Remember Our Canine Veterans

On this Veteran's Day, it's a good time to reflect on all our canine soldiers who were invaluable to our servicemen and women. Anomal Planet has a show on today about them, and it breaks my heart to see how many fellow VietNam Vets of the canine variety were left behind. Conversely, WWII canine vets were brought home heroes.
My husband came home from VietNam and commented that the treatment of the dogs wasn't far from the treatment of the humans.

I hope we learn from history!!

My greetings and respect and love today to all canine service dogs past, present and future, whether firefighters, soldiers, policedogs, companions or any of the many, many ways these marvelous beings care for us.

PLEASE CROSS POST TO OTHERS SO THESE CANINE HEROES ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

Dedicated to the memory of all those who served . . . Italy, France,
Russia, Belgium, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and Great Britain all
have formal monuments and decorations dedicated to war dogs by the
military organizations under which they served. War dogs in other
countries have also been awarded medals and other forms of official
recognition for serving their countries. Of all of the countries to
employ the use and help of dogs during times of war, the United States
military stands alone as the only world military to not formally
acknowledge the contributions made by its canine soldiers. Due to a
policy that has existed since World War II, and despite the protests of
armed forces personnel, the United States military refuses to formally
recognize the accomplishments of its canine soldiers, stating that such
recognition is "demeaning to servicemen."

Nearly four thousand dogs served in Vietnam and saved up to 10,000
American servicemen through their scouting and sentry duties. When
withdrawing from Vietnam in 1973, the military classified the dogs as
surplus equipment to be left behind during evacuation. Many dogs were
left with South Vietnamese allies who were afraid of the dogs and
didn't know how to handle them. Many of the dogs were euthanized, and
many more perished at the hands of their inexperienced South Vietnamese
handlers. Only a handful of Vietnam war dogs made it back to the United
States. Many handlers and trainers who worked with these dogs were
traumatized by having to leave their faithful companions behind,
stating that the dogs saved their lives and often did more work than
they did.

Relegated to the status of military equipment rather than personnel,
dogs in the U.S. military are drafted for life and are euthanized once
they are deemed infirm and incapable of continuing their jobs. The
military claims that these dogs are incapable of being retired to
civilian life, despite the fact that police dogs, which receive
identical training, are successfully and peacefully retired to loving
homes and families upon retirement. As a result of the indifference
shown toward war dogs, many of their accomplishments have been unjustly
forgotten, or at best, relegated to the status of "trivia" by war
buffs. Many of the records of war dogs and their handlers have been lost
or destroyed, and the public remains largely unaware of the
contributions by dogs in the armed forces.

It is hoped through this email that these dogs will be remembered and
appreciated for the services they provided for our armed forces and to
our country. Please forward
this email to as many dog lovers as you can so that these canine heroes
are not
forgotten.

Not Forgotten are . .

SARGE 1A43, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
PRINCE 55-M-9, German Shepherd mix, Vietnam.
LUKE, black Labrador Retriever, Vietnam
PATCHES, Vietnam, one of the few war dogs given passage back home to
the United States.
NEMO, German Shepherd, wounded in Vietnam, one of the few war dogs
given passage back home to the United States.
TROY, Alaskan Malamute, served the U.S. Air Force in the early 1980's.
LISLE, German Shepherd-Collie mix, served the U.S. Army in the early
1980's.
THOR, German Shepherd, Desert Storm.
BUNS, German Shepherd, Desert Storm.
SMOKEY, German Shepherd, Desert Storm.
BANDIT, German Shepherd, Desert Storm.
ASTOR, German Shepherd, Desert Storm.
PENNY, Beagle, Desert Storm.
TOSCA, Belgian Malinois, Desert Storm.
NERO 304J, Belgian Malinois, Desert Storm.
CARLO, Belgian Malinois, Desert Storm. During a ceremony in which
Carlo's handler received the Bronze Star for his service in Kuwait, his
handler removed the medal from his own uniform and pinned it to Carlo's
collar, saying, "Carlo worked harder than me. He was always in front of
me."
PASJA, Belgian Malinois, euthanized for being too old to continue
serving.
JACK, Bull Terrier mix, Union army, U.S. Civil War.
GENERAL, Saint Bernard, 14th North Carolina Infantry, Confederate Army,
U.S. Civil War.
ROBERT LEE, Troupe Artillery, Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War.
STUBBY, Bull Terrier mix, WWI. The most decorated war dog in U.S.
history. His stuffed remains, ashes, and medals are currently stored in
a packing crate in a storage room of the National Museum of American
History, which considers the dog an "oddity with little educational
merit."
NORMAN SADLER, Fox Terrier, fundraiser during WWII.
BOOTS, trick dog, fundraiser during WWII.
RONNIE, German Shepherd, WWII, U.S. Coast Guard Dog Patrol.
BOB, Collie mix, WWII, led more forays into German territory than any
other U.S. soldier in WWII, human or canine.
BUSTER, WWII, killed in action.
RICKY, Welsh Shepherd, parachuting scout dog, WWII.
DUKE, Doberman Pinscher, served in the Pacific during WWII.
CHIPS, German Shepherd-Collie-Husky mix, WWII, tank guard dog and the
most decorated dog in WWII. Personally thanked for his services by
General Eisenhower. Chips' military honors were removed once the
military determined that decorating a dog was "demeaning to
servicemen."
DUG, Belgian Shepherd, Korean War.
BRUTE, Belgian Shepherd, Korean War.
CASEY, Belgian Shepherd, Korean War.
ROY, Belgian Shepherd, Korean War.
SHERI, Belgian Shepherd, Korean War.
MAC, first canine casualty in Vietnam.
PAL, scout dog, Vietnam.
TROUBLES, scout dog, Vietnam.
VALENTINE 3F38, German Shepherd, died in Vietnam.
BUCK, German Shepherd mix, Vietnam, killed in action.
ROYAL 19X8, German Shepherd, Vietnam, killed in action.
DUKE 383M, German Shepherd, Vietnam, killed in action.
CLACKER, German Shepherd, Vietnam, killed in action.
KREIGER, German Shepherd, Vietnam, killed in action.
PONCHO, German Shepherd, Vietnam, killed in action.
DUKE 645f, German Shepherd, Vietnam, missing in action.
EBONY, German Shepherd, Vietnam, 47th Scout Dog Platoon.
DUFFER, German Shepherd, Vietnam, 212th Sentry Dog Co.
SUZIE, German Shepherd, Vietnam. Her handler gave her his Bronze Star.
BLACKIE 129X, left behind in Vietnam.
HEIDI, scout dog, left behind in Vietnam.
KRISTIANNA, German Shepherd, left behind in Vietnam.
WARRIOR, German Shepherd, left behind in Vietnam.
COMMANDER, German Shepherd, left behind in Vietnam.
WINSTON, German Shepherd, left behind in Vietnam.
TIMBER, German Shepherd, left behind in Vietnam.
CLIPPER, German Shepherd, left behind in Vietnam.
ORION, German Shepherd, left behind in Vietnam.
SMOKEY, German Shepherd, nicknamed "Flop," left behind in Vietnam.
WOLF, Vietnam.
REX, German Shepherd, nicknamed "Punky," Vietnam.
YORK, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
DUKE, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
BOY, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
NASTY, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
ZORRO, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
MAX, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
KOENIG, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
BRIAN-4M4, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
KING, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
KIESER, German Shepherd, Vietnam
HUDSONS KING, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
RUSTY 775E, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
IRKO, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
TIGER, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
INK, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
REBEL, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
CHIEF, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
SMOKIE 6X65, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
SLIM SN# 84M6, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
PUDDLES 807M, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
JOUNK, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
BRUISER, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
ROGER 3M84, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
DUKE 847A, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
BUDDY A601, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
BIG BOY, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
TARZAN W195, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
BLITZ, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
GARDO 86XO, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
MACK, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
ERIC, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
FRITZ 584F, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
GEISHA A871, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
DOBE 7X49, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
REX 75M3, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
SHEPPY, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
CLYDE, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
CHEROKEE, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
SPOOK 235X, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
BUFFY 87M3, German Shepherd, Vietnam.
KNIGHT, German Shepherd, Vietnam.

And countless other dogs, known and unknown, that served their country.
~If only the leaders of this nation could serve us so well and so
honestly. Maybe this world would be a better place.

"The fate of animals is of greater importance to me than the fear of
appearing ridiculous; it is indissolubly connected with the fate of
[wo]men." - Emile Zola (1840-1902)

Kathleen

I saw some of the shows Animal Planet has had on this afternoon/evening about canine soldiers serving in wars...very interesting and touching.

Thanks for that reminder all and Sue, what a wonderful tribute to these 4 legged heroes. I try to watch every program I can honoring these magnificent, oft forgotten soldiers. To all of our canine veterans who risked or gave their lives so valiantly, we salute you!