2016 Brandon Rumgaugh and Service companion, "Sam".
Sam is one of two service dogs that were purchased by the Old Joe Club
for the 24-7 Battle Buddies Program of David Feherty's Troops First Foundation.
On Nov. 29, 2010, Corporal Rumbaugh had just returned to an outpost from a combat
patrol with the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, and was responding to the scene of an
improvised explosive device (IED) blast involving one of his good friends outside
the compound in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Carrying a stretcher, and rushing with
his team to aid the injured Marine, Brandon stepped on a second IED resulting in the
traumatic amputations of his right leg at the hip and his left leg below the knee.
24-7 Battle Buddies is a service dog program that matches canines to wounded military
Veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each 24-7 Battle Buddy is carefully
selected for their partner. The training is then specific to the Warrior's needs
and intended to assist in successfully navigating everyday life.
The second service dog, is currently being trained and will be united with a local
wounded vet as soon as his training is complete.