VOA慢速英语--美国军犬获最高荣誉勋章

AS IT IS 2016-04-10 US Military Dog Awarded Top Honor for Bravery 美国军犬获最高荣誉勋章

A British animal charity has given its top award for bravery to a U.S. military service dog.

Lucca, a German shepherd, completed six years of active service with the United States military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The U.S. Marines say Lucca protected many American and allied² troops. She reportedly saved thousands of lives by identifying explosives with her nose.

The 12-year-old dog and her handler, Marine¹ Gunnery Sergeant³ Christopher Willingham, traveled to London this week. There, they received the British People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Dickin Medal for bravery in battle.

“Her uncanny bravery in the face of adversity, both on and off the battlefield, proved to be an invaluable⁴ asset,” said PDSA Director General Jan McLoughlin.

Lucca is now retired⁵ from the military. But her final mission was an important one. In March 2012, Lucca discovered a 14-kilogram roadside bomb in Afghanistan. She continued the search and a second bomb exploded.

Her left front paw was destroyed. She suffered burns to her chest.

Her leg had to be removed. But she did make a full recovery.

Her move from her duties as a military dog to just a dog of leisure has been uneventful.

“She enjoys just being a dog,” Willingham said. He added that Lucca just enjoys taking life easy and laying on a couch.

Words in This Story

charity – n. an organization that helps people in need

handler – n. a person who trains or controls an animal

uncanny – adj. strange or unusual in a way that is surprising or difficult to understand

adversity – n. a difficult situation or condition

battlefield – n. a place where a battle is fought

asset – n. a valuable person or thing

mission – n. job or work; duty

leisure – n.  time when you are not working; time when you can do whatever you want to do

1 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

3 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

4 invaluable   

adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的

参考例句：

• A computer would have been invaluable for this job.一台计算机对这个工作的作用会是无法估计的。
• This information was invaluable to him.这个消息对他来说是非常宝贵的。

5 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。