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 next several days we spent out in the bush hiding out and staying out of the clutches of the VC. Rosa and Joyce went to the base commander, explained the situation and requested that they be given combat boots and fatigues. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. Copyright 2003-2021. Just give the Chet Moore gets another car. When U.S. forces exited from Vietnam only 200 of the dogs made it back to the states. History, Natural Navy K-9 Sentry Dogs UNK. While serving as a dog handler. Fritz and King were shipped to Vietnam in January 1967. The Vietnamese military never had an effective dog program. problem among military working dogs. dogs? 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. Through the hours of darkness, sentry dogs and their handlers patrolled along the perimeters of U.S. Air Force air bases. Handler controls and pets the dog. A well-trained dog became an extension of his handlers senses seeing, hearing, and smelling danger that was otherwise undetectable. Required fields are marked *. But with a scout dog team leading the way, most patrols were successful or uneventful. - Hero of Tan Son Nhut AB. Website Last Updated: Also Read: 5 Fake Enemies US Troops Have Been Battling For Decades. Roughly 4,000 dogs served in Vietnam, leading patrols through the dense jungle terrain. 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. He says that if it wasnt for Prince on those two days, his name would be on the monument. (LogOut/ In this Holland Vietnam Veterans episode, I interviewed Bob Curnick, a dog handler who served in the Air Force from 1972-1976. As soon as that happened, I got on my walkie-talkie and alerted the base. Dogs, from Elks magazine Courtesy of Don (Jack) Kelly Korat RTAFB 'Nov I added other services because all dog handlers 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. "Nemo", born in October 1962, entered the United States Air Force as a sentry dog in 1964, at the age of 1 years. It is not possible to overestimate the incredible bond that existed between handler and dog. Like their. 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/. During the day, they would truck C-rations and water out to us and we stayed put.. Dogs could even detect enemy fighters submerged in rivers, breathing through hollow reeds and waiting to attack American watercraft. Some day, Ill be in heaven with you and we can once again walk our dogs. Patrolling thick, triple-canopy jungles was dangerous by day, and even more perilous by night. They knew the drills inside and out, and we did not. Handlers attend a three-month training program at Joint Base SA-Lackland to learn dog-handling procedures. Special Note to Post Vietnam Personnel: During the 1980s, The U.S. Army changed the MOS code structure. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test determines where a prospective service member might excel in the military. "The dog, being a non-commissioned officer, or NCO, would outrank or match in rank to . 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. Weapons are not permitted including pocket knives and firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons. Fritz was trained to be a sentry dog. Most of hte handlers even offered to pay thier dog's way. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airmen Elizabeth Figueroa) UP NEXT SHE . A dog handler witht he combat tracker team from the 4th Inf. Esteban Rivera, 2 July 2014 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. This study, using primary Or copy and paste this, which is the link: https://donmooreswartales.com/2015/08/10/john-langley/. When an MWD is trained to detect specific odors it will show a change of behavior when it encounters it. The Ron England Follies. Twelve members of the RAF Police and their Military Working Dogs competed to be crowned champion and 'Best in Trade,' at the RAF Police 2021 UK Military Working Dog Trials. Parade Float 2013. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. RECONNECTING = PRICELESS. Vietnam, 1961. He arrived in Vietnam with Prince on September 12, 1970. Links of This copyrighted material may not be republished without permission. Hear him talk about his service, from parachuting with Prince, to lying on ambush in Vietnam with Prince. 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! - Diaper bags On their first day in Vietnam, they barely survived a firefight with the enemy. Photo courtesy of Captain Humberto "Bert" Garcia Flight Med. They protected our soldiers on patrol from the many and diverse devices set to kill and maim. Dogs of the Vietnam War Dog Handlers Approximately 4,000 dogs served in the Vietnam War leading patrols with their handlers. What happened to them after that? Langley was asked. 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. credit line. They loved to work purely for the approval and praise of their handler and partner. Although frustrating, the visits with her new dog, Elvis, are just the beginning of her dream becoming a reality. Langley decided to do something about it. Then they were observed and tested to determine which area of training they would be assigned. Click here for frequently asked questions regarding items permitted inside the museum. Their duties were widespread - scout, sentry, patrol, mine and booby-trap detection, water and combat. 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. Sentry dogs would protect military bases and scout dogs would enable the troops to attack the VC. I feel really sorry for these soldiers . The VC fired 60 to 80 rounds into parked aircraft and troop billets then withdrew undetected and unabated. Battles/Campaigns: Vietnam. And it took less time for a Lab than a German shepherd to get used to a new handler. K9 Butkus Explosive detector school Lackland 1980. omen were first added to the military working dog program in 1974. Our US Air Force Dog Handler, K9 Unit Experience, Cam Ranh AB. The dogs were given to the ARVN, and were used in combat. Expertly trained by New Zealands elite Special Air Service in Malaysia, their dogs were initially provided by the British military. When King was sent home in January 1968, he had to leave Fritz behind. Air Force dog handlers provided a unique and critical capability in defending air bases against attack. His story is remarkable and should be shared. 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. First parade float to honor military working dogs! By the time the handler comes to clean it, the MWD has painted the kennel with feces. The dogs had major health problems, the majority died from malnutrition. 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. He researched what became of his dog, Prince, and published the results in a book he self-published in 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo). A human nose has about five million scent receptors; a shepherd has at least 225 million. 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. - Knives Geographic Story, Cold Nose-Brave Hearts Legendary War Tracker dogs were trained to track based on blood trails, odors, and other evidence of someone having . Air Force dog handlers provided a unique and critical capability in defending air bases against attack. Fritz trained with King as a sentry dog dogs that generally were not used in combat, but to guard perimeters of bases. In addition all bags are subject to search and may be placed through an X-Ray machine. 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. Accept a new handler with reduced training time. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. Your email address will not be published. - Strollers mid-1968 an epizootic occurred which threatened . WWII, U-T 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. Before this Veterans Day, today, the 25th anniversary of the unveiling of the Vietnam Wall, Langley will make a pilgrimage. Nemo is one of the most famous dogs in history. The retirement was followed by his adoption by former handler Staff Sgt. Dogs of SEA. Within a few years, several hundred dogs had been turned over to the Vietnamese military. This would be the largest battle involving sentry dogs, their . U.S. Marine dog handler, Corporal Michael Galloway and his Scout Dog, Stormy search a tunnel and find an enemy satchel of explosives ( Vietnam 1970). Some, but not many, were transferred to the South Vietnamese military and police. 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. This photo was taken at Lackland AFB, Texas, in 1970. Air Force Photo. Vietnam Bevich and a group of four other dog handlers and their dogs were on their way to Vietnam and Langley drove them to Logan Airport in Boston for the trip overseas. 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. 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. Second line sentry dog teams detected the enemy force, and Security Police killed or captured several of them. Commendations: Federal Benefits for dependents and survivors. The dogs started out at Lackland Air Force Base in . The Labradors, with their amazing noses, went straight to tracker training. These teams didnt wait to be ambushed. concluded that the future control of canine USAF The following are the types of jobs the K-9 teams performed during ground operations with the Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy in the Vietnam War: The German shepherd dog was the only breed trained for this job. By Sheila Tunney, Public Affairs Specialist March 18, 2020 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter After completing an 8-week training course, he was assigned to Fairchild AFB, Washing, for duty with the Strategic Air Command. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. $75. 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. Zachary Wolf) Dogs have been mans partners in war for a long time. 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 15 Sep 2021. At the moment of impact its important the decoy is not so stiffto allow the dogs momentum carry through. I was shocked when I heard that you had been killed during the attack on your base in Siagon. Reeves attended the dedication of the new memorial. They werent interested in us, they wanted to knock out our planes and helicopters with satchel charges, mortars or 122 millimeter rockets, he said. Smoke in the background. 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. But our forces did have one elite weapon that sometimes took the advantage away. USMC & Handlers from our allies killed in Vietnam, Thailand, The success of these teams, combined with those working in U.S. law. When U.S. forces exited from Vietnam only 200 of the dogs made it back to the states. 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. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, MIGHTY NETWORKS, 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Russian soldiers calls back home reveal horrifying experiences in Ukraine, 5 Fake Enemies US Troops Have Been Battling For Decades, The 7 Thoughts That Go Through Your Head When You Cant Find Your Rifle. This scent or sound alert was also true of the sentry dog teams, like Smokey and me. It was well known that the enemy put a bounty on both the handlers and their dogs. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. There is a long history of dogs being used in war that stretches back to ancient times. Their keen senses, learning ability, physical endurance, and devotion to man have made them invaluable companions on battlefields both past and present. It was launched two days after a successful Viet Cong attack (July 1, 1965) on Da Nang AB Air Base. After 11 months and 27 days as an Air Force dog handler in Vietnam, Langley and Vogie parted company. US Army veterinarians provide training for Air Force military working dog handlers. - Water bottles (clear, sealed bottle, up to 20 oz.) Take the military aptitude test. 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. References On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. Killed in Action, Clark Air Base, RP, January 6, 1978. Benning Military Working Dog Memorial, Dogs and Handlers Lost: Vietnam - Firearms* - Coolers The dog handlers begged and pleaded for the government to let them take thier dogs home. Please note the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is not responsible for items left in vehicles. . Mabins also has the distinction of being the first African American female dog handler in the Air Force. He was procured by the Air Force when he was one and a half years old. Most MWDs that defecate in their kennels will simply wait for their handler to clean it up. Many more followed, with the U.S. Air Force sentry force in Southeast Asia peaking in early 1967 at nearly 500 dogs. To submit stories 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. Name: John Francis Langley Fort Top Dog was a program in Vietnam to test Sentry Dog's for base security.