Veterans want memorial to war dogs

UPI ^ | 05/28/07

[nypokerface]

WASHINGTON, May 28 (UPI) -- Congress is considering legislation that would create a privately funded memorial to dogs that have served with the U.S. military.

Until a 2000 law allowed them to be adopted, many of the dogs that served with U.S. soldiers were euthanized by military veterinarians, The Denver Post reported.

Most of the more than 4,000 dogs that served in Vietnam died there. Some were killed by enemy troops, some died of tropical diseases, and some were put down by military veterinarians or given to the South Vietnamese army, the Post reported.

"The day we stood down in 1972, (Gen. William) Westmoreland was pinning medals on us as I watched the South Vietnamese take our dogs away," Rick Claggett of Denver, who worked with a German shepherd named Big Boy, told the Post. "Today, talking about this, I still choke up. The government shouldn't have let this happen."

Claggett is a member of the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association, which is lobbying Congress to approve the war-dog memorial.

[Shadowstrike]

I would whole-heartedly support this too.

[Paperdoll]

I am all for a memorial for war dogs. All courage comes from love. What can we do to help?

[SandRat]

WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!

[dr_who_2]

Yet another thing to bump into and trip over in the national mall or vicinity. If veterans and veteranarians want a monument to the real dogs of war, then buy an affordable plot of land, commission a statue to be placed there, open it to the public, and hope that passersby won't let their mutts urinate on it.

The government doesn't need to be involved. Nor do taxpayers, regardless of how grateful they are to veterans. We owe to those who sacrifice life and limb only what they have lost to the extent that we can repay them. Any able person who needs the state to cater to their every whim doesn't appreciate what liberty is.

[dr_who_2]

You should aspire to be a dog yourself.

[mtbopfuyn]

A pat on the head and a doggie treat!

[onedoug]

Sad.

[SolidWood]

legislation that would create a privately funded memorial

Where is the problem?

[HairOfTheDog]

Ping!

Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

[trimom]

I visited a museum at an Air Force Base near Riverside, CA (sorry, I can’t recall the name of the base...)and there is a monument to War Dogs there.

[weeder]

Here in Bucks County, Pa. (northeast of Philadelphia) we have already a nice memorial.
http://www.bristoltownship.org/wardogMemorial.cfm

[weeder]

............or “already have”, for the non-dyslexics.

[Rightfootforward]

I would contribute to this effort without hesitation.

[dr_who_2]

Ain’t no need for legislation, period. Congress still owes us a flat tax, real immigration reform, and it has a long list of laws to repeal. They don’t have time for this crap.

[dogbrain]

I have to agree with you.
There are more serious issues which need the politico's attention.

Now, are you a dog person, or a cat person?

[berdie]

I would be willing to donate for this. Maybe it would give the folks on Capital Hill something to vote on that they can agree on.

[Biggirl]

Great idea for a memorial to war dogs.

[chicagolady]

WE NEED PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chicagolady]

Dogs RULE, Cats DROOL...Nuf said!!