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Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama Bin Laden's compound in May 2011. After the mission, only one name was made public: Cairo, a Belgian Malinois and military working dog. Warrior Dog is the story of Cairo and his handler, Will Chesney, a member of SEAL Team Six whose life would be irrevocably tied to Cairo's, specially adapted for young readers from Chesney and Joe Layden's No Ordinary Dog. Starting in 2008, when Will was introduced to the canine program, he and Cairo worked side by side, depending on each other for survival on hundreds of critical operations in the war on terrorism. But their bond went beyond their military service.
As Cairo aged and went on fewer missions, Will moved on to other assignments, forced to slowly-and painfully-distance himself from the dog. Then, in 2011, the call came:
Pick up your dog and get back to Virginia. Now.Cairo and Will trained for weeks for a secret mission, but it soon became clear that this was no ordinary operation. Cairo was among the first members of the U.S. military on the ground in Pakistan as part of Operation Neptune Spear, which resulted in the successful elimination of Bin Laden.
As Cairo settled into a role as a reliable "spare dog," Will went back to his job-until a grenade blast in 2013 left him severely injured. Unable to participate in further missions, he tried to recover, medicine provided only modest relief. Instead, it was up to Cairo to save Will's life once more-and then up to Will to be there when Cairo needed him the most.
About the author
Will Chesney served as a SEAL Team operator and dog handler. He participated in Operation Neptune Spear, which resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. Chesney received a Silver Star and a Purple Heart, and now helps veterans who have suffered traumatic brain injury.
Joe Layden is an award-winning journalist and freelance writer whose work has been honored by the New York Newspaper Publishers Association, the Associated Press Sports Editors, the New York State Associated Press Association, and the International Reading Association/Children's Book Council. Mr. Layden has written or co-written more than thirty books for adults and children, including the long-running
New York Times bestseller
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride.
