A British military dog that saved the lives of troops in Afghanistan in 2012 was decorated Friday for bravery.
Mali, an 8-year-old Belgian Malinois, won the Dickin medal — a prize awarded by the PDSA veterinary charity and billed as the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, Britain's top award for military valor.
Corporal Daniel Hatley poses for a photo Friday Nov. 17, 2017, with his Military Working Dog, Mali, who was named as recipient of the Dickin Medal for animal bravery after Mali helped save the lives of troops in Afghanistan. (Naomi Gabrielle/PDSA via AP)
The charity says Mali was twice sent through direct fire to conduct searches for explosives. He also detected the presence of insurgents, giving troops key seconds to "engage the enemy in close-quarter combat."
He carried on despite being hurt by grenade blasts that injured his chest, legs and ear. He has since fully recovered.
Corporal Daniel Hatley, who trained Mali, said he was extremely proud.
"The way he conducted himself when it mattered most enabled my colleagues to achieve success in close combat," Hatley said.
The Military Working Dog, Mali, Friday Nov. 17, 2017, who was named as recipient of the Dickin Medal for animal bravery after Mali helped save the lives of troops in Afghanistan. (Naomi Gabrielle/PDSA via AP)
Mali is the 69th recipient of the prize that since 1943 has recognized gallantry by animals serving with the military, police or rescue services.
The award, named veterinary charity's founder Maria Dickin, has also gone to police horses, carrier pigeons and once to a cat that caught rats on a besieged vessel in China.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s military chief Gen. Francis Ogolla died in a helicopter crash west of the country, President William Ruto announced Thursday and declared three days of national mourning.
The helicopter was carrying 11 people, including Gen. Ogolla, when it crashed Thursday and caught fire in a remote area near the border with Uganda, killing nine people onboard, the president said.
It is unclear what caused the crash.
Gen. Ogolla, 61, was on a tour of the country’s troubled western region that has seen frequent attacks by local bandits.
He was appointed Kenya’s Chief of Defense Forces in April last year after Gen. Robert Kibochi retired.
Political controversy surrounded Ogolla even before his appointment, when he was accused by the country's electoral commission chairperson as being part of a national security council delegation that tried to influence the outcome of the 2022 general election against President Ruto.
Ruto later explained that he called Gen. Ogolla before his appointment and said that, despite the election controversy, he was the most qualified for the job.
Gen Ogolla joined Kenya's military force 40 years ago.
He was a graduate of École Militaire de Paris, the National Defence College of Kenya, Egerton University and the University of Nairobi.
Gen. Ogolla is survived by his wife Aileen, two children and a grandson.
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FILE - Kenya's military personnel practice maneuvers as part of Britain's King Charles III's visit to the Mtongwe Naval Base in Mombasa, Kenya, Nov. 2, 2023. Ogolla died in a helicopter crash west of the country, President William Ruto announced Thursday, April 18, 2024, evening and declared three days of national mourning. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File)
FILE - Kenya's military chief General Francis Ogolla, right, shakes hand with Britain's King Charles III, left, and Kenya's President William Ruto, center, as they attend a military welcome ceremony during Charles' visit at the Mtongwe Naval Base in Mombasa, Kenya, Nov. 2, 2023. Ogolla died in a helicopter crash west of the country, President William Ruto announced Thursday, April 18, 2024, evening and declared three days of national mourning. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File)
FILE - Kenya Air Force Brigadier Francis Ogolla speaks to journalists in Nyanyuki airstrip, Kenya, Aug. 15, 2012. Ogolla died in a helicopter crash west of the country, President William Ruto announced Thursday, April 18, 2024, evening and declared three days of national mourning. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi, File)
FILE - Kenya's military chief General Francis Ogolla, right, and Kenya's President William Ruto, left, at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 14, 2023. Ogolla died in a helicopter crash west of the country, President William Ruto announced Thursday, April 18, 2024, evening and declared three days of national mourning. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File)
FILE - Kenya's military chief General Francis Ogolla is dressed in full uniform at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 14, 2023. Ogolla died in a helicopter crash west of the country, President William Ruto announced Thursday, April 18, 2024, evening and declared three days of national mourning. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File)
