MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Family, comrades at arms and members of the local police departments gathered at the Marine Memorial Chapel here and remembered Sgt. Adam Cann during a memorial service Jan. 27.
Cann, a 24-year-old military working dog handler from Destin, Fla., was killed in action by a suicide bomber Jan. 5 in Ramadi, Iraq while conducting crowd control with one of his best friends, his military working dog Bruno.
The primary mission of K-9 handlers is to detect Improvised Explosive Devices, provide psychological deterrent during crowd control, patrol entry control points, detect narcotics and ensure base safety.
At the Military Working Dog Handler’s Course held at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, he distinguished himself as the academic honor graduate.
He later attended the Corporals Course, graduating as class honor graduate. More recently, he attended the Military Working Dog Supervisor’s Course held at Lackland Air Force Base.
“He was a special, special boy,” said his mother, Betsy S. Beebe. “He was always a goofball. Ever since he was a little boy, he constantly made others laugh.”
His older brother, Sgt. Justin P. Cann, an F/A-18 Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing added just about everyone in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., knew his name.
“He was a magnet for friends,” the older Cann recalled. “Everyone wanted to be with him, and he knew of every party in the Fort Lauderdale area.”
Although he did love to party and make friends, Cann was inspired by his older brother and the veterans in his family to join the Marine Corps after his June 2000 graduation from South Plantation High School in Plantation, Fla.
“I was extremely proud when I found out he wanted to serve his country, especially when he told me he was going to be a dog handler” his mother said.
His graduation from the Military Working Dog Handler’s Course at Lackland Air Base introduced him to fellow Marines who would become good friends.
“I first met Sgt. (Adam) Cann three and a half years ago on my 20th birthday when I arrived at Okinawa,” said Sgt. Benjamin M. Maple, military working dog handler with Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. “From the first time I met him, we got along. It seems like I was always one step behind him in everything, but I experienced so much with him.”
From Okinawa, Cann deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2002. After his first combat deployment, he reported to Camp Pendleton in December 2002, where he was assigned Bruno and introduced to Staff Sgt. Gregory S. Massey, his staff noncommissioned officer in charge.
“He was a jokester, but he was also one of the finest Marines I have ever had the honor to lead,” said Massey. “He was never afraid to lead from the front and always wanted to get in the action.”
He deployed to Iraq in the Spring of 2004 and according to his friends, he maintained this attitude.
“I remember how mad he was because he was going to the Jordanian border,” Maple recalled. “He really fought to get to Ramadi and the other hot spots. Regardless of where he was, he was proud to be a Marine and you could see how his motivation rubbed off on other Marines. I don’t know of one person who wouldn’t fight next to him.”
He returned to Camp Pendleton with his spirit as strong as ever.
Cann and Bruno deployed to Iraq a second time in September 2005 where he was assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). He was subsequently assigned to 5th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment Provisional Military Police Battalion. Four months later he gave his life serving his country.
“To the Cann family, there is nothing we can ever do to compensate you for your loss, but we all thank you very much for bringing him into this world,” said Col. Carlyle E. Shelton, commanding officer of Security Battalion, MCB Camp Pendleton. “His contribution to the world was greater than many because he gave his life saving lives. Sergeant Cann, wherever you are, you have done your duty and forever rest in peace.”