Fallen Soldier, Dog Honored At Fort Carson

Army Cpl. Kory Wiens and his working yellow Labrador retriever, Sgt. Cooper, weren’t stationed at Fort Carson. But on Friday, the post honored the two by renaming Iron Horse Dog Park as a memorial to them.

“To know that this is going to be here forever is really overwhelming,” said Lindsay Wiens, the sister of Kory Wiens, who attended the ceremony with her brother and father.

Army personnel unveiled a sign and a monument about the soldier-and-dog team that located improvised explosive devices planted by enemy forces. Wiens and Cooper were killed in July 2007 when one of the devices exploded. Wiens died just before his 21st birthday.

“It’s been a real honor,” said Kevin Wiens Jr., the corporal’s brother, who served in the Army with Kory and brought Kory’s body home. “I extend my appreciation to the community, to everyone who put in time and effort to making this happen.”

The corporal’s father, Kevin Wiens, Sr., mentioned a family connection with Fort Carson.

“My dad was stationed (here) during the Korean War, and he also was a dog handler. I have a picture of Kory and my dad at home, and it’s like looking into a mirror.”

Kory Wiens and Cooper were stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. His father said a dog kennel and a hospital there were named after the team. The family plans to travel occasionally to Colorado and Missouri from their home state of Oregon and bring their retriever dogs to the areas named after their son and his furry comrade.

Several soldier/dog teams from Fort Carson performed for the audience at Friday’s ceremony.