air force dog handlers in vietnam

Dog Handler Bob Curnick was a dog handler who served in the Air Force from 1972-1976. This film looks at the relationship between two handlers and their canines. 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. 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. Everything for our dogs. . 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. Photo Above shows the terrible wound suffered by Nemo. " Photo provided, https://donmooreswartales.com/2015/08/10/john-langley/. ehrlichiosis and related diseases requires: 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. Air Force Dog handlers work with their canines to train and detect explosives, or find drugs in a number of different situations. In Each team included a visual tracker and a dog handler upfront, followed by their cover man, then the radioman and the team leader. Canine ehrlichiosis, a The VC fired 60 to 80 rounds into parked aircraft and troop billets then withdrew undetected and unabated. 71-72', list all USAF, USN, USA, 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. Sentry dogs would protect military bases and scout dogs would enable the troops to attack the VC. Military Working Dogs or Contractor Working Dogs, Photos Above: Safe Conduct Passes, Courtesy of Bruce Pritchett, Don (Jack) Kelly Korat RTAFB 'Nov Natural Photo courtesy of VSPA, Sgt. Though there was. UP NEXT SHE . Your email address will not be published. K-9 MWD: Handlers Lost in Vietnam and Thailand. - VSPA ** 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. * Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and . The memorial also includes life-sized statues of Ed Reeves and his dog, Prince. Vietnam Era Dog Tag plus US Air Force Patches | Memorial Ephemera Thailand Dog Handlers 71-72 -- DP.Kelly & Lucky, 11:14:42 10/22/02 TuePDT (209.4.252.40) I was stationed at Korat Air Base from 11/71 to 11/72 and I was in K9 school at Lackland during the summer of 71. 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. At times, these weapons even turned such situations upside down and enabled us to surprise and take them out. Please email me with information. Please feel The retirement was followed by his adoption by former handler Staff Sgt. Over time, you will have the opportunity to advance into higher ranks. His story is remarkable and should be shared. control, although ehrlichiosis still remains a Photo 1 of 17. Here is the Intense Training Soldiers Went Through During the Vietnam War Killed in Action, Clark Air Base, RP, January 6, 1978. Fortunately he had also become a member and responded to my email. A human nose has about five million scent receptors; a shepherd has at least 225 million. For the Air ForceBasic Military Training: 8.5 weeks; For the Coast GuardRecruit Training: 8.5 weeks . D.O.B: 27 Sept. 1946 Combat tracker teams consisted of five soldiers and two Labrador retrievers. He received the Silver Star for alerting the airbase a VC attack was coming. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol of America's honor and recognition of the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. 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. 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. 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. Since then, no adoptable dogs are euthanized at the end of their military service. The Army and Air Force used about 90% of the dogs sent to Vietnam, with the Army having the most by a wide margin. Motts Military Museum in Groveport, Ohio (a suburb of Columbus, Ohio), dedicated the new Vietnam War Dog Team Memorial. The handler trusted the dog with his life, and the dog was absolutely loyal, even to the death. Whats more, all our dogs had lived with our American smells for years. . All of the other dog handlers were doing the same thing. A1C David Shark with his sentry dog Heino at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam. Handlers & Within minutes, the base was all lit up. When they finished their tours of duty, their dogs remained behind to work with other handlers. Then the US government in the end of the war would not allow the scout dogs to come home instead they were either euthanized or turned over to the ARVN an ultimately end up on the dinner table. dogs? (U.S. Air Force photo by Airmen Elizabeth Figueroa) share a common bond. list all USAF, USN, USA, of Vietnam, including attacks on bases. On Jan. 30, 1968, all hell broke lose. Military working dogs: More about the Air Force's canine members The first that the US authorized the use of training for dogs was in World War II. My companion was a German shepherd named Smokey. View military histories of over 2 million, If you are a veteran, reconnect with people. If they heard or saw something, they notified the base by walkie-talkie. I know you have a son and I know that he had to be very proud of you. Army Military Working Dog Handler (MOS 31K): Career Details Equipped with their sensory superpowers, the . 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. Air Force dog handlers provided a unique and critical capability in defending air bases against attack. 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. Labs were friendly, handled the heat okay and had a natural instinct for tracking ground scent. as Air Police / While stationed in Thailand with the 56th Security Police Squadron Bob formed a steadfast relationship with his military working dog Rex. Fort New K-9 Entered Service: 27 Aug. 1964 The scent of the Vietnamese was very different and much easier for them to pick up and alert on. Approximately 4,000 dogs served in the Vietnam War leading patrols with their handlers. 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. Then they were observed and tested to determine which area of training they would be assigned. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airmen Elizabeth Figueroa) The program was a huge failure. This unfitting end motivated Vietnam dog handlers to act. be successfully treated with tetracycline; this Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. I was 20 years old and weighed 135 pounds; Smokey weighed 90 pounds. Our units responsibility was to protect the Tay Ninh Base Camp, and especially the ammunition dump. Thank You. I know all your dog handler friends are. Phu Cat Air Base Security Forces - Wikipedia Deadly Disease for Military Working Dogs in SEA Chemical Exposure Reeves was sent home in 1971 but Prince stayed behind. Federal Benefits for dependents and survivors. After 11 months and 27 days as an Air Force dog handler in Vietnam, Langley and Vogie parted company. Officer '66-'67, Steve Janeke & Sentry Dog Kobuc X448 Every dog responded to both verbal and nonverbal hand commands. "I would wager that 90 percent of American combat troops killed in action during the Vietnam War never saw their killers. 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. On their first day in Vietnam, they barely survived a firefight with the enemy. Most of hte handlers even offered to pay thier dog's way. "The dog, being a non-commissioned officer, or NCO, would outrank or match in rank to . Top Dog was a program in Vietnam to test Sentry Dog's for base security. VoyForums: Vietnam Security Police Association K-9 Bulletin Board It was a disgrace and left thousands of dog handlers in a state of depression for years to come. It is unnatural, theres no reason for it, and typically its a sign of the handler not being relaxed. The cost to feed a dog was more than the cost to feed the handler. Richard Cunningham served as a sentry dog handler in Vietnam and later worked with the New York Police Department and as a fraud investigator. U.S. Air Force A2C George M Bevich Jr. and his dog, Rex, were killed defending their base on December 4, 1966. U.S. Military Dogs Usually Outrank Their Handlers However, dogs that are not fully confident will not clench and hold and instead will bite, then release, and then bite a different area. Clinical and experimental This story was first published in the Charlotte Sun newspaper, Port Charlotte, Fla. on Sunday, November 11, 2007 and is republished with permission. This would be the largest battle involving sentry dogs, their . Another Article From Us: The Follow-Up to Band of Brothers is Coming. 437th Air Base Group: 15 June 1952 - 16 Nov 1957. He talks about serving with his K-9, Jake, and the roles of military working dogs in-country. Eryn Bailey, 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog handler, performs a routine checkup on a dog during a two-day family pet clinic at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, Feb 15, 2022. He flew home and another airman took over handling his shepherd, which remained in the war zone. In addition all bags are subject to search and may be placed through an X-Ray machine. Kyle Pethtel, a dog handler with the 27th Special Operations Security Forces, was fun and filled with challenges for both canine and. information on joining. considered the last combat action of the Vietnam war. Air Force Challenge Coin Cryptologic Office ISR Agency Sigint Warriors USAF. 366th SPS K-9 to Vietnam & Thailand Air Force/Navy bases and some Army dogs used in (Image courtesy of the Security Forces Museum). December 4, 1966 War Dogs of Vietnam - Today in History concluded that the future control of canine Scout / Tracker Dogs. After completing an 8-week training course, he was assigned to Fairchild AFB, Washing, for duty with the Strategic Air Command. 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. Your donation to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will help expand our mission to honor, educate and heal. It was on March 13, 1942, that the . Many of the Vietnamese handlers were Buddhist and did not develop a relationship with their assigned dogs. 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 . Dog Handler Bob Curnick - "I Wouldn't Be By Myself" - Holland Vietnam Just give the US Army veterinarians provide training for Air Force military working dog handlers. Nemo: Canine Hero Nemo is one of the most famous dogs in history. The Vietnam Dog Handler Association formed to help these veterans cope with the guilt of leaving their dogs behind. Their keen senses, learning ability, physical endurance, and devotion to man have made them invaluable companions on battlefields both past and present. 75th SFS MWD handlers honor war dog heroes - Hill Air Force Base Ive heard it said that without our military dogs, there would be 10,000 additional names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall. 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. Bob Dunn handled military working dogs in the U.S. Army and served with the 212th Military Police Company (Sentry Dog). K-9 sentry dogs at Phu Cat Air Base in Vietnam are trained by members of the 37th Security Police Squadron. Base Defense of Vietnam - Thailand, MWD First parade float to honor military working dogs! Dogs, from Elks magazine Courtesy of Don (Jack) Kelly Korat RTAFB 'Nov Parade Float, History WWI & We used German shepherds like Smokey, mixes of shepherd types, and Labrador retrievers that were well trained in detecting, attacking, and tracking the enemy. For example, you can join the Army K9 unit. National Archives. The 341st Military Working Dog Center will only consider applicants who meet the minimum requirements previously listed. Please note the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is not responsible for items left in vehicles. - Purses document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. . Becoming a dog handler in the Army requires a few crucial steps. An estimated 4,000 dogs and 9,000 military-dog handlers served in Vietnam. Nemo: The Vietnam War Dog Who Returned a Hero - Pets This was considered the last combat action of the Vietnam war. determine its cause. Hear him talk about his service, from parachuting with Prince, to lying on ambush in Vietnam with Prince. Many dog handlers had a difficult time returning from the war. The only thing that would make him happier is if he could have brought Prince home himself. In mid-1968 an epizootic occurred which threatened the working dog program and led to 250 canine deaths. Bill Cummings, a retired Air Force K-9 handler, in his home on April 14, 2018. in Marana, Ariz. Cummings helps former dog handlers find out the fates of military working dogs from the Vietnam era. Click here to view the collection in the Library of Congress. was a dog handler who served in the Air Force from 1972-1976. There were 4,000 dogs and 9,000 handlers and no recognition for them at all.. Name: John Francis Langley Many more followed, with the U.S. Air Force sentry force in Southeast Asia peaking in early 1967 at nearly 500 dogs. 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. - Strollers USMC & Handlers from our allies killed in Vietnam, Thailand, The Ron England Follies. the identification and control of the disease, 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. my spreadsheet as time permits.. Though he lost an eye, Nemo survived. Click here to search Veterans Records and to obtain information on retrieving lost commendations. Visit the main pages for Military Working Dog Trials 2021 | Royal Air Force The At the moment of impact its important the decoy is not so stiffto allow the dogs momentum carry through. Fritz was trained to be a sentry dog. 113 likes. U.S. Air Force Dog Handlers - National Museum of the USAF K-9 Issues The dogs are trained at a training center on Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. The two were trained to scout which meant they would go on patrols and search for people, mines and booby traps. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. 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. BalanceRose John Worsham has his Bronze Star replaced. Change). . Photo Above Courtesy of Nemo's War Dog Heroes Memorial. 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. 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. Vietnam and Thailand. In this Holland Vietnam Veterans episode, I interviewed Bob Curnick, a dog handler who served in the Air Force from 1972-1976. + $1.00 shipping. format. Dogs have been mans partners in war for a long time. The dog handlers begged and pleaded for the government to let them take thier dogs home. 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. Forty dog teams were deployed to Vietnam for a four month test period. * A2C George Bevich, Jr. was the The 100 Best Military Dog Names | BeChewy At Okinawa, where I met and trained with Smokey, most of the dogs were veterans being reassigned to new handlers. Geographic Story, Cold Nose-Brave Hearts Legendary War The United States Military Working Dog DemonstrationTeam was formed in 1975 at Lackland AFB. 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. New Memorial Dedicated to Vietnam War Dogs and Their Handlers Niaomi. Military Working Dogs Through History - American Kennel Club "When I Joined VetFriends, I read about the email locator service, and sent an email to my old friend. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. Learn more about these four-legged warriors and their two-legged warriors by hearing from Terry Kehoe, Mark Smoot, and Bob Dunn. In spite of his severe wound, Nemo would not leave his handler's side until the firefight was over. All rights reserved. BalanceRose Vietnam, 1961. military working dogs. Many more followed, with the U.S. Air Force sentry force in Southeast Asia peaking in early 1967 at nearly 500 dogs. Learn more about featured topics of the Vietnam War and Vietnam Era. The man runs away. John Davis, 3rd SPS, Bien Hoa AB, 1969 Photo Courtesy of Paul Kaiser, Bien Thuy Vietnam 1967/68 Our US Air Force Dog Handler, K9 Unit Experience, Cam Ranh AB. . Usaf - Vdha Pablo Gonzalez. Instructors willtell them to drop the purse so they lower the leash and assume a more relaxed hold of it. Story Pixie and Brutus. Nemo returned to Lackland in July 1967 as a part of an Air Force dog recruitment team. I read they given to the S. Vietnamese Army or euthanized. When an MWD is trained to detect specific odors it will show a change of behavior when it encounters it. The Vietnamese military never had an effective dog program. Prohibited Items: 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. VoyForums: Vietnam Security Police Association K-9 Bulletin Board. Take the thin, monofilament lines that were practically invisible to the human eye, which the Vietcong attached to a grenade or other explosive device that detonated when tripped. A large proportion of American infantry casualties were caused by these devastating devices. Not every unit on patrol got a dog; there werent enough to go around, and in those cases, a Soldier would have to walk point alone. United states war dogs King learned that Fritz was euthanized after the war. VSPA His handler, Airman 1st Class Robert Throneburg, released him to attack. Dog teams form a bond so strong that a handlers attitude will affectthe dogs attitude and vice versa. K9 | US Air Force Security Forces - Virtual Museum Ian Harvey is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE, The Follow-Up to Band of Brothers is Coming. They loved to work purely for the approval and praise of their handler and partner. Security Police team with a dog on an early morning reconnaissance patrol near Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam, in 1967. I dont know what all that means up there but what you might want to do is copy the link that the page is on and share it that way. EIN: 52-1149668, Copyright 2023 The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display. The retirement was followed by his adoption by former handler Staff Sgt.

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