Military working dog Figo served his country. Now, he's being honored in Fayetteville

The U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum is honoring a military working dog in a memorial paver ceremony this weekend and the public is invited to attend, the museum said Tuesday.

Figo was a Czech shephard and Belgian Malinois military working dog who was trained in patrolling, explosive odor detection and tracking through the Special Operations Forces Multi-Purpose Canine program.

After completing his training, Figo joined the Fifth Special Forces Group Airborne Division and deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and Syria in 2017. During both deployments, Figo found several buried improvised explosive devices, cleared routes and was “often the first American to encounter the enemy,” according to the release.

His actions saved countless lives.

After retiring from active duty, Figo went on to represent the Whiteville High School JROTC program as their beloved mascot. Now, Figo’s tactical vest will be donated to the museum for the community to appreciate.

According to the release, Figo died in 2023 and his contributions will be celebrated with a paver memorial ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday at the K9 Memorial located on the grounds of the museum. The public is invited to attend but should note that seating won't be available.

About the K9 Memorial

Located on the grounds of the museum, the K9 Memorial statue, which honors the service and sacrifice of all military working dogs with a plaque that reads, "Constant Vigilance – The Bond Between A SOF Handler & His K9 Is Eternal. Trusting Each Other In A Nameless Language. Here We Honor Our SOF K9’s That Have Paid the Ultimate Price.” The statue was created by Lena Toriton, according to the museum.

Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Figo the dog to be honored at Airborne & Special Operations Museum