A contingent of former Vietnam dog handlers will be there standing with Langley as part of the Veterans Day services at The Wall this week. He and his shepherd were stationed 3 miles from the fence surrounding the airbase along a path surrounded by jungle. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. listed by name, brand number, and bases assigned. Vietnam War Veterans who Tags: 212th Military Police Sentry Dog Company, A human nose has about five million scent receptors, aggression, American "smells", and scouting, Dogs, Dogs and their handlers went through three phases of instruction: drill/obedience, Lackland Air Force Base, Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, New Zealand's elite Special Air Service in Malaysia, sentry dog handler, Tay Ninh, Tay Ninh Base Camp, Vietcong, Vietnam War, Your email address will not be published. It wont be like it was when he first attended the ceremony a quarter century ago with no recognition for the dog handlers. It was a watershed moment but it was not without challenges. 71-72', list all USAF, USN, USA, dog's fate! The United States employed large numbers of Ian Harvey is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE, The Follow-Up to Band of Brothers is Coming. 437th Air Base Group: 1 August 1950 - 10 June 1952. The dogs started out at Lackland Air Force Base in . 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. the epizootic. BalanceRose 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. The Great Pademic of Rapid City, 2020. "Nemo", born in October 1962, entered the United States Air Force as a sentry dog in 1964, at the age of 1 years. Jiggs The name of the Marines' first Bulldog mascot, circa 1922. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The 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. The Army and Air Force used about 90% of the dogs sent to Vietnam, with the Army having the most by a wide margin. After 11 months and 27 days as an Air Force dog handler in Vietnam, Langley and Vogie parted company. 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. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. The granite panels were designed and constructed by Columbus Art Memorial. 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. The two were trained to scout which meant they would go on patrols and search for people, mines and booby traps. "When I Joined VetFriends, I read about the email locator service, and sent an email to my old friend. Change). Mayaguez K-9 Memoriam be successfully treated with tetracycline; this Many dog handlers had a difficult time returning from the war. Cam Rahn Bay Vietnam Or copy and paste this, which is the link: https://donmooreswartales.com/2015/08/10/john-langley/. Dog handlers from the 1ATF move towards a RAAF Iroquois helicopter of 9 Squadron during operations against the Viet Cong, 1967. Air Force Photo. 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. The handler and dog led combat patrols and provided an early silent warning of danger. I was 20 years old and weighed 135 pounds; Smokey weighed 90 pounds. military dogs are employed, disease education of the identification and control of the disease, 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. Our US Air Force Dog Handler, K9 Unit Experience, Cam Ranh AB. He arrived in Vietnam with Prince on September 12, 1970. D.O.B: 27 Sept. 1946 Click here to view the War Tales fan page on FaceBook. 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. Over time, you will have the opportunity to advance into higher ranks. The next several days we spent out in the bush hiding out and staying out of the clutches of the VC. my dad name was gunny elzie pence he work dogs in nam he was there 3 times looking to see if anyone knew him.thank his son scot ps iam also a honorable marine of 4 years. Total: 37 12th SPS (Cam Ranh Bay & Phu Cat) Read More: 14th SPS (Nha Trang) Read More During the initial phases of the Vietnam War, German Shepherds were used mainly on Air Force installations as sentry dogs. Throughout the course of the war, 4,000 dogs served in Vietnam and Thailand. The 9 Biggest Myths About Military Working Dogs Second line sentry dog teams detected the enemy force, and Security Police killed or captured several of them. Please note the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is not responsible for items left in vehicles. K-9 Issues John Worsham has his Bronze Star replaced. At 6:06 a.m. Thursday, former Airman 1st. (War Dog Previsional), and his dog wait at a helipad for an early evening flight to a combat area. "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. He was killed in a Viet Cong mortar attack in December 1966. But our forces did have one elite weapon that sometimes took the advantage away. How to Become a Military Working Dog Handler - Expert Advice 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. Dog Handler Bob Curnick - "I Wouldn't Be By Myself" - Holland Vietnam But a trained dog could detect the trap, and it would be neutralized. 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. Photo provided United States Air Force Security Forces - Military Wiki Aggressive dogs usually went to the sentry unit. Military working dog retires after over eight years of service > Air Many more followed, with the U.S. Air Force sentry force in Southeast Asia peaking in early 1967 at nearly 500 dogs. I remember how we all got off the plane in Hawaii with our dogs and took them out on the ramp eventhough the government told us they had to remain on the plane. serologic screening of prospective and active * Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and . 366th SPS K-9 I, for one, think thats an understatement.. VoyForums: Vietnam Security Police Association K-9 Bulletin Board 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. - Box cutters An estimated 4,000 dogs and 9,000 military-dog handlers served in Vietnam. It was launched two days after a successful Viet Cong attack (July 1, 1965) on Da Nang AB Air Base. (U.S. Air Force photo). It is unnatural, theres no reason for it, and typically its a sign of the handler not being relaxed. 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. (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 . Killed in Action, Clark Air Base, RP, January 6, 1978. mid-1968 an epizootic occurred which threatened K-9 MWD: Handlers Lost in Vietnam and Thailand. - VSPA Nemo returned to Lackland in July 1967 as a part of an Air Force dog recruitment team. The German shepherd dog was the only breed used for this job. Ive heard it said that without our military dogs, there would be 10,000 additional names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall. German Shepherd Dogs in the Military: A Brief Historical Overview - Alcohol 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. additional veterinary research. Photo provided, https://donmooreswartales.com/2015/08/10/john-langley/. This remembrance was left on his Wall of Faces by a comrade, Fred Cobb. Though there was. Dogs who become certified as military working dogs have gone through an extensive selection and training 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. The retirement was followed by his adoption by former handler Staff Sgt. When U.S. forces exited from Vietnam only 200 of the dogs made it back to the states. Vietnam War Veteran Charlotte Henry Oral History Interview 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. Air Force K9 Dog Handler Careers. Approximately 350 dogs were killed in action, many more were wounded, and 263 handlers were killed. This is what happens to military working dogs after retirement 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! The sculpture was created by Alan Cottrill, a sculptor from Zanesville, Ohio. 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. Dogs, from Elks magazine Courtesy of Don (Jack) Kelly Korat RTAFB 'Nov 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. RAF Military Working Dogs play a vital role supporting RAF Police Handlers to protect people and fight crime. 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 water dogs proved to be quite successful in saving lives and equipment, reducing the enemys capacity to conduct underwater sabotage operations. He was taken on tours throughout the U.S., and lived in a special kennel at Lackland AFB, Texas, until his death in 1972. USAF as Air Police / Your donation to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will help expand our mission to honor, educate and heal. Your email address will not be published. Reeves has volunteered at Motts Military Museum since 2012. Although frustrating, the visits with her new dog, Elvis, are just the beginning of her dream becoming a reality. They knew the drills inside and out, and we did not. Tan Son Nhut Air Base on December 4, one air force handler and three sentry dogs were killed during a VC penetration. ** 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. - Backpacks In the Vietnam War about 350 dogs were killed in action and 263 handlers were killed. He received the Silver Star for alerting the airbase a VC attack was coming. These dogs are credited with saving more than 10,000 lives. In Vietnam, American forces used dogs for everything from base security to detecting ambushes to hunting down fleeing enemy units.