14th SFS mourn loss of Airman

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jacob Corbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The BLAZE Team lost one of its own February 26 when a military working dog assigned to the 14th Security Forces Squadron here passed away.

Rex, a 14th SFS narcotics detection and patrol military working dog, died from an unknown illness the evening of February 26. He served at Columbus Air Force Base since 2001.

"Rex dedicated his entire life to service of the United States, and he served honorably," said Tech. Sgt. Jacob Hogan, 14th SFS kennel master. "He was a valued member of our Air Force family and he will be missed." 

Born in 1999, Rex joined the Air Force in 2001 and entered training at Lackland AFB, Texas. With the exception of a few brief stints with U.S. Customs monitoring U.S. borders, Rex spent his entire career assigned to Columbus AFB. 

Rex served with nine handlers; his partner for the last year was Senior Airman Dustin Weeks, 14th SFS. 

During his time as a MWD, Rex helped locate and seize numerous caches of narcotics. Some of his largest seizures include 84 pounds of cocaine, valued at $3.1 million; 4,981 pounds of marijuana; 290 pounds of marijuana and a multitude of others.