An extraordinary read about Navy SEALS and the dog that helped them take down Osama Bin Laden
By Heidi Dahms Foster
If you love reading about top-notch military teams, you’ll immediately have an interest in No Ordinary Dog, by Will Chesney with Joe Layden. Add in the story of an incredible dog and his part in taking out 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden, and this is a riveting read.
Will Chesney was an ordinary kid who had a dream of being a Navy SEAL. He had no military background, no athletic prowess to speak of, and no outstanding physical traits. But he did have an aversion to self-pity, and generally took life as it came. He credits that trait with making it through the absolute hell of SEALS training.
“There is no ‘typical’ SEAL,” he writes. “We come from all walks of life and from all parts of the country. You’re going to get your ass kicked; in all likelihood, you’ll find the experience so miserable that you’ll give up.”
Chesney survived the training crafted to weed out all but the most determined and strong. The account of training is fascinating, and so is the account of his 13 years as a SEAL, in which he made it onto one of the most elite teams – the one that brought down Osama Bin Laden.
While a SEAL, Chesney was exposed to the dogs that had begun to make their way into military operations. While working with SEAL Team 4 in 2008, he was invited to view a short demonstration of military dogs and the work they do. “I was open to the idea of using any tool that could make my job easier and safer,” he wrote.
He learned about the favored Belgian Malinois dog’s incredible sense of smell, which could detect roadside bombs and other explosives better than any technology; their light and agile yet tough physique that was less than half the size of a man but could bring one down with little effort; and their amazing intelligence and beauty. He began to pursue becoming a dog handler, and was paired with a beautiful and talented Malinois named Cairo.
Chesney and Cairo worked side by side, depending on each other for survival on hundreds of critical operations in the war on terrorism. Finally, it was time to move on to other assignments, and because Cairo was still judged to have great value in the war on terror, Chesney could not take him along as a retired K9. But in 2011, Chesney was ordered back to the kennels to pick up Cairo and report to Virginia. What followed were several weeks of training for a secret mission.
Cairo and Chesney were 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. After that mission, Cairo returned to the kennels and was used when his outstanding skills were needed.
Chesney continued with the job he loved, until in 2013 a grenade explosion during an operation left him with a brain injury and PTSD. He suffered from migraines, chronic pain, memory loss and depression.
He tried to continue his military service as a trainer, but finally realized he had to move on. He would be able to continue to visit with Cairo at the kennels, and that seemed to be the only thing that would bring him peace.
Would Cairo eventually be able to retire with Chesney full time and help his recovery? That’s part of this great read.
Find No Ordinary Dog on Amazon.com in Kindle, paperback, hardcover and audio.
