Sergeant Yeager – 2019 Military Hero Dog our Interview with Caroline Zuendel

The Woof Life Show - A Podcast for Dog Lovers

In this episode of The Woof Life Show the podcast for dog lovers, Lauren Farricker chats with Caroline Zuendel who is the dog mom and handler of Sergeant Yeager who won the 2019 Military Hero Dog Award.

Sergeant Yeager honorably performed combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Improvised Explosive Detection Dog with the United States Marine Corps. Sgt. Yeager has been credited with detecting the locations of dozens of explosive devices. During his three combat tours, Sgt. Yeager participated in over 100 patrols, and was tasked with clearing routes for his fellow Marines. On April 12, 2012, Sgt. Yeager suffered shrapnel wounds from an IED that caused him to lose part of his ear.

He was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries. Unfortunately, the same explosion took the life of his handler, Lance Corporal Abraham Tarwoe. The pair was virtuously trying to protect the other Marines in the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. Fellow Marines attest to the unbreakable bond between Tarwoe and Sgt. Yeager. After the attack, Sgt. Yeager was transported back to the U.S. and treated for his injuries until he was stable enough to retire from the USMC. Lance Corporal Tarwoe’s widow was unable to adopt Sgt. Yeager as she would now be raising their infant son alone. Sgt. Yeager was adopted by another Marine Corps family. Today, at 12 years of age, Sgt. Yeager is beginning to show signs of aging, though his spirit is undiminished. Despite his trials and witnessing acts of terrorism, Yeager remains a sweet dog with an infinitely joyful disposition. He has settled in North Carolina with his family, where he is an ambassador for the Project K-9 Hero Foundation, which pays 100% of his medical bills from his sustained injuries. In September of 2019, Sgt. Yeager also received the Medal of Courage Award!

The 9th Annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards® will premiere on the Hallmark Channel on October 21st at 8pm ET/ PT. The event was hosted by Beth Stern and James Denton and presenters included Kristin Chenoweth, Shannen Doherty, Trevor Donovan, Danielle Fishel, Vivica A. Fox, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jenna Johnson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ally Maki, Larissa Wohl, Cameron Mathison, Debbie Matenopoulo, Kristoffer Polaha, Brandon McMillan, Barbara Niven, Roselyn Sanchez, Ariel Winter, Eric Winter, and Sofia Wylie.