7/22/2013 - PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Courage comes in many shapes and many sizes. Combat search-and-rescue helicopter pilot, Maj. Mike Brasher, 920th Rescue Wing, recently brought this pint-sized hero covered in fur for a visit to see some old friends, her fellow crewmembers.
Now 13-years-old, Katrina became the mascot of the 920th Rescue Wing in 2005 because of her acts of heroism.
During the first days of Hurricane Katrina search and rescue missions, many acts of courage were witnessed. The story of the 301st Rescue Squadron rescue beagle begins Sept. 1, 2005, at the I-10 overpass in New Orleans.
After setting down to take on multiple loads of stranded hurricane victims, Brasher and Lt Col. Robert Haston began to notice that each time they landed, a beagle would run toward the helicopter and station itself next to Senior Master Sgt. Pete Callina, one of the pararescuemen on board.
"It was like she was helping us corral people into the helicopter. She was totally unafraid," said Callina.
"While we were on our last run, it was obvious that she was an evacuee herself and didn't belong to anyone on the overpass," said Captain Brasher. "So we decided to take her with us," he said.
After entrusting the animal (then called "Barney") to an emergency medical technician at a collection point, the crew hoped that the dog would get to an animal shelter.
"After we got home, the impossible task of finding her began," said Brasher, who enlisted his wife Melanie in the cause.
"After searching through thousands of beagle pictures online, we were able to locate her though petfinder.com," said Brasher. "She was with the Arizona Humane Society," he said.
The Brasher's arranged to have the dog flown to Orlando, Fla., and to her new home and place as the 301st RQS mascot.
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