MEET VALDO: THE MILITARY HERO DOG WHO TOOK AN RPG BLAST TO SAVE FOUR LIVES
Modern wars have never been fought by humans alone.
Alongside soldiers on today’s battlefields are drones, satellites, advanced weapons systems—and animals. For centuries, militaries have relied on dolphins, pigeons, camels, seals, and especially dogs to perform missions humans alone could not.
These animals don’t give interviews. They don’t understand rank, medals, or politics. They don’t know the significance of the missions they’re sent on. They know only their training, their handler, and the commands they’ve been taught to follow.
One of those animals was Valdo—a military working dog whose actions in Afghanistan saved the lives of at least four American service members.
Who Was Valdo?
Military working dogs are selected young, screened for very specific traits. They must be intelligent, confident, focused, and able to function in chaos—amid gunfire, explosions, unfamiliar smells, and overwhelming noise.
Valdo met those standards.
Like many military dogs, Valdo came from strong European working lines, most commonly Belgian Malinois or German Shepherds, breeds known for their stamina, drive, and steady nerves. His training was intense and unforgiving. He learned to detect explosives, respond instantly to commands, and move seamlessly with combat patrols.
Valdo was eventually paired with his handler, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Lee, and deployed to Afghanistan. Together, they supported U.S. Army patrols operating in Badghis Province, an area where enemy contact was frequent and unpredictable.
On patrols, Valdo worked at the front of the formation—closer to danger than the service members behind him. It was a position that would soon prove critical.
The RPG That Struck Valdo
On April 4, 2011, Valdo and Lee were part of an 11-man patrol in the Bala Murghab district of western Afghanistan. The unit came under enemy fire, and moments later, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired directly into their position.
The explosion tore through the patrol area. Four American service members were wounded.
Valdo took the worst of it.
Metal fragments ripped into his hind legs, abdomen, and tail. Unable to stand, Valdo howled in pain as the patrol remained under fire.
“That was a handler’s worst nightmare,” Lee later said. “When that RPG came in and exploded next to us, all I could think about was how to get Valdo off that field. His screams were jolting. I felt helpless because there was nothing I could do with the amount of incoming fire.”
Valdo had been positioned directly between the blast and the troops behind him. Had he not been there, those service members would have taken the full force of the explosion. His body absorbed part of the blast that otherwise would have caused even greater injuries—or worse.
Under fire, Valdo was carried nearly a mile and a half south to a combat outpost. Army Specialist Kellen West treated him there before Valdo was evacuated to Forward Operating Base Todd and later to Camp Arena in Herat for further medical care.
How Did Valdo’s Career End?
Valdo survived—but his military career ended that day.
His injuries were too severe for him to ever return to duty. He had given everything he had.
Many military working dogs are adopted by their handlers after retirement, and Ryan Lee intended to do the same with Valdo.
“He’s a tough dog and made it, though,” Lee said. “As much as the platoon owes their lives to Valdo, he owes his life to Specialist West and the other men who carried him off that field and got us on the medevac helicopter.”
Public records do not document Valdo’s life after retirement, which is common for military working dogs once they leave service. What matters is that he survived—and that his sacrifice allowed others to go home.
If we’re lucky, Valdo spent his retirement the way every good dog deserves: far from gunfire, chasing treats, resting, and simply being a dog.
Valdo’s Purple Heart Medal
Military working dogs are not formally included in military awards regulations. But sometimes, sacrifice is impossible to ignore.
After the attack, Valdo was awarded the Purple Heart—a decoration traditionally reserved for U.S. service members wounded or killed by enemy action. The award recognized what everyone on that patrol already knew: Valdo had taken the blast and paid the price.
Valdo never knew what the Purple Heart meant. He didn’t understand medals, recognition, or honor.
But the service members did.
Valdo proved that courage doesn’t require rank, language, or even understanding. Sometimes, it comes on four legs—running toward danger without hesitation.
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BY ALLISON KIRSCHBAUM
Veteran, Military History & Culture Writer at VeteranLife
Navy Veteran
Allison Kirschbaum is a Navy Veteran and an experienced historian. She has seven years of experience creating compelling digital content across diverse industries, including Military, Defense, History, SaaS, MarTech, FinTech, financial services, insurance, and manufacturing. She brings this expertis...
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Allison Kirschbaum is a Navy Veteran and an experienced historian. She has seven years of experience creating compelling digital content across diverse industries, including Military, Defense, History, SaaS, MarTech, FinTech, financial services, insurance, and manufacturing. She brings this expertis...
