Australian troops were also involved in the Vietnam war. They had 11 tracking dogs (10 labradors & 1 labrador-kelpie cross). At the end of the war, these 11 dogs were given into the care of european groups living in Vietnam who were neutral in the war. Like the British Embassy took one of the dogs as their pet-mascot.
The Australian army has since changed its policy about their dogs which serve overseas. Our troops have been in East Timor for some time now & they have tracking & guarding dogs with them. When the military groups return to Australia, they bring their dogs back with them.
Last weekend, a memorial was unveiled to the 11 aussie tracker dogs who had served in the Vietnam war. It consists of a stone monument with a the sculpture of a dog, a poem, & the names of the 11 dogs. The memorial has been built beside a walking path near a beautiful beach. Many people walk their dogs on this path. The base of the army dogs' memorial has a bowl & a tap where today's dogs can get a drink of water as they go by.
You may find that the US army also has a different policy now on repatriating their dogs who serve overseas. Maybe your Vietnam vets have also put up a memorial to their war dogs.
I would have no worries, these days, in donating a dog to serve in the australian army or air force. The dogs are greatly honoured, loved & cared for because they are serving 'personnel'.

[This message has been edited by Angels3 (edited April 10, 2001).]