air force dog handlers in vietnam air force dog handlers in vietnam

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Hear him talk about his service, from parachuting with Prince, to lying on ambush in Vietnam with Prince. treatment and serologic testing to detect served in the U.S. Air Force as an Airman 1st Class with the 56th Security Police Squadron in Thailand from 1971-1972. Then on February 14, 1971, Prince stopped Reeves as he was about to step over a fallen tree. - Hero of Tan Son Nhut AB. Aggressive dogs usually went to the sentry unit. The enemy was rarely able to get past the keen senses of the sentry dogs unnoticed, and these sentry dog teams remained by far the most effective means to detect enemy movement at night. Augmentee. In mid-1968 an epizootic occurred which threatened the working dog program and led to 250 canine deaths. Search Page Content . 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. 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. mid-1968 an epizootic occurred which threatened Air Force Photo. The list also specifies the dogs that were returned in Base Defense of Vietnam - Thailand, All rights reserved. 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. He arrived in Vietnam with Prince on September 12, 1970. 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. Dogs who become certified as military working dogs have gone through an extensive selection and training process. Total: 37 12th SPS (Cam Ranh Bay & Phu Cat) Read More: 14th SPS (Nha Trang) Read More 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. Has anyone, military personnel, found out what happened to these poor dogs. For example, you can join the Army K9 unit. But there have been false reports that military dogs were sometimes left. VDHA Officers; Unit Directors; Events . 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. There were hundreds of VC running out of the woods toward the airbase, he said. In late March 1967, Langley arrived at Tan Son Nhut Air Base and became a member of the 377th Security Police (K9). Military working dogs are the worlds most-highly trained dogs and must be controlled or in a controlled environment at all times for everyones safety. Representing the Marine Corps, Army and Air Force, they found a common bond through K-9 and formed an organization to honor war dogs; past, present, and future. In the Vietnam War about 350 dogs were killed in action and 263 handlers were killed. The dog handlers begged and pleaded for the government to let them take thier dogs home. PRINCE 986A GS Gary Mather/ Edward L. Reeves (70 . He began contacting his former dog-handler buddies and eventually formed the nucleus of a dog-handler group known today as the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association. be successfully treated with tetracycline; this VoyForums: Vietnam Security Police Association K-9 Bulletin Board. Military Working Dogs or Contractor Working Dogs, Photos Above: Safe Conduct Passes, Courtesy of Bruce Pritchett, Don (Jack) Kelly Korat RTAFB 'Nov As some of the only . Instead, they were used to patrol the perimeters of military bases. . Night Beat, Cold Nose-Brave Hearts Legendary War Dogs, Handlers & Interest Dogs to be used as scouts were trained at Fort Benning, Georgia, learning to detect tripwires, weapons caches, and other items. Since then, no adoptable dogs are euthanized at the end of their military service. Battles/Campaigns: Vietnam. 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. Vietnam These dogs were rarely sent into combat. 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. It was awful, it was a terrible thing to have happen to them, he said as he shook his head. When U.S. forces exited from Vietnam only 200 of the dogs made it back to the states. Most novice handlers unknowingly hold the leash up high while their dog is detecting making it lookas though they are holding a purse. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. 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 Vietnamese military never had an effective dog program. To dothis, handlers must learn to walk backward and beginners move their feet so slow its known as the Lackland shuffle in reference to the basic handlers course at Lackland Air Force Base. When our politicians decided to exit Vietnam in a hurry the military classified our dogs as equipment. As such, they were left behind. Federal Benefits for dependents and survivors. that crashed during the Mayaguez rescue attempt. These dogs and their handlers are credited with saving more than 10,000 U.S. lives (imagine The Wall with 10,000 more names inscribed on it) and preventing certain injury for countless more. personnel who deal with military dogs, and The 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. The Labrador retriever dog was the only breed trained for tracking. This story was first published in the Charlotte Sun newspaper, Port Charlotte, Fla. on Sunday, November 11, 2007 and is republished with permission. PRINCE 847F Air Force Vietnam/14th SPS UNK. The gun ships and choppers were firing at everything that moved. The only thing that would make him happier is if he could have brought Prince home himself. Required fields are marked *. All Rights Reserrved. TogetherWeServed.com Inc. All Rights Reserved | Not a U.S. Government Website. Dogs have been mans partners in war for a long time. The dogs can detect movement much faster and more accurately than we can, and their ears can hear, even at a very early age, sound from four times farther away than we can. After 11 months and 27 days as an Air Force dog handler in Vietnam, Langley and Vogie parted company. The retirement was followed by his adoption by former handler Staff Sgt. 1975-76 to the DOD Dog Center, Lackland AFB, Texas. You are a member of that organization and your name is on our honor roll. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There were also mine and booby trap dogs. Chemical Exposure! The next several days we spent out in the bush hiding out and staying out of the clutches of the VC. Very few dogs were redeployed to U.S. bases outside of South Vietnam to live out their lives in peace. Just give the He will also be one of the official readers at The Wall in Washington, D.C., afterward. Air Force Challenge Coin Cryptologic Office ISR Agency Sigint Warriors USAF. The typical responsefrom a handler whose dog was jammed is to ask the decoy if they want peanut butter. They were certainly not all purebreds. The tracker dog teams were very effective and relied on heavily. They werent interested in us, they wanted to knock out our planes and helicopters with satchel charges, mortars or 122 millimeter rockets, he said. Complete Lists of additional veterinary research. Please feel 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. author/photographer, & VSPA a Your donation to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will help expand our mission to honor, educate and heal. There were 4,000 dogs and 9,000 handlers and no recognition for them at all.. Reeves attended the dedication of the new memorial. Tom King was another handler who attended. It consists of three black granite panels which are made of granite from the same area of India that provided the granite for the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. On the panels are inscribed the names of 4,244 dogs that served during the war and 297 names of the dog handlers plus one veterinarian and two vet technicians who died in Vietnam. 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. 00, 000, 0000 000 General Military Duty 0001 Duties Unassigned 0002 General Officer 0003 "Relieved From Duty, Sick in Hospital or Quarters" 0005 ROTC Officer Awaiting Entry On Active Duty . ehrlichiosis and related diseases requires: Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Bill was the first SEAL to handle Dogs in SEAL Team. I would wager that 90 percent of American combat troops killed in action during the Vietnam War never saw their killers. Exercising of K-9 sentry dogs and patrolling tactics used by the handlers of the 37th Security Police Squadron in Phu Cat Air Base, Vietnam. Stamps, a military working dog handler with the 35th Security Forces Squadron, describes this as "battling a streak of stubbornness" taken on during the two-week rapport stage destined to nurture their new relationship. When they finished their tours of duty, their dogs remained behind to work with other handlers. dogs? Security Police or as an 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. 366th SPS History. Handlers must get to know their dogs change of behavior so they know their MWD is about to find something. Esteban Rivera, 2 July 2014 References Not a pleasant thought to consider given their incredible service, endurance, and devotion to duty. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. By the time the handler comes to clean it, the MWD has painted the kennel with feces. serologic screening of prospective and active (U.S. Air Force photo by Airmen Elizabeth Figueroa) Hometown: Needham, Mass. United States War Dog Association (USWDA) was established in 2000 by 5 dog handlers (Ron Aiello, Bucky Grimm, Bob Cicero, Bob Thompson, and Al Gunderson) who served in Vietnam. 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. He says that if it wasnt for Prince on those two days, his name would be on the monument. By Sheila Tunney, Public Affairs Specialist March 18, 2020 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Parade Float 2013. Reeves has volunteered at Motts Military Museum since 2012. and the Sandbox. Patrolling thick, triple-canopy jungles was dangerous by day, and even more perilous by night. Vietnam and Thailand. * Firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons, are specifically prohibited in Federal facilities in accordance with 18 USC 930 (c) Niaomi. The German Shepherd Dog (GSD, also known as Alsatian) was the most common service dog in the Vietnam War, used for scouting, sentry duty, mine/tunnel detection, and water patrols. Their duties were widespread - scout, sentry, patrol, mine and booby-trap detection, water and combat. 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. - Backpacks Bases in SEA & Topics of MWDs build up a lot ofmomentum when they run after the decoy. Currently: Venice, Fla. Yet, with the bond a dog team creates and all the training they have gone through, handlers will, at times, doubt their dogs abilities. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. When King was sent home in January 1968, he had to leave Fritz behind. Both lists are in PDF - Diaper bags Dogs have been mans partners in war for a long time at least as far back as 4000 BC. 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. Photo provided. All of the other dog handlers were doing the same thing. USMC & Handlers from our allies killed in Vietnam, Thailand, They protected our soldiers on patrol from the many and diverse devices set to kill and maim. It was launched two days after a successful Viet Cong attack (July 1, 1965) on Da Nang AB Air Base. Nemo: Canine Hero Free shipping for many products! 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. Zachary Wolf) Visit the main pages for When Vogies ears would go up, the fur on her back would go up, her tail would also go, I knew she had something, Langley said. PRINCE 871M Vietnam RETURNED. In addition all bags are subject to search and may be placed through an X-Ray machine. Thailand from 1960-1975, He was killed in a Viet Cong mortar attack in December 1966. Enemy return fire hit Throneburg in the shoulder and Nemo in the snout. Less aggressive but still highly intelligent shepherd dogs went to the scout school. Obtain a paver around either the Airman's Museum or Military Working Dog Memorial at Lackland. 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. Tragically, after the Vietnam War, military dogs were left behind and not brought home with their handlers. The middle panel contains the words, The Unbreakable Bond.. King and Fritz arrived in Vietnam in January 1967. Click here to view the collection in the Library of Congress. It was well known that the enemy put a bounty on both the handlers and their dogs. He researched what became of his dog, Prince, and published the results in a book he self-published in 2016. I belong to an organization today that honors the Viet Nam dog handlers. Most dog handlers start their careers as E-3s (Private First Class) to E-5s (Sergeant) depending on the service," emails Air Force Maj. Matthew Kowalski, Commander in the 341st Training Squadron, which provides training to military working dogs in San Antonio. The next night, sentry dog Nemo, an 85-pound German Shepherd, detected a small enemy group that remained hidden on the base. 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. Photo courtesy of VSPA, Sgt. Over 1,600 + dogs are To do this they need to make noises and watching them scream and grunt for the first time can be hilarious. I added other services because all dog handlers Old Dawgs Supporting Young Pups, Bulletin Boards: Their keen senses, learning ability, physical endurance, and devotion to man have made them invaluable companions on battlefields both past and present. 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. A human nose has about five million scent receptors; a shepherd has at least 225 million. free to copy photos or stories. Sentry dogs would protect military bases and scout dogs would enable the troops to attack the VC. The success of these teams, combined with those working in U.S. law. determine its cause. Links are encouraged. It is unnatural, theres no reason for it, and typically its a sign of the handler not being relaxed. (South East-Asia). I am adding Army sentry dog handlers and dogs to Becoming a dog handler in the Army requires a few crucial steps. Everything for our dogs. Like their. ** Two handlers and one ex handler (total of What did the S. Vietnamese Army do to the dogs, eat them? 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. Equipped with their sensory superpowers, the . Every dog responded to both verbal and nonverbal hand commands. Handlers attend a three-month training program at Joint Base SA-Lackland to learn dog-handling procedures. - Alcohol The handler and dog led combat patrols and provided an early silent warning of danger. They were trained to sniff out mines and booby traps buried in roads, hidden on bridges or in buildings, and sniff out the location of tunnels. MWDs areincredibly strong and athletic andso when the situation calls for a handler to maintain tightcontrol of their dog, they will apply a short safety. All handlers use a 6-foot leash and, with the dog on their left, they will hold the end of the leash in their right hand while using their left hand to grab the leash halfway down and wrap it once around their hand to ensure the dog stays close. But our forces did have one elite weapon that sometimes took the advantage away. To make it simple, instructors tell beginning handlers to yell HOT SAUCE! very quickly over and over to provoke the dog. Most were given to the military by families back home. The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will provide another unique opportunity for visitors to honor Presidents Day and the legacy of Special Air Mission (SAM) Presidential Transport aircraft through "Plane Talks" on Saturday, February 18 from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The Vietnam War introduced American troops to a new kind of warfare. The dogs started out at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas with a thorough physical exam. This copyrighted material may not be republished without permission. The dogs had major health problems, the majority died from malnutrition. Canine ehrlichiosis, a U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. . Natural 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. "Those that did not die were euthanized or left behind when US troops withdrew from the war. Though there was. Every dog accepted was highly intelligent, and each became a canine soldier, with his or her own individual four-digit service number tattooed in the left ear. - Box cutters At times we had to lay on our dogs to keep them quiet when he VC ran by. The water dogs proved to be quite successful in saving lives and equipment, reducing the enemys capacity to conduct underwater sabotage operations. A Marine dog handler I knew finished his 13-month tour of duty in 1969 and was told his dog, Taddy, was being transferred to the ARVN. I laugh at some of the things we all did. Sentry dog teams were deployed as the first line of defense guarding American base camps day and night. Within minutes, the base was all lit up. I never mind when people share this website with their family and friends. Roughly 4,000 dogs served in Vietnam, leading patrols through the dense jungle terrain. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This image was on the front cover of AMVET magazine showing John Langley and his dog, Vogie. 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. A human nose has about five million scent receptors; a shepherd has at least 225 million. Bill was the first SEAL to handle Dogs in SEAL Team. 18 February 1969. . What happened to them after that? Langley was asked. She would get excited, but she was trained not to bark. Air Base Defense View military histories of over 2 million, If you are a veteran, reconnect with people. And there was no war dog adoption law until the year 2000 when WWII Marine War Dog Platoon Leader/Veterinarian, Dr. William Putney made it happen with the help of U.S. + $1.00 shipping. 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. to Vietnam & Thailand Air Force/Navy bases and some Army dogs used in Security forces members interested in becoming military working dog handlers are cross trained when they have achieved the rank of Airman 1st class, have two years in service and have obtained their five level within their career field. This Page is for our Air Force's Dog Handler,K9 Unit; experiences before and during our time at Cam Ranh AB, Vietnam. Please note the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is not responsible for items left in vehicles. Stormys first master was Ron Aiello, President ofwww.uswardogs.org. UP NEXT SHE . The Navy successfully used dogs on slow trolling patrol boats operating throughout the American patrolled waterways of South Vietnam. Air Force dog handlers provided a unique and critical capability in defending air bases against attack. When he went home, he stayed in contact with Taddys ARVN handler. Dog teams were placed on the perimeter in front of machine gun towers/bunkers. Required fields are marked *. the identification and control of the disease, Weapons are not permitted including pocket knives and firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons. Only about 200 of the dogs came home to the US. Parade Float, History WWI & Each team included a visual tracker and a dog handler upfront, followed by their cover man, then the radioman and the team leader. On a bad day, she was in another world.. Scout dogs were trained to alert on enemy movement, booby traps, land mines, base camps, underground tunnel complexes, and underground caches of weapons, food and medical supplies. But with a scout dog team leading the way, most patrols were successful or uneventful. Ive heard it said that without our military dogs, there would be 10,000 additional names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall. 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. They chased down the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army forces after a firefight when they would attempt to disappear back into the jungle. 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. During the day, they would truck C-rations and water out to us and we stayed put.. is an association for USAF Chet Moore gets another car. Adopting of I just dont get it ! He received the Silver Star for alerting the airbase a VC attack was coming. Smoke in the background. Army and Marine Corps snipers were another group targeted with the threat of bounties because they were force multipliers on the battlefield. Pablo Gonzalez. National K9 Veterans Day, March 13, is a day set aside to honor commemorate the service and sacrifices of American military and working dogs throughout history. Clinical and experimental dog's fate! And throughout training that special bond was formed between trooper and dog. And although it appeared that the dogs were being instructed, it was the soldiers who were actually being taught. You will never be forgotten. Most of the dogs that survived the war were either euthanized or sent to work for the South Vietnamese Army. Over time, you will have the opportunity to advance into higher ranks. 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. New K-9 It is not possible to overestimate the incredible bond that existed between handler and dog. The program that deals with the Department of Defense Military working dog program is the United States Air Force. The United States employed large numbers of Special Note to Post Vietnam Personnel: During the 1980s, The U.S. Army changed the MOS code structure. Permitted Items: He was one of the perimeter guards protecting the airbase from intruders. Army Military Working Dog Handlers (MOS 31K) are responsible for training and caring for their service dog. In March, the Air Force sent two instructors, along with ten sentry dogs to assist the Vietnamese air force to establish better base security. Nemo was whelped in October 1962. Here's a typical career pathway for a military dog handler: 1. . Once in Vietnam, these dogs were the gold standard. Step 4: Become an active duty dog handler . When anMWD has escaped a controlled environment, handlers will yell LOOSE DOG! to alert everyone in the area. He received the Silver Star for alerting the airbase a VC attack was coming. - Strollers At this time the only Air Force involvement had been supporting (with the US Army ) the Vietnamese Sentry Dog program. Security Police dog handlers serving in Viet Nam and Thailand during Viiet Nam war. Second line sentry dog teams detected the enemy force, and Security Police killed or captured several of them. credit line. Name: John Francis Langley MWDs that do this are known as typewriters. At times, these weapons even turned such situations upside down and enabled us to surprise and take them out. That elite weapon were our military working dogs in Vietnam War, and we had thousands of them. It is believed that over 9,000 handlers and 4,000 dogs served in Vietnam. Only around 200 made it home to retire in peacetime. The granite panels were designed and constructed by Columbus Art Memorial. A three-man squad in a Jeep with a mounted M-60 machine gun would arrive within five minutes and check out the area looking for Viet Cong infiltrators. The first 4 were: June 26, 2012 - Bomb dogs are integral to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. - Food and Soda Drinks The decision to classify the war dogs as equipment and leave them all behind (several thousand) after the war remains the saddest chapter in Americas military working dog history. Prince lived to be 15 which makes Reeves happy. The VC fired 60 to 80 rounds into parked aircraft and troop billets then withdrew undetected and unabated. On 1 August, Capt Robert M. Sullivan and 53 air policemen, including six sentry dog/handler teams, were transferred from the 366th Air Police Squadron at Phan Rang Air Base to be the cadre for the newly activated 37th Air Police Squadron at Qui Nhon.Their first assignment was to escort 63 engineers of the 554th and 555th Civil Engineer Squadrons to Ph Ct, and then to assume . They have proven themselves to be the best at what they do. SOURCE: Military Working Dogs National Monument, I have searched endlessly to find out what fate the scout dogs, Vietnam War, had. The handler trusted the dog with his life, and the dog was absolutely loyal, even to the death. Many more followed, with the U.S. Air Force sentry force in Southeast Asia peaking in early 1967 at nearly 500 dogs. He was taken on tours throughout the U.S., and lived in a special kennel at Lackland AFB, Texas, until his death in 1972. As soon as that happened, I got on my walkie-talkie and alerted the base. Photo provided, https://donmooreswartales.com/2015/08/10/john-langley/. Instead, they are offered first to former military dog handlers, then to law enforcement, and finally to qualified families, who undergo a rigorous screening process. 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. Change). To Sandbox In The vision of VVMF is to ensure a society in which all who have served and sacrificed in our nation's Armed Forces are properly honored and receive the recognition they justly deserve. Dogs of SEA. Dog attacks a man. As Nemo charged, Throneburg killed two enemy troops. Expertly trained by New Zealands elite Special Air Service in Malaysia, their dogs were initially provided by the British military. 113 likes. He was killed in a Viet Cong mortar attack in December 1966. 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. The two were trained to scout which meant they would go on patrols and search for people, mines and booby traps.