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]

Vet is shepherding war-dog honor
By Mike McPhee
Denver Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 31, 2005

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.

Burnam, who served as a dog handler with the 1st Air Cavalry and the 25th Infantry Division, travels the country drumming up support for his idea.

On Wednesday, dogs used for security at Buckley Air Force Base showed their skills on the steps of the state Capitol while Burnam rallied support from the bystanders.

"Our country has never recognized the service of these dogs," he said, standing next to a replica of the national memorial he hopes to fund. The replica was sculpted by Renee Headings of Pennsylvania.

His mission is to raise $1 million, half of which will pay for the sculpture. The other half will go toward purchasing private land in Washington for the memorial, and for administrative costs.

So far, he has raised slightly more than $100,000, he said.

Burnam, a graduate of Littleton High School, is employed as a technical writer in Washington. His website is www.wardogstories.com

[Happygal]

I think a memorial to the handlers would be more appropriate.

[Happygal]

Don't care much for cats.

[Libloather]

"And I want to know the full military background of Hairofthedog, and ecrubh, and everyone else who posted on this thread, before posting further."

Dogs are dogs.

It may be time to stop posting now - no?

[Desdemona]

We don't idolize dogs. But you have to understand, there's memorials and plaques for all sorts of stuff here. I don't think a privately financed minor memorial will hurt anything.

And the handlers are encompased in the other memorials.

[Happygal]

Yes! I think you should! How kind of you to seek my advice.

[Desdemona]

Well, my 60-pound doggie and I are going to retire.

'Night.

[Happygal]

Yeah, privately funded ..okay.

But this memorial is soliciting funding? Don't you think that is just a bit..well..exploitative?

[Happygal]

Oiche mhaith, agus codladh samh! :-)

[Happygal]

It wasn't addressed to you.

WHAT is your problem?

[Libloather]

WHAT is your problem?

Not a darn thing. I must thank you for bumping this with your worthless opinion. It's kept this thread going for awhile. How do I thank you enough?

[Happygal]

Nice to know that you are the standard for opinion.

I shall look to you in future in what opinion is valid or worthless.

WHAT a sage you are.

[The Red Zone]

Why no war cats? Unfair!

[Libloather]

Nice to know that you are the standard for opinion.

Gotta start somewhere - eh babe?

[Libloather]

Why no war cats? Unfair!

Almost had a cat fight thang going between Happybabe and Desdemona. In certain states, cats can now be - ahem - eliminated. Please check your local listings for present laws and regulations...

[Incorrigible]

Good grief!

All this animosity over a subject like this?  And I thought the Evolution/Creationism threads were brutal!

It is possible to build and/or name a memorial that at the same time serves a function as well.  For example, naming an building/airport/highway after a US President.

Turning a site used to train dogs for the military into something of a memorial seems entirely appropriate and funds could be used for both remembrance and for training the dogs that will help services members in the future.

That said, I've noticed that Americans and British seem more attached to their dogs than Irish (odd that) so perhaps there is a cultural misunderstanding going on as well.

 

[vetvetdoug]

I believe I can help. During Viet Nam veterinarians discovered that a disease, Canine Erlichiosis, was endemic in dogs in SE Asia and the dogs became infected with it rapidly and commonly in Viet Nam. It was believed that the disease did not exist in the US at the time and so early in the war, the dogs were put down rather than send them back to the US to contaminate the CONUS with the disease. About 1970 the veterinarians learned to identify and treat the disease effectively and clear the infections from the dogs so they could be shipped back to the CONUS without transmitting the disease to the "susceptible" US canine population. Irony of ironies, Erlichiosis is endemic in the US and has been and just had not been diagnosed or recognized until the veterinarians returning from Viet Nam recognized the disease in US dogs. I cared for several Patrol Dogs about 1974 that had served in Viet Nam while at several USAF bases and watched them live until old age or senility ended their careers. One of my tours was at the Military Dog Working Center at Lackland AFB.

[Stopislamnow]

Doh! Forgot that! Now I remember the pic of the SF guys on em.
Thanks.

[jslade]

There is a war dog memorial on Guam for the Dobermans used there during WWII. As a Doberman owner and lover of the breed, this is quite moving.

[jslade]

Here is an interesting link about that memorial.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/7109/wardogs.html