Maj. Mike Brasher, 920th Rescue Wing helicopter pilot, holds his best friend and fellow crewmember, Katrina, during a recent visit to the 301st Rescue Squadron. Katrina is a 13-year-old beagle who became the squadron's mascot after the courageous canine assisted him and fellow crewmembers rescue victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After the beagle assisted with shepherding victims onto the helicopter for evacuation from an overpasses, she became the last creature standing and Brasher’s crew swept her up in the helicopter. After dropping her off to safety, it took Brasher and his wife Melanie a month of searching until they found the dog again, and adopted her from an Arizona shelter. Thirty-two Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing were awarded air medals for their outstanding performance in New Orleans where they rescued 1,043 people and some odd number of pets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Cathleen Snow)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Heroes

Maj. Mike Brasher, 920th Rescue Wing helicopter pilot, holds his best friend and fellow crewmember, Katrina, during a recent visit to the 301st Rescue Squadron. Katrina is a 13-year-old beagle who became the squadron's mascot after the courageous canine assisted him and fellow crewmembers with rescuing victims of Hurricane Katrina during the tragic aftermath in 2005. After the beagle assisted with shepherding victims onto the helicopter for evacuation from one of the area?s overpasses, she became the last creature standing and Brasher?s crew swept her up in the helicopter. After dropping her off to safety, it took Brasher and his wife Melanie a month of searching until they found the dog again, and adopted her from a shelter where she ended up in Arizona. Thirty-two Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing were awarded air medals for their outstanding performance in New Orleans where they rescued 1,043 people and some odd number of pets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Cathleen Snow)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
From the 2005 archives, 920th Rescue Wing members Maj. Robert Haston (left), Capt. Michael Brasher (center), and Senior Master Sgt. Pete Callina (right) pose with the brave beagle that aided their rescue efforts in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina operations. Renamed "Katrina", the canine was reunited with the crew after Captain Brasher and his wife conducted their own search and rescue mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Heather L. Kelly)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

A hero's tail

Published July 22, 2013
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

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, 301st RQS helicopter pilots Capt. Mike Brasher and Maj. Robert Haston (not a major and lieutenant colonel) 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 (now retired), 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 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.

Katrina continues to live in Orlando with the Brashers and loves an occaisional visit to see her fellow crewmembers at the squadron.

Heroes