I write this on behalf of a group of forgotten veterans who are unable to write it themselves. Sadly, they are all dead now, many of them killed by their own troops. They served this country with bravery and destinction, asking for little more than love and companionship in return, and as a reward they were treated to the cold sting of a needle or abandoned to the ravages of an Asian jungle. I am speaking, of course, about the War Dogs of Vietnam.
Dogs have always played a part in every war the United States has been in in the 20th century. “Stubby”, a stray bull terrier was adopted by the men of the 102 Infantry in WWI and served with such valor that Black Jack pershing himself gave the dog a special gold medal. He was a life member in the American Legion, and met presidents and marched in parades until his death in 1926. In WWII, thousands of dogs served, one named Chips took 14 Italian soldiers prisoner, being wounded in the process. He was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. Both medals were later revoed after complaints that awarding them to a mere dog demeaned the men who also received them. :rolleyes: No War Dog has received a medal since then. Korea added another chapter to this glorious brotherhood, so terrifing the Communist soldiers that “Yankee, Take your dog and go home!” was a common propaganda line issuing from their loudspeakers. In 1953, peace broke out and these dogs came home. With the global focus shifting to nuclear war, in 1957 the Army closed it’s last dog training center. Then came Vietnam.
The harsh realities of a war in the jungle quickly convinced the Army that dogs were again a necessity. Thousands of dogs were trained and sent to Vietnam. It has been estimated that they saved over 10,000 lives during the course of that war. They serverd as guards, went into tunnels after Viet Cong guerillas, and walked point with their handlers through dangerous, uncharted territory.
And then the war ended. America abandoned South Vietnam in haste. But what about the dogs? The dogs were clasified as “surplus equipment” and either euthanised or abandoned. These brave, noble companions were treated no differently than a broken jeep or an obsolite rife and destroyed, despite the desperite pleas of their handlers to be allowed to bring them home. It is a national disgrace that is almost never mentioned in the history books.
What can you do to rectify this tradgedy? Well, nothing can change the past, and efforts to recognise their acomplishments have often been stonewalled. The USPS refused to remember these cannine heros on a stamp despite over 100,000 signatures asking that they do so, yet Elvis and Bugs Bunny have stamps. The veteren dog handlers aplied to plant a tree in memory of their lost companions at Arlington National Cemetery. They were turned down. The Smithsonian refuses to recognise War Dogs in their new Armed Forces History Hall.
Some progress has been made, however. An excellent documentary aired 2 years ago on the Discovery Chanel, and 2 memorials have been built, one in California at March field and one in Georgia at Fort Benning. As yet there is no national memorial, but the Vietnam Dog Handler Association is accepting funds for a national memorial. If you are so inclined, you can contribute at their website. If not, I urge you to take a moment to hug your own dog tight, give him an extra doggie treat, and remind him that he is a spiritual kinsdog to some of the bravest beings ever to serve this country. And please, don’t forget that some of the price of our freedom was paid by four legged soldiers, fearlessly assisting their two legged companions.
