thedrifter
03-05-04, 06:08 AM
Eagle Scout ensures dogs get their due
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 20043416722
Story by Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Gadrow
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(March 4, 2004) -- A local young man is now soaring with eagles after doggedly dedicating nearly two years of work to military working dogs.
The memorial for military canines, the creation of 18-year-old Kyle Cabodi, stands in the rear of the Provost Marshal's Office on Mainside. It's his Eagle Scout project and was dedicated Sunday.
The monument is a free-standing marble block carved with an etching depicting a military working dog.
"Semper Fidelis" and "Dedicated to the United States Marine Corps Working Dogs, who in service protect our freedom as fearless and faithful companions to the United States Marines," are inscribed on the monument.
Cabodi, a member of Boy Scout Troop 737 in south Orange County, labored over the monument for nearly two years to obtain Eagle Scout — a rank obtained by only 2 percent of Boy Scouts.
"Kyle created this with a tremendous amount of time and personal effort," said Kyle's father, Kim Cabodi, an assistant scoutmaster, "I'm very proud of my son."
Perhaps Eagle Scout is rarely achieved because of the frustration along the way.
"Making connections, coordinating dates and getting the materials were the most difficult part of the project," said Kyle, 18, a senior at San Clemente High School in San Clemente.
Brig. Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego/Western Recruiting Region, attended the dedication. He has two sons who were in Kyle's troop and has known him for seven years.
"For someone to become an Eagle Scout, they have to do a community service project," Paxton explained. "It has to be designed, planned and resourced all on their own. They have to get their own manual labor and assistance to build it, and it has to be to the benefit of someone not in the scouting unit."
Kyle could have done any number of community service projects to fulfill his prerequisites.
He chose to commemorate the working dogs after reading a newspaper article stating there were no such memorials in the United States.
"Kyle thought it would be a great idea to build a memorial not only to the 'K9' unit here but throughout the Marine Corps, and not only today but through all their service," Paxton said.
Military dogs perform any number of tasks, according to Cpl. Mario Cardenas, a Marine Corps working dog handler here.
"(The dogs) are used to ensure the safety of the base, detect explosives or narcotics and to subdue suspects," he said.
Though most dogs weigh only 50 to 100 pounds, Cardenas said they're fast and strong enough that size doesn't matter.
"They can run anywhere from 20 to 30 mph and have jaws strong enough to crush bones," Cardenas said. "We train these dogs to pretty much go through a brick wall if they need to. They won't stop until they get what they (set out) to get."
The dogs work hard, but so do the handlers. The dogs must be keenly disciplined before they can serve, Cardenas said.
"A natural dog's tendency is to keep biting until it swallows whatever it was biting on, or until whatever it was biting stops moving," he said. "We teach the dogs to not only let go, but to let go on command."
Cardenas was "almost speechless" about the memorial. "There hasn't been another memorial since the main one in Guam. It's very extraordinary. Words can't explain it," he said.
Kyle received an acceptance letter to the University O f Southern California on Tuesday.
The ceremony concluded with a demonstration of the working dogs' abilities, including escorting, searching and subduing suspects.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200434161239/$file/BOYSCOUTlow.jpg
Kyle Cabodi, an Eagle Scout from Troop 737, shows off a miniature version of the monument he created. His troop presented him with the replica Sunday at the Provost Marshal's Office on Mainside. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Gadrow
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/7F8FA9B5521BFD9785256E4D0074082F?opendocument
The Drifter
:marine:
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 20043416722
Story by Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Gadrow
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(March 4, 2004) -- A local young man is now soaring with eagles after doggedly dedicating nearly two years of work to military working dogs.
The memorial for military canines, the creation of 18-year-old Kyle Cabodi, stands in the rear of the Provost Marshal's Office on Mainside. It's his Eagle Scout project and was dedicated Sunday.
The monument is a free-standing marble block carved with an etching depicting a military working dog.
"Semper Fidelis" and "Dedicated to the United States Marine Corps Working Dogs, who in service protect our freedom as fearless and faithful companions to the United States Marines," are inscribed on the monument.
Cabodi, a member of Boy Scout Troop 737 in south Orange County, labored over the monument for nearly two years to obtain Eagle Scout — a rank obtained by only 2 percent of Boy Scouts.
"Kyle created this with a tremendous amount of time and personal effort," said Kyle's father, Kim Cabodi, an assistant scoutmaster, "I'm very proud of my son."
Perhaps Eagle Scout is rarely achieved because of the frustration along the way.
"Making connections, coordinating dates and getting the materials were the most difficult part of the project," said Kyle, 18, a senior at San Clemente High School in San Clemente.
Brig. Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego/Western Recruiting Region, attended the dedication. He has two sons who were in Kyle's troop and has known him for seven years.
"For someone to become an Eagle Scout, they have to do a community service project," Paxton explained. "It has to be designed, planned and resourced all on their own. They have to get their own manual labor and assistance to build it, and it has to be to the benefit of someone not in the scouting unit."
Kyle could have done any number of community service projects to fulfill his prerequisites.
He chose to commemorate the working dogs after reading a newspaper article stating there were no such memorials in the United States.
"Kyle thought it would be a great idea to build a memorial not only to the 'K9' unit here but throughout the Marine Corps, and not only today but through all their service," Paxton said.
Military dogs perform any number of tasks, according to Cpl. Mario Cardenas, a Marine Corps working dog handler here.
"(The dogs) are used to ensure the safety of the base, detect explosives or narcotics and to subdue suspects," he said.
Though most dogs weigh only 50 to 100 pounds, Cardenas said they're fast and strong enough that size doesn't matter.
"They can run anywhere from 20 to 30 mph and have jaws strong enough to crush bones," Cardenas said. "We train these dogs to pretty much go through a brick wall if they need to. They won't stop until they get what they (set out) to get."
The dogs work hard, but so do the handlers. The dogs must be keenly disciplined before they can serve, Cardenas said.
"A natural dog's tendency is to keep biting until it swallows whatever it was biting on, or until whatever it was biting stops moving," he said. "We teach the dogs to not only let go, but to let go on command."
Cardenas was "almost speechless" about the memorial. "There hasn't been another memorial since the main one in Guam. It's very extraordinary. Words can't explain it," he said.
Kyle received an acceptance letter to the University O f Southern California on Tuesday.
The ceremony concluded with a demonstration of the working dogs' abilities, including escorting, searching and subduing suspects.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200434161239/$file/BOYSCOUTlow.jpg
Kyle Cabodi, an Eagle Scout from Troop 737, shows off a miniature version of the monument he created. His troop presented him with the replica Sunday at the Provost Marshal's Office on Mainside. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Gadrow
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/7F8FA9B5521BFD9785256E4D0074082F?opendocument
The Drifter
:marine: