A1C David Shark with his sentry dog Heino at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam. Throneburg, who was still in the hospital, seeing Nemo for the first time after the attack. He talks about serving with his K-9, Jake, and the roles of military working dogs in-country. MWDs that do this are known as typewriters. Expertly trained by New Zealands elite Special Air Service in Malaysia, their dogs were initially provided by the British military. Change). Richard Cunningham served as a sentry dog handler in Vietnam and later worked with the New York Police Department and as a fraud investigator. PRINCE 986A GS Gary Mather/ Edward L. Reeves (70 . Pixie and Brutus. ** Two handlers and one ex handler (total of King and Fritz arrived in Vietnam in January 1967. Their final fate was either to be transferred to the South Vietnam Army or to be euthanized after each war dog unit was methodically and strategically deactivated throughout South Vietnam. King, a two-year combat veteran sentry dog in Vietnam, gets a rewarding word from his handler, Sgt Paul F. Esser, New Orleans, a security police dog handler at Binh Thuy AB after the K-9 signed his Air Force Home Times News Release form with an inked paw. They were so effective that they became special targets for the enemy, who began attacking kennels and offering bounties for the shoulder patch of a dog handler or the tattooed ear of a service dog. Every dog responded to both verbal and nonverbal hand commands. - Diaper bags as Air Police / Permitted Items: FREEAdmission & Parking. . Story Dogs of SEA. The mission of the 341st Training Squadron is to provide trained military working dogs and handlers for the Department of Defense, other government agencies and allies through training, logistical, veterinary support and research and development for security efforts worldwide. In mid-1968 an epizootic occurred which threatened the working dog program and led to 250 canine deaths. 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. There were hundreds of VC running out of the woods toward the airbase, he said. Security Police team with a dog on an early morning reconnaissance patrol near Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam, in 1967. I feel really sorry for these soldiers . From here, you can become an active duty dog handler. Their keen senses, learning ability, physical endurance, and devotion to man have made them invaluable companions on battlefields both past and present. In March, the Air Force sent two instructors, along with ten sentry dogs to assist the Vietnamese air force to establish better base security. They werent interested in us, they wanted to knock out our planes and helicopters with satchel charges, mortars or 122 millimeter rockets, he said. Your donation to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will help expand our mission to honor, educate and heal. The dogs sense of smell and hearing saved a lot of American lives. WATCH THURSDAY BEGINNING AT 8 PM EASTERN AND ENJOY AMERICAN HISTORY TV EVERY WEEKEND ON C-SPAN 3. 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. Approximately 4,000 dogs served in the Vietnam War leading patrols with their handlers. "We now have 2,000 former dog handlers in our organization today." Airman 2/C George Bevich, a dog handler in Vietnam is pictured with his dog, Rex. Combat tracker teams consisted of five soldiers and two Labrador retrievers. Reeves has volunteered at Motts Military Museum since 2012. The memorial also includes life-sized statues of Ed Reeves and his dog, Prince. Nemo returned to Lackland in July 1967 as a part of an Air Force dog recruitment team. Vietnam, 1961. During the initial phases of the Vietnam War, German Shepherds were used mainly on Air Force installations as sentry dogs. Motts Military Museum in Groveport, Ohio (a suburb of Columbus, Ohio), dedicated the new Vietnam War Dog Team Memorial. Your email address will not be published. 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. Dogs of the Vietnam War Dog Handlers Approximately 4,000 dogs served in the Vietnam War leading patrols with their handlers. Click here to view the War Tales fan page on FaceBook. A human nose has about five million scent receptors; a shepherd has at least 225 million. When an MWD is trained to detect specific odors it will show a change of behavior when it encounters it. Our US Air Force Dog Handler, K9 Unit Experience, Cam Ranh AB. Dogs, from Elks magazine Courtesy of Don (Jack) Kelly Korat RTAFB 'Nov - Alcohol VA Volunteer and Vietnam Veteran Recalls Dog Handling Days "Anka," a female German shepherd, was paired with Airman 1st Class Edward McClouds in 1969 at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, his first duty station after sentry dog training. It's a 120-day course, where basic skills are learned and, at the unit, they learn more. Chet Moore gets another car. Whenever he visits the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., he looks at the names of the soldiers who died on September 12, 1970, and on February 14, 1971. Together, we can make sure our heroes will get the reverence they deserve and the stories and sacrifices of our heroes will never be forgotten. Before this Veterans Day, today, the 25th anniversary of the unveiling of the Vietnam Wall, Langley will make a pilgrimage. Entered Service: 27 Aug. 1964 VDHA Officers; Unit Directors; Events . May Iforward it to other vets online?Thank you,Leo G. Hernandez 602-359-9628, If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for a reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed., From: War Tales To: leohernan@yahoo.com Sent: Sunday, August 9, 2015 10:38 PM Subject: [New post] Vietnam dog handlers recognized at The Wall Veterans Week #yiv0250566932 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv0250566932 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv0250566932 a.yiv0250566932primaryactionlink:link, #yiv0250566932 a.yiv0250566932primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv0250566932 a.yiv0250566932primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv0250566932 a.yiv0250566932primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv0250566932 WordPress.com | Don Moore posted: At 6:06 a.m. Thursday, former Airman 1st. Whats more, all our dogs had lived with our American smells for years. In January 1966, Nemo and his handler Airman Leonard Bryant, Jr., were transferred to the Republic of South Vietnam with a large group of other sentry dog teams. A human nose has about five million scent receptors; a shepherd has at least 225 million. Complete Lists of These are MWDs who are so well trained overall, especially in obedience, that they will rarelyneed acorrection, if any. Our training instructors seemed to take a perverse pleasure in informing us how dumb we were compared with the dogs. Stars & Stripes, The Unfortunately, some MWDs like to play with it and spread it every where they can. At this time the only Air Force involvement had been supporting (with the US Army ) the Vietnamese Sentry Dog program. 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. Vietnam Security Police Association Air Force Seurity Police Association State Representative MI [ Edit | View] Replies: Re: 35th Security Police Squadron-- James David, Kilo 5 69-70, 10:56:49 04/22/03 TuePDT. It was launched two days after a successful Viet Cong attack (July 1, 1965) on Da Nang AB Air Base. Hometown: Needham, Mass. Tom King was another handler who attended. U.S. Air Force A2C George M Bevich Jr. and his dog, Rex, were killed defending their base on December 4, 1966. The Great Pademic of Rapid City, 2020. Vietnam War Veterans who To Sandbox, Vietnam No handler wants to hear reverse. Whendoing detection with their MWD, if a handler hears reverse from the instructor, they know they missed the training aid and now must do the embarrassing action of backtracking. the identification and control of the disease, Prince worked in San Diego sniffing for drugs at the border. The sculpture was created by Alan Cottrill, a sculptor from Zanesville, Ohio. Note: Working on this list. Dogs were trained to alert their handlers to all kinds of hidden dangers, from snipers to trip wires and weapons caches. When a dog team arrived at its post usually just a path around a camp, ammo dump, or airfield it performed a changeover. The handler changed the dogs choke-chain collar to his leather now its time to work collar. (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 . The two were trained to scout which meant they would go on patrols and search for people, mines and booby traps. control, although ehrlichiosis still remains a His story is remarkable and should be shared. AKC Museum of the Dog in St. Louis, Missouri; John Burnam, a dog handler during the Vietnam War, successfully raised funds for the Military Working Dog Teams National Monument at Lackland Air Force Base, where military dogs have been trained since 1958. They must have established a very strong bond with these dogs and when one of the team gets wounded or killed thee emotions of loosing your best friend is embedded in your brain forever. U.S. Air Force A2C George M Bevich Jr. and his dog, Rex, were killed defending their base on December 4, 1966. Our group really took off 10 years later when we got home computers, Langley said. Total: 37 12th SPS (Cam Ranh Bay & Phu Cat) Read More: 14th SPS (Nha Trang) Read More I never mind when people share this website with their family and friends. Interest Learn more about these four-legged warriors and their two-legged warriors by hearing from Terry Kehoe, Mark Smoot, and Bob Dunn. was a dog handler who served in the Air Force from 1972-1976. Visit the main pages for Security Police or as an . If you are interested in adopting one of the dogs, please email the adoptions coordinator at MWD.Adoptions@us.af.mil ; we will email you an application packet.. Meeting the dogs: Approved applicants will be given an opportunity to schedule an appointment to travel to the . 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 picture will go up on The Wall under his name and, in addition, Langley will attach an old newspaper article under the headline: Airman Awarded Silver Star Posthumously., This is Airman 2nd George Bevichs grave in Summit Hill, Pa., 50 miles north of Allentown. The assistant director of the museum, Lori Motts-Byrd, began raising funds in order to build a memorial to the dogs and the men who worked with them. The retirement was followed by his adoption by former handler Staff Sgt. You had to be careful not to get in an area that was being hit by one of these dragon ships or a helicopter gun ship. He was killed in a Viet Cong mortar attack in December 1966. mid-1968 an epizootic occurred which threatened Rank: Airman 2/Class ehrlichiosis and related diseases requires: VSPA (U.S. Air Force photo). Dogs could even detect enemy fighters submerged in rivers, breathing through hollow reeds and waiting to attack American watercraft. Deadly Disease for Military Working Dogs in SEA The Vietnam Dog Handler Association formed to help these veterans cope with the guilt of leaving their dogs behind. By Sheila Tunney, Public Affairs Specialist March 18, 2020 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WWII, U-T Free shipping for many products! We knew that, unlike other soldiers, we at least had our dog with us so we would never be alone. Dogs and Handlers Lost: Vietnam USAF 633rd SENTRY DOG Section Camp Pleiku K-9 Vietnam Patch. Veterinarians, Adopting Dogs Canine ehrlichiosis, a military working dogs as sentries, scouts, 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. This was considered the last combat action of the Vietnam war. Defenders and military working dogs from the 75 th Security Forces Squadron at Hill Air Force Base gathered with the community on K-9 Veterans Day, March 13, to dedicate a Vietnam Veterans War Dog Memorial at Layton Commons Park. A dog handler witht he combat tracker team from the 4th Inf. . Private donations poured in and a major $50,000 grant from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission was key in getting the project off the ground. 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. It was Langleys and Vogies duty to hide out in the underbrush and sit quietly from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning watching, listening and staying out of sight. However, dogs that are not fully confident will not clench and hold and instead will bite, then release, and then bite a different area. Due in large part to their collective efforts, Robbys Law was passed by the U.S. Congress in 2000. In Hereare the most common terms and what they mean. Younger Vistors. When U.S. forces exited from Vietnam only 200 of the dogs made it back to the states. serologic screening of prospective and active Kyle Pethtel, a dog handler with the 27th Special Operations Security Forces, was fun and filled with challenges for both canine and. There is a long history of dogs being used in war that stretches back to ancient times. attack dates for RVN & Thailand, needed for VA They loved to work purely for the approval and praise of their handler and partner. Required fields are marked *. The next several days we spent out in the bush hiding out and staying out of the clutches of the VC. . He was one of the perimeter guards protecting the airbase from intruders. - Box cutters Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for USAF Security Police Sentry Dog K9 Handlers Photo Flight Line Formation 1950-60s at the best online prices at eBay! the working dog program and led to 250 canine MWDs build up a lot ofmomentum when they run after the decoy. and the Sandbox. The handler and dog led combat patrols and provided an early silent warning of danger. The dogs were given to the ARVN, and were used in combat. 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. Aggressive dogs usually went to the sentry unit. 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. 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. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. Handlers & What did the S. Vietnamese Army do to the dogs, eat them? treatment and serologic testing to detect In the Vietnam War about 350 dogs were killed in action and 263 handlers were killed. "Nemo", born in October 1962, entered the United States Air Force as a sentry dog in 1964, at the age of 1 years. Of the 4,000 dogs that served in-country, fewer than 200 made it back to the States. Photo Above Courtesy of Nemo's War Dog Heroes Memorial. I was 20 years old and weighed 135 pounds; Smokey weighed 90 pounds. 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. He arrived in Vietnam with Prince on September 12, 1970. He says that if it wasnt for Prince on those two days, his name would be on the monument. It was an experience that, for Air Force Staff Sgt. I went to see the dedication at The Wall when it first opened in 82 and realized they had nothing to recognize the dog handlers who died in the war, he said. When U.S. forces exited from Vietnam only 200 of the dogs made it back to the states. Dog teams were placed on the perimeter in front of machine gun towers/bunkers. Mabins also has the distinction of being the first African American female dog handler in the Air Force. I am adding Army sentry dog handlers and dogs to Photo provided Then they were observed and tested to determine which area of training they would be assigned. Photo provided. UP NEXT SHE . Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. MWD I read they given to the S. Vietnamese Army or euthanized. served in Vietnam or free to copy photos or stories. Air Force K9 Dog Handler Careers. The Ron England Follies. PRINCE 871M Vietnam RETURNED. Enemy return fire hit Throneburg in the shoulder and Nemo in the snout. It is believed that over 9,000 handlers and 4,000 dogs served in Vietnam. Dogs have been mans partners in war for a long time. June 26, 2012 - Bomb dogs are integral to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. An official website of the United States government, National Museum of the United States Air Force. Unit:377th Security Police evaluation of the disease threat in areas where Open9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. 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. trackers, and mine detectors in Vietnam. It was during the Tet Offensive that Vogie and Langley played their biggest role. Many more followed, with the U.S. Air Force sentry force in Southeast Asia peaking in early 1967 at nearly 500 dogs. 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 Reeves was sent home in 1971 but Prince stayed behind. Click here for frequently asked questions regarding items permitted inside the museum. Forty dog teams were deployed to Vietnam for a four month test period. Roughly 4,000 dogs served in Vietnam, leading patrols through the dense jungle terrain. View military histories of over 2 million, If you are a veteran, reconnect with people. first Air Force Dog Handler to die in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of VSPA, Sgt. They chased down the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army forces after a firefight when they would attempt to disappear back into the jungle. Marine dog handler Steve Reichenbach with his dog, Major, on a patrol north of Danang in late 1966. . eighteen Security Police personnel KIA) were on the CH-53helicopter 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. 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. My Marine friend got medication, food, vitamin supplemens from a veterinarian and shipped them to the ARVN. Air Force dog handlers provided a unique and critical capability in defending air bases against attack. Langley, who also was a dog handler, went to Vietnam a year later. When Reeves investigated the spot where he nearly stepped, he found an unexploded shell that had been rigged as a mine. Since then, no adoptable dogs are euthanized at the end of their military service. Handlers attend a three-month training program at Joint Base SA-Lackland to learn dog-handling procedures. Of the 294 dog handlers who were killed in Vietnam, one handlers, Staff . Discharged: 26 Aug. 1968 Within a few years, several hundred dogs had been turned over to the Vietnamese military. * A2C George Bevich, Jr. was the Reunion 2006 Grand Lakes O The Cherokees, OK, Audie Murphy Presidential Medal of Freedom. 71-72', Complete History of Air Watch this tribute to dogs of the Vietnam War. All Rights Reserved. A well-trained dog became an extension of his handlers senses seeing, hearing, and smelling danger that was otherwise undetectable. RECONNECTING = PRICELESS. Over time, you will have the opportunity to advance into higher ranks. To submit stories Tracker dogs were trained to track based on blood trails, odors, and other evidence of someone having . The success of the war dogs and handlers walking point, tracking, guarding, patrolling, and protecting American lives and military assets, ultimately reduced the enemys capacity for surprise attacks. (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. Jiggs The name of the Marines' first Bulldog mascot, circa 1922. And throughout training that special bond was formed between trooper and dog. While stationed in Thailand with the 56th Security Police Squadron Bob formed a steadfast relationship with his military working dog Rex. 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. "The dog, being a non-commissioned officer, or NCO, would outrank or match in rank to . Navy SEAL Master Chief Bill Bruhmuller served with BUD/S Class 13, UDT 21, UDT 22, SEAL Team Two with three tours in Vietnam. 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. This film looks at the relationship between two handlers and their canines. CHARLES HENRY WAS A DOG HANDLER WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. . 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. Lisa Rogak, in " The Dogs of War," commented that the Viet Cong offered the equivalent of $20,000 for a dog's ear; proof of the handler's death only garnered the equivalent of $10,000. Officer '66-'67, Steve Janeke & Sentry Dog Kobuc X448 Take the military aptitude test. Nemo was whelped in October 1962. He received the Silver Star for alerting the airbase a VC attack was coming. infected animals brought the epizootic under . Base Defense of Vietnam - Thailand, 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. Parade Float, History WWI & Eventually, almost all of the 4,000 guard dogs were turned over to the South Vietnamese when the U.S. forces pulled out of Vietnam. - Backpacks (LogOut/ The dog was deployed to alert on the breath scent of enemy underwater divers breathing through reeds, snorkels and other underwater apparatus. I just dont get it ! author/photographer, & VSPA a deaths. This photo of Bevich and Rex is part of The Wall That Heals mobile exhibit. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Here are the most common terms and what they mean. That elite weapon were our military working dogs in Vietnam War, and we had thousands of them. During the ground war, Veterinarians and Vet Techs were also deployed throughout South Vietnam to help manage the diets and medial health of the war dogs. Fritz trained with King as a sentry dog dogs that generally were not used in combat, but to guard perimeters of bases. military working dogs. and its implications for the future use of As a result, allhandlers in the militaryuse key terms and phrases that every handler will understand. You are a member of that organization and your name is on our honor roll. Website Last Updated: Bases in SEA & Topics of Military veterinarians launched an The monument which honors U.S. military dogs that didn't return after serving in war is located . He was taken on tours throughout the U.S., and lived in a special kennel at Lackland AFB, Texas, until his death in 1972. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. I would wager that 90 percent of American combat troops killed in action during the Vietnam War never saw their killers. 366th SPS History. Adopting of listed by name, brand number, and bases assigned. Instead, they were used to patrol the perimeters of military bases. Due to the nature and escalation of the war, in 1965 the Army decided to reactivate its scout dog program. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test determines where a prospective service member might excel in the military. In addition all bags are subject to search and may be placed through an X-Ray machine. Interest His handler, Airman 1st Class Robert Throneburg, released him to attack. This story was first published in the Charlotte Sun newspaper, Port Charlotte, Fla. on Sunday, November 11, 2007 and is republished with permission. George, I remember you today as well as I did when I met you at Lackland AFB, Tx when we were on our way to Viet Nam. Prohibited Items: Here's a typical career pathway for a military dog handler: 1. BalanceRose Air Force Challenge Coin Cryptologic Office ISR Agency Sigint Warriors USAF. Mills, 76, of Sterling Heights, served in the U.S. Air Force 377th Air Police as a dog handler during his service, including a tour in Vietnam. 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. Links are encouraged. Through the hours of darkness, sentry dogs and their handlers patrolled along the perimeters of U.S. Air Force air bases. But there have been false reports that military dogs were sometimes left. Most of the dogs that survived the war were either euthanized or sent to work for the South Vietnamese Army. - Hero of Tan Son Nhut AB.