Their training is intense;
their working conditions are deplorable; their lives are
always on the line; and in at least one case, namely
Vietnam, their rewards were non-existent. This profile
describes the most innocent and vulnerable of combat
veterans-our Nation's War Dogs.
Military Working Dogs have been used by the U.S.
Military since World War I. American families
donated their dogs to the military to aid our
troops during wartime. Dogs, along with their
volunteer handlers, trained in teams as scouts,
trackers, sentry, mine/booby-trap/tunnel and water
detection of hostile forces. Dogs were used in WWI,
WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Bosnia, Kosovo,
Afghanistan and Iraq.
It has been estimated that these courageous canine
heroes saved over 10,000 lives during the conflict
in Vietnam.
Today all branches of our Armed Forces are
utilizing Military Patrol Dogs specializing in Drug and
Bomb/Explosive detection. There are approximately
600-700 of these canines in the Middle East in such
places as Kuwait, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
They are being used to patrol Air Bases, Military
Compounds, Ammunition Depots and Military Check Points.
They are guarding and protecting our Military Personnel
as they were trained to do, with Courage, Loyalty and
Honor.
The year 2000 officially has given us the United
States War Dogs Association, Inc. and our first goal
is to establish a U.S. War Dog Memorial, at the
New Jersey Vietnam Veterans
Memorial
in Holmdel, New Jersey
Our goals are
many and varied. There is still the
War Dog Stamp project,
to be realized. Military records concerning War Dogs
and their Handlers have to be located, researched and
documented. In the areas of educating the public,
many of our members are out there giving shows,
presentations and talks on the contributions War Dogs
have made and continue to make to our country, their
work must continue and be supported by the full
membership.
In all of the wars over the last 90 years men have
volunteered to serve as dog handlers. Whether it was
as a
SCOUT, SENTRY, MINE, TUNNEL or TRACKER,
the duty was lonely at its best and extremely
hazardous at its worst.
We owe it to our War Dogs and their Handlers
that served us all to continue to educate the public
about their courageous exploits.
By
Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jul 24, 2007 6:38:59 EDT
The first military working dog team killed in
action together since the beginning of the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan were laid to rest together July
18.
NEWS STORIES-
Coming Soon
Staff
Sgt. Joshua Washington,
am a U.S. Army Military Working Dog handler
assigned to the 221st Military Police
Detachment at Fort Eustis, Va. I’m responsible
for the overall care and work of my MWD. I’m
currently partnered with
Jings, a
five-year-old male Belgian Malinois who
specializes in patrol and explosive detection.
To learn more about this
Military Working Dog Team, click on their
Photo.
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Unless otherwise noted.
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