confirmed that Theo's ashes would be flown back in the same aircraft as L/Cpl Tasker's coffin. Tasker's uncle, Billy McCord said his nephew would have been happy to have Theo by his side. "He actually said at one point that when he finished his tour, he was not sure what would happen to his dog and that he could get separated from his dog. That was preying upon his mind, but they are not separated now." Tasker's body will be returned to Britain around the time the 26-year-old was due to arrive home on leave.
Rest in peace Liam and Theo...
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