Forever Remembered

A Hero. A K9 Handler. A Brother in the Working Dog Community.

Some people leave a lasting impression, and John “Jet Li” Douangdara was one of those people.

John was a dedicated U.S. Navy military working dog handler who attended Mike Reaver’s military K9 courses here at Adlerhorst in Riverside, California.

We had the privilege of knowing John through his training here. He was part of a profession built on courage, commitment, trust, and an extraordinary bond between handler and dog.

On August 6, 2011, John lost his life in the tragic crash of Extortion 17, a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan. He was 26 years old.

He was among the 30 American service members who lost their lives that day. His military working dog, Bart, was also aboard the helicopter and perished alongside him.

John’s dedication to his country, his fellow service members, and his canine partner will never be forgotten.

At Adlerhorst, we remember John not simply as a name in military history, but as someone who came through our doors, trained with Mike, and became part of our working-dog community.

John, thank you for your service, your dedication, and the time we were fortunate enough to share with you.

You will always have a place in our memories and in the Adlerhorst family.

Rest in peace, Jet Li. You and Bart will never be forgotten.