‘Charged with the duty to comfort:’ Honorary Army major promoted at hospital ceremony

Staff at an Army medical center in Washington state recently celebrated the promotion of a colleague who, at only 6 years old, has remarkably achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.

In a ceremony in early August, employees and patients at Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord gathered for the honorary promotion of the facility dog, Earl.

Earl, a black Labrador retriever, is one of two facility dogs at Madigan supplied by America’s VetDogs, a nonprofit that trains service dogs for veterans with disabilities.

The organization determined he didn’t quite pass muster to become a service dog.

“He’s not quite as focused as a service dog needs to be,” handler Tracy Baker, a health care resolution specialist at the center, said fondly. “But, he is so obedient, gentle and kind.”

A portrait of Lt. Col. Earl, a facility dog at Madigan Army Medical Center in Washington. (Courtesy of Tracy Baker.)

She brought Earl to Madigan four years ago after hearing about the program from a colleague at a different facility.

While facility dogs such as Earl sometimes interact with patients during occupational therapy, physical therapy and behavioral health appointments, their main role is to provide emotional support to hospital staff.

Madigan Director Col. Jimmy Watts, who presided over the ceremony, entrusted Earl with the responsibility of bringing joy to the hospital.

“Earl is charged with the duty to comfort and to bring cheer to others, and I do strictly direct and require all dogs of lesser grade to render obedience to appropriate orders,” Watts said during the outdoor event.

“Other than one mishap involving a cupcake within his reach, his performance has been flawless,” Baker said.

Madigan Army Medical Center Director Col. Jimmy Watts places Earl’s new rank of lieutenant colonel on his velcro vest, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Aug. 3, 2026. (Sean Hall/U.S. Army)

Madigan Army Medical Center Director Col. Jimmy Watts feeds Lt. Col. Earl a treat during his honorary promotion ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Aug. 3, 2026. (Sean Hall/U.S. Army)

Baker retired from the Army Nurse Corps in 2006. She decided Earl would begin his facility career as a captain, because it’s the rank of many of the residents and nurses at the center.

As for how far Earl will go in his career, she isn’t sure he is allowed to outrank the hospital’s commander.

Nevertheless, Baker says soldiers in the halls happily defer to his honorary rank, calling the canine “sir.”

When he’s not comforting staff and patients, Earl curls up for a nap in the corner of Baker’s office.

“It’s the best part of the job, to walk through the halls and see the smiles on people’s faces,” Baker said.