air force dog handlers in vietnam

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. military working dogs. - Food and Soda Drinks Nemo was whelped in October 1962. 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. 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. Every dog responded to both verbal and nonverbal hand commands. My companion was a German shepherd named Smokey. I know you have a son and I know that he had to be very proud of you. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. . Click here to return to Protecting the Force: Air Base Defense. . Click here to view the collection in the Library of Congress. "Those that did not die were euthanized or left behind when US troops withdrew from the war. The dogs are trained at a training center on Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. Reeves has volunteered at Motts Military Museum since 2012. The Vietnamese military never had an effective dog program. Air Base Defense All Rights Reserrved. In this Holland Vietnam Veterans episode, I interviewed Bob Curnick, a dog handler who served in the Air Force from 1972-1976. 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. Another Article From Us: The Follow-Up to Band of Brothers is Coming. Equipped with their sensory superpowers, the . RAF Military Working Dogs play a vital role supporting RAF Police Handlers to protect people and fight crime. The retirement was followed by his adoption by former handler Staff Sgt. At Okinawa, where I met and trained with Smokey, most of the dogs were veterans being reassigned to new handlers. credit line. When an MWDis released to bite, handlers want them to get a full mouth bite, clench tight, and hold on until the handler gets there so the suspect cant get away. Tragically, after the Vietnam War, military dogs were left behind and not brought home with their handlers. Everything for our dogs. dogs? They had their good days and their bad days, he explained, On a good day, Vogie would pay attention and really be alert, watching out for everything. Canine ehrlichiosis, a A well-trained dog became an extension of his handlers senses seeing, hearing, and smelling danger that was otherwise undetectable. 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. Currently: Venice, Fla. The dog understood the difference immediately and went to work. 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. Army Military Working Dog Handlers (MOS 31K) are responsible for training and caring for their service dog. Before this Veterans Day, today, the 25th anniversary of the unveiling of the Vietnam Wall, Langley will make a pilgrimage. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. - Backpacks Pablo Gonzalez. Patrolling thick, triple-canopy jungles was dangerous by day, and even more perilous by night. 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. The toy used as a universal reward for all military working dogs is the kong. Reeves grew up loving dogs so he volunteered for the opportunity to be a dog handler. They have proven themselves to be the best at what they do. Their duties were widespread - scout, sentry, patrol, mine and booby-trap detection, water and combat. The program was a huge failure. They knew the drills inside and out, and we did not. 113 likes. 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. Expertly trained by New Zealands elite Special Air Service in Malaysia, their dogs were initially provided by the British military. After completing an 8-week training course, he was assigned to Fairchild AFB, Washing, for duty with the Strategic Air Command. Through the hours of darkness, sentry dogs and their handlers patrolled along the perimeters of U.S. Air Force air bases. References In the Vietnam War about 350 dogs were killed in action and 263 handlers were killed. Reeves attended the dedication of the new memorial. In late March 1967, Langley arrived at Tan Son Nhut Air Base and became a member of the 377th Security Police (K9). All rights reserved. Most novice handlers unknowingly hold the leash up high while their dog is detecting making it lookas though they are holding a purse. 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. 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. Our training instructors seemed to take a perverse pleasure in informing us how dumb we were compared with the dogs. The man runs away. LAYTON, Utah --. They werent interested in us, they wanted to knock out our planes and helicopters with satchel charges, mortars or 122 millimeter rockets, he said. Very few dogs were redeployed to U.S. bases outside of South Vietnam to live out their lives in peace. MWDs that do this are known as typewriters. additional veterinary research. After the dog located the tunnel, a soldier (Tunnel Rat) would enter the tunnel to investigate. A scout dog team was deployed as pointman which is the most vulnerable and dangerous position of a tactical formation moving through enemy territory. First parade float to honor military working dogs! Name: John Francis Langley While stationed in Thailand with the 56th Security Police Squadron Bob formed a steadfast relationship with his military working dog Rex. The retirement was followed by his adoption by former handler Staff Sgt. Air Force dog handlers provided a unique and critical capability in defending air bases against attack. Battles/Campaigns: Vietnam. Hereare the most common terms and what they mean. 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. The first 4 were: June 26, 2012 - Bomb dogs are integral to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. Dragon ships sprayed the surrounding jungle with bullets. Visit the main pages for 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. TogetherWeServed.com Inc. All Rights Reserved | Not a U.S. Government Website. 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. Younger Vistors. I was shocked when I heard that you had been killed during the attack on your base in Siagon. However, as the war escalated, The United States Marine Corps entered into a service agreement with the US Army to have them train German Shepherds as scout dogs. This photo was taken at Lackland AFB, Texas, in 1970. 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. Air Force Photo. Sentry dog teams were deployed as the first line of defense guarding American base camps day and night. Thailand from 1960-1975, FREEAdmission & Parking. The Vietnam War introduced American troops to a new kind of warfare. USAF 633rd SENTRY DOG Section Camp Pleiku K-9 Vietnam Patch. Links of It's a 120-day course, where basic skills are learned and, at the unit, they learn more. Required fields are marked *. Accept a new handler with reduced training time. When King was sent home in January 1968, he had to leave Fritz behind. military working dogs as sentries, scouts, Handler controls and pets the dog. Click on the title to read a short history. K9 Butkus Explosive detector school Lackland 1980. omen were first added to the military working dog program in 1974. Ian Harvey is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE, The Follow-Up to Band of Brothers is Coming. Nemo returned to Lackland in July 1967 as a part of an Air Force dog recruitment team. Most of hte handlers even offered to pay thier dog's way. + $1.00 shipping. 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. This would be the largest battle involving sentry dogs, their . 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. 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 . 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. Interest This Bulldog, officially known as Chesty XV, is the Marines' official mascot. Not a pleasant thought to consider given their incredible service, endurance, and devotion to duty. This Page is for our Air Force's Dog Handler,K9 Unit; experiences before and during our time at Cam Ranh AB, Vietnam. Rosa and Joyce went to the base commander, explained the situation and requested that they be given combat boots and fatigues. Kyle Pethtel, a dog handler with the 27th Special Operations Security Forces, was fun and filled with challenges for both canine and. The handler trusted the dog with his life, and the dog was absolutely loyal, even to the death. 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. Nemo: Canine Hero In Vietnam, American forces used dogs for everything from base security to detecting ambushes to hunting down fleeing enemy units. Geographic Story, Cold Nose-Brave Hearts Legendary War Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He met Bevich in 1966 before both of them shipped out. The dog was deployed to alert on the breath scent of enemy underwater divers breathing through reeds, snorkels and other underwater apparatus. Many more followed, with the U.S. Air Force sentry force in Southeast Asia peaking in early 1967 at nearly 500 dogs. is an association for USAF Includes sound bites from Staff Sgt Tim Castillo and Staff Sgt Witney Young, U.S. Air Force 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. By the time the handler comes to clean it, the MWD has painted the kennel with feces. Zachary Wolf) Prince worked in San Diego sniffing for drugs at the border. New K-9 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. 18 February 1969. It was well known that the enemy put a bounty on both the handlers and their dogs. "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. King and Fritz arrived in Vietnam in January 1967. 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! Tan Son Nhut Air Base on December 4, one air force handler and three sentry dogs were killed during a VC penetration. The memorial in Groveport cost $110,000. Special Note to Post Vietnam Personnel: During the 1980s, The U.S. Army changed the MOS code structure. There are over 1300 working Dog handler teams worldwide, and the . And although it appeared that the dogs were being instructed, it was the soldiers who were actually being taught. He says that if it wasnt for Prince on those two days, his name would be on the monument. At 6:06 a.m. Thursday, former Airman 1st. listed by name, brand number, and bases assigned. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. USMC & Handlers from our allies killed in Vietnam, Thailand, In 1960 the US advisers to the the South Vietnamese military recommended that a dog program be established. John Worsham has his Bronze Star replaced. I feel really sorry for these soldiers . Total: 37 12th SPS (Cam Ranh Bay & Phu Cat) Read More: 14th SPS (Nha Trang) Read More 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. 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. Note: Working on this list, USAF served in the U.S. Air Force as an Airman 1st Class with the 56th Security Police Squadron in Thailand from 1971-1972. The German shepherd dog was the only breed used for this job. 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. Click here to search Veterans Records and to obtain information on retrieving lost commendations. Within a few years, several hundred dogs had been turned over to the Vietnamese military. Dogs, from Elks magazine Courtesy of Don (Jack) Kelly Korat RTAFB 'Nov Security Police dog handlers serving in Viet Nam and Thailand during Viiet Nam war. You are a member of that organization and your name is on our honor roll. The VC fired 60 to 80 rounds into parked aircraft and troop billets then withdrew undetected and unabated. 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. 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 . 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. (U.S. Air Force photo). extensive effort to control this disease and to At times, these weapons even turned such situations upside down and enabled us to surprise and take them out. Stormys first master was Ron Aiello, President ofwww.uswardogs.org. the working dog program and led to 250 canine 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. The United States employed large numbers of Dogs and their handlers went through three phases of instruction: drill/obedience, aggression, and scouting. This copyrighted material may not be republished without permission. 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. Bill was the first SEAL to handle Dogs in SEAL Team. 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. Less aggressive but still highly intelligent shepherd dogs went to the scout school. Yet, with the bond a dog team creates and all the training they have gone through, handlers will, at times, doubt their dogs abilities. Obtain a paver around either the Airman's Museum or Military Working Dog Memorial at Lackland. Air Force Challenge Coin Cryptologic Office ISR Agency Sigint Warriors USAF. Langley, who also was a dog handler, went to Vietnam a year later. . Their primary role was to track the enemys scent or blood trails throughout South Vietnam, so that larger American forces could reengage. 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. Organized January 8, 1966 at Charleston AFB, South Carolina; Redesignated 437th Security Police Squadron March 8, 1967. US Army veterinarians provide training for Air Force military working dog handlers. Entered Service: 27 Aug. 1964 In 1965, the Air Force prepped 40 handler-and-dog teams at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, for missions in Vietnam. Individuals are permitted to take their own photographs or videos while touring the museum. 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. Faced with the very real threat posed by Viet Cong sappers infiltrating USAF bases in Vietnam and sabotaging multi-million dollar aircraft with grenades and satchel charges, the Air Force's. It is unnatural, theres no reason for it, and typically its a sign of the handler not being relaxed. 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. treatment and serologic testing to detect Like their. Motts Military Museum in Groveport, Ohio (a suburb of Columbus, Ohio), dedicated the new Vietnam War Dog Team Memorial. Once in Vietnam, these dogs were the gold standard. and its implications for the future use of Hear him talk about his service, from parachuting with Prince, to lying on ambush in Vietnam with Prince. Photo provided, After reading George Bevichs name during the official ceremony that began Thursday at The Wall, he planned to put a picture of Bevich squatting beside Rex, holding his M-16 rifle in Vietnam when he was a 22-year-old, shortly before he was killed. Chet Moore gets another car. To do this they need to make noises and watching them scream and grunt for the first time can be hilarious. Your Dogs were trained to alert their handlers to all kinds of hidden dangers, from snipers to trip wires and weapons caches. 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! Photo provided, https://donmooreswartales.com/2015/08/10/john-langley/. Parade Float 2013. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Richard Cunningham served as a sentry dog handler in Vietnam and later worked with the New York Police Department and as a fraud investigator. Memorial Why K-9 Issues I was 20 years old and weighed 135 pounds; Smokey weighed 90 pounds. Labs were friendly, handled the heat okay and had a natural instinct for tracking ground scent. The water dogs proved to be quite successful in saving lives and equipment, reducing the enemys capacity to conduct underwater sabotage operations. When a handler asks another handler to decoy for their MWD. Weapons are not permitted including pocket knives and firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons. Learn more about featured topics of the Vietnam War and Vietnam Era. Photo provided. 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. Congressman, Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland. 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. 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. The dog handlers and scout dogs attached to the Army's Marauder Infantry from the WWII China-Burma-India theater. On Jan. 30, 1968, all hell broke lose. There were 4,000 dogs and 9,000 handlers and no recognition for them at all.. Due to the nature and escalation of the war, in 1965 the Army decided to reactivate its scout dog program. share a common bond. The middle panel contains the words, The Unbreakable Bond.. Visitors are welcome to listen and interact with SAM subject matter experts located throughout the Presidential Gallery in . Claims! experience proved that canine ehrlichiosis can At the moment of impact its important the decoy is not so stiffto allow the dogs momentum carry through. 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 Great Pademic of Rapid City, 2020. On November 1, 1964, between 12:25 and 12:33 AM, Vietnamese Communist (VC) troops attacked Bien Hoa Air Base with six 81-mm mortars positioned about 400 meters north, outside the air base. The Army and Air Force used about 90% of the dogs sent to Vietnam, with the Army having the most by a wide margin. I had alot of buddies from K9 school that were stationed in Thailand. To make it simple, instructors tell beginning handlers to yell HOT SAUCE! very quickly over and over to provoke the dog. of Vietnam, including attacks on bases. And throughout training that special bond was formed between trooper and dog. - Firearms* including attacks on bases, Nemo August is National Dog Month in the United States, so in this episode we salute the four-legged warriors who helped us fight the war in Vietnam, saving an estimated 10,000 American lives. Handler tours (multiple tours are shown also) and dog assignments by base, The real story of the Vietnam War - WAR DOGS- AMERICA'S FORGOTTEN HEROES, MWD Criteria for Inclusion USAF Police Virtual Memorial. concluded that the future control of canine In Credited with saving Throneburg's life, Nemo was hailed as a hero. or photos. VDHA Officers; Unit Directors; Events . Natural 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. Commendations: 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. 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. Free shipping for many products! Since then both King and Reeves have been able to see the records of their dogs. - Diaper bags Our US Air Force Dog Handler, K9 Unit Experience, Cam Ranh AB. U.S. Air Force dog handlers provided a unique and critical capability in defending air bases against attack. I, for one, think thats an understatement.. 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. June 26, 2012 - Bomb dogs are integral to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. I never mind when people share this website with their family and friends. https://www.vvmf.org/topics/Dogs-of-the-Vietnam-War/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoqvA8xafKg, https://www.vvmf.org/The-Wall-That-Heals/, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK63b6Cn53unMMj-yZYEch0RuYy1YN1zl, Vietnam Dog Handlers Association http://www.vdha.us/. Army and Marine Corps snipers were another group targeted with the threat of bounties because they were force multipliers on the battlefield. But our forces did have one elite weapon that sometimes took the advantage away. Air Force dog handlers provided a unique and critical capability in defending air bases against attack. Fortunately he had also become a member and responded to my email. 71-72', list all USAF, USN, USA, 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. trackers, and mine detectors in Vietnam. 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. 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. Vision: Note: Working on this list. USMC & Handlers from our allies killed in Vietnam, Thailand, 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. Change). - Alcohol Dog teams form a bond so strong that a handlers attitude will affectthe dogs attitude and vice versa. We talk about you all the time. Most were given to the military by families back home. MWDs build up a lot ofmomentum when they run after the decoy. Vietnam, 1961. 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. personnel who deal with military dogs, and - Hero of Tan Son Nhut AB. He flew home and another airman took over handling his shepherd, which remained in the war zone. Many more followed, with the U.S. Air Force sentry force in Southeast Asia peaking in early 1967 at nearly 500 dogs. The 341st Military Working Dog Center will only consider applicants who meet the minimum requirements previously listed. As some of the only . My Marine friend got medication, food, vitamin supplemens from a veterinarian and shipped them to the ARVN.