Lucca, the dog that was awarded the canine version of Great Britain’s Victoria Cross#shorts

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Many military female dogs have been instrumental in aiding troops during wartime and Lucca stands out for her service. The mixed-breed Lucca was trained to detect explosives and served with the Marines. She served in Iraq and Afghanistan, completing over 400 missions. During her six years of service, she protected the lives of countless soldiers.

In 2012, during her last tour, Lucca lost a leg in an IED blast, ending her military career. She was honored with the PDSA Dicken Medal, the canine version of Great Britain’s Victoria Cross. Lucca is the first U.S. Marine Corps dog to be awarded such an honor. After her service, Lucca retired to live with Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham and his family. “She is the only reason I made it home to my family and I am fortunate to have served with her,” affirmed Willingham.