Vet is shepherding war-dog honor (Vietnam vet wants to create monument to dogs used in combat)

Denver Post ^ | 3/31/05 | Mike McPhee

[Libloather]

Post / Hyoung Chang
Dog handler Charles Dahlberg and Ziko were at the state Capitol on Wednesday with current and former handlers of military and police dogs to show support for a national war-dog memorial. The legislature passed a resolution supporting the memorial, which would be built in Washington, D.C. The project is being promoted by a Vietnam veteran and Colorado native.

[Libloather]

Ping...

[kingattax]

[Viking2002]

Where do I send my donation?!?

[kingattax]

History of Vietnam War dogs :


http://www.uswardogs.org/id10.html

[Libloather]

Where do I send my donation?!?

I have no idea. From the article - his website is www.wardogstories.com. A national monument with contributions going to one individual? I dunno about that...

[Squantos]

AFSC 81150A Bark to the top !

[Mears]

I'm all for honoring these dogs.

I'm not being a smarta** here,but is there anything for horses that went to wars? Just curious!

[vetvetdoug]

Leo, the first US Patrol Dog KIA during Korea, is buried and has a memorial at Tokerozawa, Japan. There is also a War Dog Memorial at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

[Libloather]

Leo, the first US Patrol Dog KIA during Korea, is buried and has a memorial at Tokerozawa, Japan.

I was wondering about that. Apparently, Vietnam wasn't the first time these types of dogs were used. Shouldn't WWI & WWII be considered as well?

[joesnuffy]

The dogs we had in RVN were invaluable...the cong
were most definitely in fear of them...

I am down for a War Dog memorial

[Lacey]

There is a War Dog Memorial in Riverside, CA.

http://www.war-dogs.com/memorial_memories.htm

[nw_arizona_granny]

ping

[Stopislamnow]

I think anyone who wanted to honor horses is probably long gone. Might be a few around, though if they are they're as ancient as can be.

When were the last horses used? WW1? Maybe WW2 in the Philipines, think I've read something about that somewhere...

Last firm use I can recall offhand is San Juan Hill and the Rough Riders.

Anyway, it's an interesting topic to find out more about.

[crager]

As a kid I remember watching Rin Tin Tin and thought he was the coolist dog and I was right. I now have two German Shepard dogs with the second dog being just six months old now.
Loyal and smart is an understatement. Great dogs!

[oldironsides]

One night a few decades ago I walked into triage and saw a
German Shepard on a table. He was light colored with dark marked fur on his head and body. He had been wounded. I had never cared for a wounded dog before and the MD on duty had never handled one either. We did what we could. Finding an IV line and treating the big guy was a challenge. I often wonder what happened to that dog. His handler was like a concerned parent. Long ago and far away memories from Vietnam

[coydog]

http://www.militaryhorse.org/

The forum has all kinds of interesting stuff.

[Calpernia]

A Vietnam War veteran and Denver-area native is on a mission to create a national monument in Washington, D.C., to the dogs that soldiers used in combat.

John Burnam, who served two tours of duty as a war-dog handler in Vietnam during the 1960s, presented his case Wednesday to the Colorado legislature, which passed a resolution supporting his efforts.

More than 4,000 dogs, mostly shepherds, were used in Vietnam for scouting, finding hidden explosives and tracking. Most died in Vietnam, with only about 250 returned to the United States. About 2,300 U.S. military dogs are currently in service throughout the world, including Iraq.

[Calpernia]

Doggy ping

[Hush44]

Donations can be made at this site for the national org.
http://www.wardogsmemorial.org

More info from one of our forum members who is on the national committee...in his post here
http://www.swiftvets.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=5388&sid=#5388

Regards,
Kate