Part IV Marc and Anax: The Struggle to Move On
This is Part IV of The Marc and Anax series. You may wish to read Part III or skip right back to Part I first.
Army Specialist Marc Whittaker walks into the kennel every day with his heart beating quickly and his mind spinning. He looks to his left and then to his right and then he hesitates.
To the right is retired Military Working Dog Anax, who whimpers for him. Anax is his son who now has three legs because he took a bullet that was meant for Marc.
To his left, Marc’s new dog, Military Working Dog Dark, whimpers for him.
What he’d like to do is take both dogs outside so he could play and frolic with his two pals without a purpose. Marc wants to take them home and never bring them back to the kennels. But he knows that can’t happen. Dark is a highly trained Patrol Narcotics Detection Dog (PNDD) in the United States Army.
Marc is a highly trained military working dog handler. He is skilled and proficient in the task of employing bomb and narcotic dogs while the United States is at war. His son Anax may be retired, but Marc’s skills as a dog handler are needed.
Marc is conflicted between the past and the future, between two dogs—both whimpering, begging for affection and attention from one man.
He knows he shouldn’t, but he can’t help himself. Marc turns left to see his Shepalicious son Anax. His sergeants have told him to stop spending so much time with Anax. They want Marc bonding with Dark because they want Marc and Dark to complete Military Working Dog Certification so they can be employed as a dog team. They also want Marc to re-kindle his love of training dogs. They want to see the same fiery and energetic soldier they sent to Afghanistan. But Marc is a soldier who came back from Afghanistan a shell of his once proud self.
Anax barks and leaps up on the door with his two front paws. He loses his balance and falls to the ground. His one back leg is unable to support him. He still doesn’t understand what happened to him. He still wants to go out and train with Marc. He wants to find explosives, run through the obstacle course and maybe bite some protective sleeves.
He grunts and leaps back up on his three legs, his tongue is hanging low and he bounces with excitement when Marc opens the door. Marc embraces him and holds him tight. He can’t wait until the paperwork is completed and he can ship Anax back to his home in Texas. Anax will forever be in the Whittaker family. But, like with anything in the military, military working dog retirement and adoption take time. Marc fights back the tears. After a few minutes of comfort and affection, Marc feels his stomach stomach begin to churn. He knows it’s time
He hears Anax whimpering as he walks through the kennel towards Military Working Dog Dark. Marc looks down at small-framed German Sheppard. His first thought is “He’s no Anax.” 
Dark is still a puppy, so he has ample energy. He jumps up on the kennel door and does a half spin into his house and then back out again. Dark has this high pitched puppy yelp-howling that makes Marc’s ears ring.
Marc wishes he was as excited to see Dark as Dark is to see him. He sighs and opens the door to the kennel. Dark jumps up on him.
“No. Sit,” commands Marc.
He looks down at the sitting dog that is staring at him with his big sad dark eyes. Anax never jumped on him like that.
Marc knows he needs to get serious about bonding and training Military Working Dog Dark so he takes Dark outside into the cold German morning. The cold breeze further deflates Marc’s already depleted enthusiasm. He unleashes Dark who darts around the training yard, running the fence line and stretching his stiff legs. He rolls on the ground, scratching his back, and then leaps up and down in front of Marc with his tail wagging. He is amped up and ready to show his new friend his stuff. He runs in circles around Marc, barking as he goes.
Marc sighs at the barely two-year-old puppy’s’ energy as the cold wind sweeps across his neck trying to sneak down into his green fleece jacket. He shivers and shakes his head.
He’s been through this before with Anax. Anax is two years Dark’s senior and doesn’t act like a puppy. A deployment to Afghanistan and a tragic injury will mature anyone, man or dog. Now Marc has to start all over again.
Marc knows certification is coming in less than a month. He’s been Dark’s handler for three months and feels the pressure from his peers and supervisors to start contributing. The constant flow of missions and deployments needs to be spread around. Every soldier and dog must do his part, but no certification means no mission. Marc also knows that no mission means an increase in kennel maintenance. Marc will be on “poop” patrol instead of out doing what he loves.
He wipes his runny nose, takes a deep breath and resigns himself to his fate.
“Anax. I mean Dark, come.”
The German shepherd launches himself at Marc and lands his two front paws on Marc’s chest. Marc strokes the dog’s head and stares into Dark’s almond shaped eyes. He knows that Dark wants nothing more than to please him. What Dark doesn’t understand is that there is only one thing that would please his new handler. Anax.
Can Marc and Dark build that bond critical for a dog team?
What will happen to Anax?
Will Marc and Dark pass certification?
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9 comments on “Part IV Marc and Anax: The Struggle to Move On”
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Okay. This time my heart goes out to Dark. I hope they bond. I’m also happy that Mark adopted Anax, and while I’m well aware of the lingering effects of multiple tours of combat duty, I also know how dogs help veterans in a myriad of ways. Anax and Marc have history. They’ll help each other. Love your stories, Kevin.
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Kevin Hanrahan says:
Hi Barbara. My wife told me she wasn’t liking Dark in the last piece so I made sure to depict Dark a little better this time….. he is like any other dog. He wants to please Marc. He wants Marc to love him. You are so right about dogs helping vets……my hope is that both Dark and Anax can help Marc.
Gloria Ford says: I know Marc & Anax well. I also know Dark. However, Marc does NOT share any new news of DARK with me. I do know ANAX is going home in about a Month. Thanks for sharing these articles! For those who WONDER what ‘DARK’ looks like, I dont know. Its considered bad luck to photograph a MWD who has NOT passed Certification yet.
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Hi Gloria. I’m excited for them both to have Anax heading to Marc’s home in Texas. You are absolutely right about Dark and is why there has been no pictures or in depth description of Dark. In the next piece I’ll cover their challenges of certification.
ouch that’s what my heart felt while reading this very touching post… My heart goes out to Marc… he sounds like an amazing person who sadly has endured too much. I hope and [ray for the best for Anax and I have a feeling that before too long Marc will be able to bond with Dark. That’s the things about dogs they have this uncanning ability to get you to fall in love with them. I’m looking forward to the rest of the story…
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Hi Lucy. Learning about Marc’s struggle has really provided me insight into the challenges our troops face. An uninvolved and ill-informed leader may think…well this is just a dog…tell that kid to get another and get back to work.
I’ve learned so much as a leader from Marc’s story and admire his courage very much. I am also rooting for Dark! Everyone loves a happy ending!
Hi Kevin,
I admire how your blogs bring out the human heart out of soldiers. It reminds me of a scene in the movie, War Horse, where the German and Britt soldier come to an amends over a horse in a moment in time. The struggles of connection, duty, a job is played out in the story blog of your journals; and animals are the link. The writing pieces give readers a great example of the human condition. I have noticed sometimes people who have or are experienceing trauma, war etc. they can relate to animals better it can be a struggle too but all so very expressive. May Mark incorporate his voyage well and Anax be like the smile Mark made:)
Side angle question/comment I sometimes see things in the outer frame of pictures. I like how the army sleeve in this last photo and others has squares as part of their camoflouge. Has the Army had that design that you have noitced since you have been in the military? Curious, Thank you. 
Sinerely,
Adriana Johnson
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Thank you Adriana. I am tooting for all three of them.
When I first joined the Army we wore the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). While in Iraq the first time we received the Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU). When I returned from Iraq the second time we transitioned to the Army Camouflage Uniform (ACU). Now our troops deployed are wearing a uniform called Multicams. (This is just for the Army and not any other service)
chulai says: My heart breaks for all 3. It feels much like having to sacrifice between a mother and her children. This is a family being pulled apart. The training would go much quicker if they bonded together!
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Okay. This time my heart goes out to Dark. I hope they bond. I’m also happy that Mark adopted Anax, and while I’m well aware of the lingering effects of multiple tours of combat duty, I also know how dogs help veterans in a myriad of ways. Anax and Marc have history. They’ll help each other. Love your stories, Kevin.
Hi Barbara. My wife told me she wasn’t liking Dark in the last piece so I made sure to depict Dark a little better this time….. he is like any other dog. He wants to please Marc. He wants Marc to love him. You are so right about dogs helping vets……my hope is that both Dark and Anax can help Marc.
I know Marc & Anax well. I also know Dark. However, Marc does NOT share any new news of DARK with me. I do know ANAX is going home in about a Month. Thanks for sharing these articles! For those who WONDER what ‘DARK’ looks like, I dont know. Its considered bad luck to photograph a MWD who has NOT passed Certification yet.
Hi Gloria. I’m excited for them both to have Anax heading to Marc’s home in Texas. You are absolutely right about Dark and is why there has been no pictures or in depth description of Dark. In the next piece I’ll cover their challenges of certification.
ouch that’s what my heart felt while reading this very touching post… My heart goes out to Marc… he sounds like an amazing person who sadly has endured too much. I hope and [ray for the best for Anax and I have a feeling that before too long Marc will be able to bond with Dark. That’s the things about dogs they have this uncanning ability to get you to fall in love with them. I’m looking forward to the rest of the story…
Hi Lucy. Learning about Marc’s struggle has really provided me insight into the challenges our troops face. An uninvolved and ill-informed leader may think…well this is just a dog…tell that kid to get another and get back to work.
I’ve learned so much as a leader from Marc’s story and admire his courage very much. I am also rooting for Dark! Everyone loves a happy ending!
Hi Kevin,
I admire how your blogs bring out the human heart out of soldiers. It reminds me of a scene in the movie, War Horse, where the German and Britt soldier come to an amends over a horse in a moment in time. The struggles of connection, duty, a job is played out in the story blog of your journals; and animals are the link. The writing pieces give readers a great example of the human condition. I have noticed sometimes people who have or are experienceing trauma, war etc. they can relate to animals better it can be a struggle too but all so very expressive. May Mark incorporate his voyage well and Anax be like the smile Mark made:)
Side angle question/comment I sometimes see things in the outer frame of pictures. I like how the army sleeve in this last photo and others has squares as part of their camoflouge. Has the Army had that design that you have noitced since you have been in the military? Curious, Thank you.
Sinerely,
Adriana Johnson
Thank you Adriana. I am tooting for all three of them.
When I first joined the Army we wore the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). While in Iraq the first time we received the Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU). When I returned from Iraq the second time we transitioned to the Army Camouflage Uniform (ACU). Now our troops deployed are wearing a uniform called Multicams. (This is just for the Army and not any other service)
My heart breaks for all 3. It feels much like having to sacrifice between a mother and her children. This is a family being pulled apart. The training would go much quicker if they bonded together!