Notice:Visitors may be filmed, photographed or recorded by the U.S. Air Force for educational and promotional uses, including for posting on public websites and social media. By clearing routes of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and sniffing out other explosive ordinance, they're helping to save the lives of coalition and Afghan forces. U.S. Air Force dog handlers provided a unique and critical capability in defending air bases against attack. Zachary Wolf) We were all so young. additional veterinary research. USMC & Handlers from our allies killed in Vietnam, Thailand, Instead, they were used to patrol the perimeters of military bases. Bevich is remembered on Panel 13E, Line 9 of The Wall. . Most of the dogs that survived the war were either euthanized or sent to work for the South Vietnamese Army. When they finished their tours of duty, their dogs remained behind to work with other handlers. The granite panels were designed and constructed by Columbus Art Memorial. Military Working Dogs or Contractor Working Dogs, Photos Above: Safe Conduct Passes, Courtesy of Bruce Pritchett, Don (Jack) Kelly Korat RTAFB 'Nov Nemo returned to Lackland in July 1967 as a part of an Air Force dog recruitment team. The dog and handler were very effective in defending aircraft, airfields, supply depots, ammunition dumps, defensive perimeters, and many other strategic military facilities throughout South Vietnam. - Food and Soda Drinks Yet, with the bond a dog team creates and all the training they have gone through, handlers will, at times, doubt their dogs abilities. Their keen senses, learning ability, endurance & devotion have made them invaluable companions. Labs were friendly, handled the heat okay and had a natural instinct for tracking ground scent. The Great Pademic of Rapid City, 2020. The dogs handler could determine the distance to the danger, usually by the degree of his dogs state of alert. Then, instead of walking into the Vietcong trap, he could call in fire or air support to obliterate the enemy position. Free shipping for many products! Officer '66-'67, Steve Janeke & Sentry Dog Kobuc X448 The U.S. Army had the highest number of infantry scout dog teams deployed throughout South Vietnam and consequently suffered the highest number of casualties, dogs and handlers, of the war. They have proven themselves to be the best at what they do. or photos. Dogs who become certified as military working dogs have gone through an extensive selection and training process. Through the hours of darkness, sentry dogs and their handlers patrolled along the perimeters of U.S. Air Force air bases. Dogs and Handlers Lost: Vietnam Only around 200 made it home to retire in peacetime. Click here to view the collection in the Library of Congress. Dogs of SEA Worksheet list all known dogs assigned That elite weapon were our military working dogs in Vietnam War, and we had thousands of them. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Vietnam and Thailand. Niaomi. He met Bevich in 1966 before both of them shipped out. Reeves found out that Prince had been one of the few dogs that returned to the US. (Air Force photo/Lisa Camplin) "Feed the Dawgs is a U.S. Veterans group of Vietnam era dog handlers who travel from base-to-base to provide a meal for K-9 handlers and their families," said Kenneth Neal, Vietnam Dog Handlers Association member. The former airman will visit Bevichs grave in Summit Hill, Pa., 40 miles north of Allentown. Discharged: 26 Aug. 1968 Interest It is unnatural, theres no reason for it, and typically its a sign of the handler not being relaxed. In mid-1968 an epizootic occurred which threatened the working dog program and led to 250 canine deaths. Commendations: Reeves attended the dedication of the new memorial. Reunion 2006 Grand Lakes O The Cherokees, OK, Audie Murphy Presidential Medal of Freedom. Its important to always remember to trust your dog because if theres anyone who is wrong, its the handler because the dog is always right. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. These dogs are credited with saving more than 10,000 lives. The cost to feed a dog was more than the cost to feed the handler. including attacks on bases, Nemo Please feel Security Police team with a dog on an early morning reconnaissance patrol near Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam, in 1967. US Army veterinarians provide training for Air Force military working dog handlers. Unfortunately, some MWDs like to play with it and spread it every where they can. There were 4,000 dogs and 9,000 handlers and no recognition for them at all.. The memorial in Groveport cost $110,000. The There is a long history of dogs being used in war that stretches back to ancient times. CHARLES HENRY WAS A DOG HANDLER WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vietnam Era Dog Tag plus US Air Force Patches | Memorial Ephemera & Misc Affects at the best online prices at eBay! The German shepherd dog and handler were generally deployed with the infantry and combat engineer units. Photo courtesy of VSPA, Sgt. Sentry dog alerts to movement outside the perimeter of Phan Rang Air Base. - Hero of Tan Son Nhut AB. experience proved that canine ehrlichiosis can On their first day in Vietnam, they barely survived a firefight with the enemy. infected animals brought the epizootic under I had alot of buddies from K9 school that were stationed in Thailand. Redesignated 437th Security Forces Squadron July 1, 1997. Of the 294 dog handlers who were killed in Vietnam, one handlers, Staff . While serving as a dog handler and sentry in Montana, Bob was called to protect one of the last American bases in Southeast Asia after the withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam in 1973, known as Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base. Here are the most common terms and what they mean. Photo Above shows the terrible wound suffered by Nemo. " In the Vietnam War about 350 dogs were killed in action and 263 handlers were killed. Due to the nature and escalation of the war, in 1965 the Army decided to reactivate its scout dog program. Approximately 4,000 dogs served in the Vietnam War leading patrols with their handlers. We talked on the phone several times in the last few years, and finally we were able to meet in El Paso, TX for a short visit. New Zealands elite Special Air Service in Malaysia, Throughout the course of the war, 4,000 dogs served in Vietnam and Thailand, A human nose has about five million scent receptors, Dogs and their handlers went through three phases of instruction: drill/obedience, New Zealand's elite Special Air Service in Malaysia. Although frustrating, the visits with her new dog, Elvis, are just the beginning of her dream becoming a reality. Handlers attend a three-month training program at Joint Base SA-Lackland to learn dog-handling procedures. Most MWDs that defecate in their kennels will simply wait for their handler to clean it up. After 11 months and 27 days as an Air Force dog handler in Vietnam, Langley and Vogie parted company. Det. The man runs away. But a trained dog could detect the trap, and it would be neutralized. The first 4 were: June 26, 2012 - Bomb dogs are integral to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. WWII, U-T Under PROJECT TOP DOG 145, the U.S. Air Force sent 40 sentry dogs and 40 handlers to South Vietnam in the summer of 1965. The VC fired 60 to 80 rounds into parked aircraft and troop billets then withdrew undetected and unabated. He arrived in Vietnam with Prince on September 12, 1970. 71-72', Complete History of Air Army Military Working Dog Handlers (MOS 31K) are responsible for training and caring for their service dog. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol of America's honor and recognition of the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. He talks about serving with his K-9, Jake, and the roles of military working dogs in-country. All Rights Reserved. And although it appeared that the dogs were being instructed, it was the soldiers who were actually being taught. Our training instructors seemed to take a perverse pleasure in informing us how dumb we were compared with the dogs. is an association for USAF Weapons are not permitted including pocket knives and firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons. Equipped with their sensory superpowers, the . Hear him talk about his service, from parachuting with Prince, to lying on ambush in Vietnam with Prince. to Vietnam & Thailand Air Force/Navy bases and some Army dogs used in Photo Above Courtesy of Nemo's War Dog Heroes Memorial. This is ingrained in every handlers head. Ian Harvey is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE, The Follow-Up to Band of Brothers is Coming. Military Working Dog Ttoby, 23d Security Forces Squadron, prepares for an MWD demonstration, Feb. 2, 2017, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Ttoby is a Belgian Malinois and specializes in personnel protection and detecting explosives. VIDEO: Remembering the Vietnam Wars Combat Dogs (National Geographic), VIDEO: Walking Point: Vietnam Scout Dogs Trailer (YouTube), VIDEO: A Breed Apart: Combat Trackers and Their Dogs in the Vietnam War (YouTube), A History of the 58th Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog), Training of War Dogs The War Office, 1962, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund | 3033 Wilson Blvd, Suite 300 | Arlington VA 22201 | 202.393.0090 The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test determines where a prospective service member might excel in the military. What happened to them after that? Langley was asked. - Knives Our units responsibility was to protect the Tay Ninh Base Camp, and especially the ammunition dump. - Backpacks History Dog Handler Bob Curnick was a dog handler who served in the Air Force from 1972-1976. that crashed during the Mayaguez rescue attempt. Parade Float 2013. Army and Marine Corps snipers were another group targeted with the threat of bounties because they were force multipliers on the battlefield. Click here to view the War Tales fan page on FaceBook. At 6:06 a.m. Thursday, former Airman 1st. Their primary role was to track the enemys scent or blood trails throughout South Vietnam, so that larger American forces could reengage. Bevich and a group of four other dog handlers and their dogs were on their way to Vietnam and Langley drove them to Logan Airport in Boston for the trip overseas. In Vietnam, American forces used dogs for everything from base security to detecting ambushes to hunting down fleeing enemy units. I know you have a son and I know that he had to be very proud of you. Labrador retrievers were also widely used, primarily as trackers. Deadly Disease for Military Working Dogs in SEA The volunteer force, nicknamed Merrill's Marauders, executed skilled fighting tactics in the Burmese jungles to defeat the veteran soldiers of the Japanese 18th Division. (U.S. Air Force photo). The middle panel contains the words, The Unbreakable Bond.. Permitted Items: The XM177 series was deployed to Vietnam being used by a variety of units, including US Army Military Police and US Air Force Combat Security Police (primarily by dog handlers) and US. Vice president Ernie Ayala says that it is difficult to think about how these dogs saved their lives and in return the handlers went home and left the dogs behind. At the moment of impact its important the decoy is not so stiffto allow the dogs momentum carry through. "When I Joined VetFriends, I read about the email locator service, and sent an email to my old friend. Please note the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is not responsible for items left in vehicles. Entered Service: 27 Aug. 1964 In a decision that remains controversial to this day, the Department of Defense classified the dogs as equipment, and most were left behind transferred to the army of South Vietnam, systematically euthanized, or simply abandoned. While stationed in Thailand with the 56th Security Police Squadron Bob formed a steadfast relationship with his military working dog Rex. The next night, sentry dog Nemo, an 85-pound German Shepherd, detected a small enemy group that remained hidden on the base. The dogs started out at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas with a thorough physical exam. In the jungles of Vietnam, nearly 4,000 specially trained dogs served in a variety of combat roles, reportedly saving tens of thousands of U.S. troops from injury and death. He was killed in a Viet Cong mortar attack in December 1966. He talks about serving with his K-9, Jake, and the roles of military working dogs in-country. "I would wager that 90 percent of American combat troops killed in action during the Vietnam War never saw their killers. Whether it was a sniper at 200 yards, a rocket fired into a base camp or an attack from a well-concealed bunker complex, the element of surprise was usually on the side of our enemies. Security Police dog handlers serving in Viet Nam and Thailand during Viiet Nam war. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. This scent or sound alert was also true of the sentry dog teams, like Smokey and me. highly fatal tickborne rickettsiosis caused by author/photographer, & VSPA a If the decoy is too stiff, they can jam the dog which can potentially hurt them. I was 20 years old and weighed 135 pounds; Smokey weighed 90 pounds. By the time the handler comes to clean it, the MWD has painted the kennel with feces. When our politicians decided to exit Vietnam in a hurry the military classified our dogs as equipment. As such, they were left behind. The war dog association believes that as many as 4,900 dogs served in Vietnam but records from the early years of the war are incomplete so it is impossible to say for certain. By clearing routes of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and sniffing out other explosive ordinance, they're helping to save the lives of coalition and Afghan forces. . A well-trained dog became an extension of his handlers senses seeing, hearing, and smelling danger that was otherwise undetectable. Bill was the first SEAL to handle Dogs in SEAL Team. And throughout training that special bond was formed between trooper and dog. - Water bottles (clear, sealed bottle, up to 20 oz.) Instructors willtell them to drop the purse so they lower the leash and assume a more relaxed hold of it. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. Visit the main pages for RECONNECTING = PRICELESS. Many of the Vietnamese handlers were Buddhist and did not develop a relationship with their assigned dogs. To Sandbox, Vietnam VoyForums: Vietnam Security Police Association K-9 Bulletin Board. The success of these teams, combined with those working in U.S. law. Dogs have been mans partners in war for a long time at least as far back as 4000 BC. According to Dogs in History, only about 200 of the more than 4,000 dogs who served in Vietnam made it out. After completing an 8-week training course, he was assigned to Fairchild AFB, Washing, for duty with the Strategic Air Command. first Air Force Dog Handler to die in Vietnam. Among those names is Airman 2nd Class George Michael Bevich Jr., the first Air Force dog handler killed on Dec. 4, 1966, in a Viet Cong mortar attack while protecting Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon with his dog, Rex. I was a sentry dog handler in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, a member of the 212th Military Police Sentry Dog Company stationed in Tay Ninh. President As we navigate rapidly evolving military culture and Like any deployed troops, Russian soldiers make calls Sign up for our newsletter and receive the mighty updates! An estimated 4,000 dogs and 9,000 military-dog handlers served in Vietnam. dog's fate! Detect the presence of a force, alert or observe without enemy force detection; Assist security forces by scouting and tracking; Work safely in close proximity to friendly forces on strike teams, reconnaissance and ambush patrols without becoming distracted or agitated. Dog teams form a bond so strong that a handlers attitude will affectthe dogs attitude and vice versa. On a night in early December 1966, about 75 enemy raiders slipped past the first perimeter line at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam. 366th SPS History. 71-72', list all USAF, USN, USA, To make it simple, instructors tell beginning handlers to yell HOT SAUCE! very quickly over and over to provoke the dog. Take the military aptitude test. When King was sent home in January 1968, he had to leave Fritz behind. Between the years 1964 and 1973, America had deployed an estimated 4,000 war dogs and 10,000 handlers to help defend South Vietnam from invasion from North Vietnam. This study Here's a typical career pathway for a military dog handler: 1. Ive heard it said that without our military dogs, there would be 10,000 additional names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall. As soon as that happened, I got on my walkie-talkie and alerted the base. Visitors are welcome to listen and interact with SAM subject matter experts located throughout the Presidential Gallery in . LAYTON, Utah --. Allhandlers will learn how todecoy aka pretend to be the bad guy and its important they know how to agitate properly toprovoke the dog to bite them. Dragon ships sprayed the surrounding jungle with bullets. It was a watershed moment but it was not without challenges. This Bulldog, officially known as Chesty XV, is the Marines' official mascot. The Labradors, with their amazing noses, went straight to tracker training. All military working dog (MWD) handlers no matter what branch of service they are in, go through the same basic handlers course and advanced dog training schools. Copyright 2003-2021. ** Two handlers and one ex handler (total of eighteen Security Police personnel KIA) were on the CH-53 helicopter that crashed during the Mayaguez rescue attempt. 1975-76 to the DOD Dog Center, Lackland AFB, Texas. In the Vietnam War about 350 dogs were killed in action and 263 handlers were killed. All of the other dog handlers were doing the same thing. (Air Force photo/Lisa Camplin) "Feed the Dawgs is a U.S. Veterans group of Vietnam era dog handlers who travel from base-to-base to provide a meal for K-9 handlers and their families," said Kenneth Neal . To conduct a proper detection search, all handlers are taught the inverted V method in which the dog detects low, then high, then low again. It is not possible to overestimate the incredible bond that existed between handler and dog. There was an epidemic of parvovirus that year that killed a lot of dogs in Viet Nam, and Taddy got sick. control, although ehrlichiosis still remains a U.S. Marine dog handler, Corporal Michael Galloway and his Scout Dog, Stormy search a tunnel and find an enemy satchel of explosives ( Vietnam 1970). VSPA July 05, 2016. King was stationed as a military policeman at Lockbourne Air Force Base (now known as Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base) in Columbus, Ohio, when a commanding officer sent him to be trained as a dog handler. However, dogs that are not fully confident will not clench and hold and instead will bite, then release, and then bite a different area. Within a few years, several hundred dogs had been turned over to the Vietnamese military. Most were given to the military by families back home. eighteen Security Police personnel KIA) were on the CH-53helicopter This would be the largest battle involving sentry dogs, their . Less aggressive but still highly intelligent shepherd dogs went to the scout school. the working dog program and led to 250 canine Though there was. The two were trained to scout which meant they would go on patrols and search for people, mines and booby traps. Another Article From Us: The Follow-Up to Band of Brothers is Coming. determine its cause. (U.S. Air Force photo). The Vietnam Dog Handler Association formed to help these veterans cope with the guilt of leaving their dogs behind. Airman Robert A. Thorneburg was assigned as Nemo's handler in July 1966. $75. Approximately 350 dogs were killed in action, many more were wounded, and 263 handlers were killed. . Kyle Pethtel, a dog handler with the 27th Special Operations Security Forces, was fun and filled with challenges for both canine and. Hear him talk about the training and duties of sentry dogs, and about working with Duke to secure one of the largest ammunition dumps in the world at Long Binh. Links are encouraged. We used German shepherds like Smokey, mixes of shepherd types, and Labrador retrievers that were well trained in detecting, attacking, and tracking the enemy. "Nemo", born in October 1962, entered the United States Air Force as a sentry dog in 1964, at the age of 1 years. Total: 37 12th SPS (Cam Ranh Bay & Phu Cat) Read More: 14th SPS (Nha Trang) Read More The Army and Air Force used about 90% of the dogs sent to Vietnam, with the Army having the most by a wide margin. A dog handler witht he combat tracker team from the 4th Inf. To Sandbox Becoming a dog handler in the Army requires a few crucial steps. Bob Dunn handled military working dogs in the U.S. Army and served with the 212th Military Police Company (Sentry Dog). Class John Langley of Venice stood in front of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., and read 30 servicemens names who appear on the memorial together with more than 58,000 others inscribed there forever. Dogs and their handlers went through three phases of instruction: drill/obedience, aggression, and scouting. As Nemo charged, Throneburg killed two enemy troops. Scout / Tracker Dogs. 1973 is significant because that was when the United States ceased ground combat operations and withdrew the last of its ground combat forces from South Vietnam. Marine dog handler Steve Reichenbach with his dog, Major, on a patrol north of Danang in late 1966. . The Vietnam War introduced American troops to a new kind of warfare. Expertly trained by New Zealands elite Special Air Service in Malaysia, their dogs were initially provided by the British military. and the Sandbox. Your donation to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will help expand our mission to honor, educate and heal. The 341st Military Working Dog Center will only consider applicants who meet the minimum requirements previously listed. I know I felt it with Smokey. The dogs were given to the ARVN, and were used in combat. Download time will be effected by your He gave them one set of greens and a pair of boots and told them we'll see how it works out. withina month we had two more sets of fatigues and another pair of boots. USAF 633rd SENTRY DOG Section Camp Pleiku K-9 Vietnam Patch. Credited with saving Throneburg's life, Nemo was hailed as a hero. Search-and-destroy missions used a handler and his scout dog to walk point, out in the jungle, able to raise an alarm about an ambush long before most of the unit was in danger. In Security Police or as an Veterinarians, Adopting Dogs It wont be like it was when he first attended the ceremony a quarter century ago with no recognition for the dog handlers. 1953 - Some of the first K-9 to be used in the Korean war. As some of the only . ehrlichiosis and related diseases requires: be successfully treated with tetracycline; this After the dog located the tunnel, a soldier (Tunnel Rat) would enter the tunnel to investigate. EIN: 52-1149668, Copyright 2023 The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display. Learn more about these four-legged warriors and their two-legged warriors by hearing from Terry Kehoe, Mark Smoot, and Bob Dunn. His story is remarkable and should be shared. information on joining. The list also specifies the dogs that were returned in Langley, who also was a dog handler, went to Vietnam a year later. as Air Police / They protected our soldiers on patrol from the many and diverse devices set to kill and maim. Deadly Disease for Military Working Dogs in SEA (South East-Asia) The United States employed large numbers of military working dogs as sentries, scouts, trackers, and mine detectors in Vietnam. stories/photos Diamond A legendary hero of the Marine Corps, Master Gunnery Sergeant Leland Diamond fought in World Wars I and II, and was skilled at firing off mortar bombs. These are MWDs who are so well trained overall, especially in obedience, that they will rarelyneed acorrection, if any. Enemy fighters used the jungle to their advantage, employing guerilla tactics (such as ambushes, mines, tunnels, and traps) in ways that U.S. troops hadnt encountered before. They chased down the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army forces after a firefight when they would attempt to disappear back into the jungle. the identification and control of the disease, of Vietnam, including attacks on bases. Thailand from 1960-1975, Air Base Defense Our US Air Force Dog Handler, K9 Unit Experience, Cam Ranh AB. . Complete Lists of Federal Benefits for dependents and survivors. USAF Ray Roberts & King, Da Nang AB Vietnam April 1973 Photo Courtesy of Don Poss, Fred Hewitt & Sentry Dog Bullet Da Nang AB Perimeter Dec 1967 Photo courtesy of Monty Moore, A1C Shark and K-9 Heino at Cam Ranh Bay AFB Vietnam. She would get excited, but she was trained not to bark. Black and yellow Labs were favored. listed by name, brand number, and bases assigned. Air Force Dog handlers work with their canines to train and detect explosives, or find drugs in a number of different situations. Reeves was a dog handler in Vietnam. A retirement ceremony for Morgen, a military working dog with more than eight years of service, was held Feb. 24 at the 88th Security Forces facility on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Congressman, Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland. Photo 1 of 17. Mark Smoot served in the U.S. Air Force as an Airman 1st Class with the 56th Security Police Squadron in Thailand from 1971-1972. Has anyone, military personnel, found out what happened to these poor dogs. He researched what became of his dog, Prince, and published the results in a book he self-published in 2016. Navy K-9 Sentry Dogs UNK. Dogs to be used as scouts were trained at Fort Benning, Georgia, learning to detect tripwires, weapons caches, and other items. . The United States employed large numbers of These service dogs are used in both abroad combat operations and installation security in the U.S. Additionally, other branches of the military ( including the Marine Corps ), also employ dog handlers for various reasons. The tracker dog teams were very effective and relied on heavily. Vice president Ernie Ayala says that it is difficult to think about how these dogs saved their lives and in return the handlers went home and left the dogs behind. MWD Criteria for Inclusion USAF Police Virtual Memorial, When they started school,they only had blues and low quarters and were cleaning kennels withwet shoes and one set of blues. Within minutes, the base was all lit up. Reeves has volunteered at Motts Military Museum since 2012. Air Force K9 Dog Handler Careers. The 22-year-old received the Silver Star, for sounding the initial alarm that an enemy attack was under way, and the Purple Heart, both posthumously.