This Day in History: Billy Soutra's Navy Cross

On this day in 2012, a dog handler receives a Navy Cross. Sergeant William “Billy” Soutra thought his German Shepherd Posha deserved at least some of the credit, though. “Posha made me the Marine I am today,” he concluded.

Perhaps the Marines agreed? Posha held his own rank: Staff Sergeant.

Posha was a specialized search dog, trained to search for IEDs. Soutra reflected on how important the dog was during their first deployment to Afghanistan.

“We had a productive tour and had really bonded,” Soutra told the U.S. War Dogs Association. “Posha was my best friend and saved my life on multiple occasions. I had made the right choice with him and he was having the time of his life.”

Nevertheless, the duo’s Cross action wouldn’t come until their second deployment in 2010.

They were then serving with Company B, First Marine Special Operations Battalion. Our Marines had been tasked with capturing an IED factory and clearing a Taliban Command Post. Some Afghan Commandos were also with the force as it was inserted into the area shortly after midnight on July 10.

At first, everything was going well. Posha was on his game, finding two pressure plate bombs before they could do any harm. The location of a high value Taliban post was also soon confirmed.

Unfortunately, about 50 of the enemy found them and launched an attack, beginning what would ultimately be a two-day firefight.

“We were held in place for the remainder of the day,” Soutra explained, “which put huge strain on our ammo and water supplies. . . . [T]he rest of the day was spent fighting a series of small engagements as they attempted to recapture their IED factory.”

Things got worse the next morning. The group’s element leader, SSgt. Chris Antonik, decided to push for higher ground, hoping to get supply drops. Just as they got started, they were ambushed again. This time, an IED explosion left Antonik badly wounded.

Soutra sprang into action, taking charge of the men. He ran through intense fire to place a tourniquet on a commando who had been wounded in the initial explosion. “Repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire,” his Cross citation describes, “he again moved from position to position to orient and direct friendly fires, accurately relayed enemy information that enabled aircraft to provide suppression, and calmly coordinated a successful evacuation of the casualties—personally carrying one of the wounded 75 meters.”

He’d taken Posha off his leash, but the dog stayed faithfully at his side. “[H]e didn’t hesitate, he didn’t cower, he did everything exactly when and how I did it for two straight days,” Soutra later said proudly.

He could tell that Posha “understood the emotional gravity of what had happened. . . . He had been in bad situations before but this time, one of our own was in trouble and I could feel the shift in his body language. He knew.”

When all was said and done, the Marines and commandos killed 28 insurgents and evacuated 10 wounded men, although Antonik would not make it. Soutra received a Navy Cross, and three other Marines received Silver Stars.

The Marines received their awards in a ceremony on December 3, 2012.

Sadly, the story doesn’t get to end on that happy note. Posha was not at the Cross ceremony because he’d been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“Saying goodbye to him,” Soutra said, “was harder than I ever thought possible. . . . He was misunderstood by so many but we got each other. He slept with me and like so many dog teams, we shared the smallest space, but I was always happy to have him near.”

We often celebrate our men and women in uniform, but perhaps today is a good day to remember the canine heroes in our military, too.

Primary Sources:

• In the Highest Tradition (Leatherneck Mag., Feb. 2013) (p. 47)

• Linda Bock, Worcester Marine honored at his old elementary school (Telegram & Gazette; June 11, 2013)

• Marine Special Operations Team Members Honored (Fresno Bee; Dec. 4, 2012) (p. A7)

• Meet Billy Soutra – US Marine Corps Dog Handler and Navy Cross Recipient (U.S. War Dogs Assoc.)

• Navy Cross citation (William B. Soutra; War on Terrorism) (reprinted HERE)

• Sgt. William (Billy) Soutra and his Specialized Search Dog, Posha F738 (Military Working Dog Team Support Association)

• Special Ops Members Honored (Goldsboro News-Argus; Dec. 4, 2012) (p. 2A)

• Tony Perry, Elite Marine Squad Honored (Los Angeles Times; Dec. 4, 2012) (p. AA3)