Bush Service Dog Takes Oath As Hospital Corpsman

President George H.W. Bush’s former service dog has reported for duty at his new home at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Sully is a Labrador retriever trained to work with persons with disabilities. He was named after U.S. Airways pilot Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III, who safely landed a jet on the Hudson River in 2009.

Sully was the guest for a welcome-aboard ceremony at Walter Reed’s USO building. He was sworn in as a Navy hospital corpsman, second class, and offered his paw for a shake when congratulated.

Called “a true patriot” during the ceremony, the yellow lab joins six other service dogs at the medical center, where they will see inpatients and outpatients, averaging about 2,500 visits a month. Each visit lasts about an hour.

When Bush passed away at age 94 in November, it was the family’s wish that Sully go to Walter Reed and work as a service dog for disabled individuals.

Sully finished his tour as Bush’s service dog by accompanying him to his final resting place at Texas A&M.