Remembering the Vietnam War's Combat Dogs | National Geographic

During the Vietnam War, the United States sent thousands of dogs into combat, but only a fraction of them returned home. Now, these dogs, along with thousands of other military working dogs, are memorialized at the U.S. Military Working Dog Teams National Monument in San Antonio, Texas.
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PRODUCERS: Sarah Joseph and Spencer Millsap, NGM Staff
VIDEOGRAPHY: Spencer Millsap, NGM Staff
EDITOR: Shannon Sanders, NGM Staff
ADDITIONAL VIDEOGRAPHY: Ben Hamilton
ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: Department of Defense
Remembering the Vietnam War's Combat Dogs | National Geographic
• Remembering the Vietna...
National Geographic
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[@squamsh122]

Truly mans best friend

[@roygallagher8271]

I was lucky. My Patrol/Detector Dog "MISTER" was sent to the PI at the end of the war to continue his service. On August 1 2019 the U.S. Post Office will be issuing Stamps honoring our Military Working Dogs. March AFB has a great bronze statue honoring MWDs and their handlers. I spent 36 years on the loop end of the leash and loved every minute of it...

[@RowdyUpInHere]

Roy Gallagher I just bought 2 pages of them. Those proud dogs. I love them

[@theflyinwop]

As a USMC combat vet in the Cap units,we had these dog teams come out to our units. They saved our butts in more than one situation.. Paisano

[@andresquagliatti187]

Paisá

[@MarbRedFred]

The bond between man and dog is already a incredible bond/story. But that bond between the two during a war is amplified! They become your escape from the horrifying reality around you. Rest easy pups, they are true heros.

[@ivandamico93]

I was glad to see they've enacted a bill so combat dogs can be adopted, I bet a lot of those Vietnam vets wished they could have brought those dogs home.

[@yolandalyons1373]

Ivan Damico My husband still tears up when he talks about his dog in Vietnam. My husband was an MP-Dog handler and the powers that be wouldn't even tell him what was going to happen to his dog when he shipped home. I think that still eats at him - the simply not knowing.

[@ivandamico93]

I'm sure the dog was his closest friend during the war as well, can you imagine what that must have been like? Tell him thank you for his service. We all enjoy freedom and I for one do not take it for granted. Tell him his dog is honored as well.

[@grindcoremaniac]

how is there even one dislike on here? this is a heartwarming story

[@grindcoremaniac]

lol

[@grindcoremaniac]

you're hilarious. i love when people write stupid comments!

[@sparx180]

It is a heartwarming story but so sad that most of these dogs had to be euthanized. I have a small dog and leaving him for a couple of hours kills me. I cried watching this. The one vet was overwhelmed telling his story, poor man.

[@grindcoremaniac]

yeah i can't imagine losing my dog even though i know one day i will

[@yolandalyons1373]

Chloe wilson The sad part is that the dogs didn't have to be euthanized but, back then, they didn't know what kind of diseases the dogs might carry back to the United States because the dogs didn't get vaccinations/inoculations like they do now.

[@annweber7886]

I'm gratified and deeply touched that, at long last, there is a national Military Working Dog/Dog Team Monument. Organizations including the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association (VDHA) have worked for years to have war dogs honored at the national level, as well as individual bases, for their heroism. It's disappointing not to have a war dog memorial in D.C. -- yet. But to have this one, to have one at all, represents a great step. As the veteran dog handler put it in this excellent video, the great lesson of working with these animals is about compassion. On my less hopeful days, I will try to remember this. Thank you to all the dogs, and to all the men who worked with them and will never forget. It's an honor to learn about all of you.

[@asianmercenary3320]

*This was dedicated to all the heroic war dogs who served in vietnam. many lost their lives many had to be left behind.*

[@josephbingham1255]

And left behind to the mercy of the VC/NVA who had prices on their heads. RIP loyal pups

[@tmq0311....]

@@josephbingham1255 as a Vietnamese Yes the VC/NVA hang their head after skinned them for food because VC/NVA out of rice to eat (AND DOG MEATS TASTY THAN OTHER MEATS)

[@happy-us9mh]

@@josephbingham1255 try dog meat yum yum

[@josephbingham1255]

@@happy-us9mh An inappropriate comment for a site honoring America's fallen War Dogs.

[@chevy4657]

thanks guys, thanks !! for all dogs and all handlers. THANKS. SEMPER FI 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@MKHurder]

Here's to you , Prince (16x5-34th IPSD)...my only sunshine.

[@ElmoHellno]

That got a tear out of me damn .....

[@annamarierusso8926]

Thank you to the service dogs and handlers and med staff.❤😢

[@thatwierdkiduknow]

That hurt to watch. I'm glad things have changed.

[@gabrielmcollazo6675]

DID they really???? Please say yes!

[@homosapiensrus6688]

I new a handler of 2 different dogs, both German Shepherds, he was a hero and so where his dogs. He gave me one of K9’s his medals.🇺🇸🐺

[@josephbingham1255]

If the handler gave you one of his dogs medals he must have though very well of you.

[@antolintinez]

Then, not only the dog is the best friend of the man, but the man is also the best friend of the dog. Good for that.

[@Jack-iu2gl]

The dogs deserved better

[@frankrizzo4460]

Yes I totally agree with you, all the lives they saved and this what happens to them, truly unbelievable to me.

[@MWcrazyhorse]

And the military leadership decided to leave them behind or just kill them. That tells you a lot about this heart and honorless entity.

[@GubernatorvonHanau]

The dogs and their human partners didn't deserve this

[@billyccall5774]

Hero's and the goodest boys

[@jorgeguillermofonsecajacom5533]

Yes, it is a heart-warming story sending beautiful and intelligent dogs to be killed in combat.

[@MarbRedFred]

You're a pile of garbage.

[@jorgeguillermofonsecajacom5533]

¿Really? ¿My point of view damaged your mind?

[@sparx180]

I concur

[@Suzifully]

Well this video isn't supposed to be heartwarming because the dogs were sent to war. This is supposed to be heartwarming, because the dogs that were sent to war and never returned are finally being recognized for what they did. And its heartwarming because soldiers are sharing the love and bond they had with these beautiful animals.m

[@dongding4074]

men's loyal friends.

[@najmataaj5181]

Its sad how this dogs were treated after doing everything for this soldiers n this country during the war , n it was sad how unfair this dogs were treated as equipment after the war n even euthanized n also handed them into hands of the enemies, shame on u Americans for that one horrendous treatment to this war dogs during the war

[@suspicioususer]

They were handed to South Vietnamese not the enemy

[@professionaljihadi4052]

@@suspicioususer The South Vietnamese also treated them badly.

[@josephbingham1255]

@@suspicioususer And when Vietnam fell they went into the hands of the VC/NVA who had long placed prices on those dog's heads. Some of these old handler's best wish is they did not suffer long.

[@jamesmartin4902]

The Government used them and threw them away the same way they do human vets...

[@gabrielmcollazo6675]

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTRUE! BROTHER!

[@S62bhas]

Yes God Will Judge I Will Pray & Start Praying & Do for the Rest of My Life Till I Die

[@josephbingham1255]

In the 1970s in a "rag store" in East L.A. I discovered the owner had purchased cardboard boxes of Vietnam jackets at government auction. Some had dried blood. One had a form in the pocket that identified the owner as working for the NSA. One - CBS news Brannigan. Likely Bill Brannigan who covered Tet and is in Arlington. AND USAF Patrol Dog handler Sgt. Meaders RTG SPG. Under the name Meaders is his name in Thai. By the time the internet came out and a patrol dog handlers association became available - I was informed Meaders had passed away. To SGT. Meaders and any faithful companion he may have been forced to leave behind - RIP

[@raylocke282]

I called my dog Jesus because he saved me so many times.

[@Kmetavzable]

Je res ,-pes je človekov najboljši prijatelj,a njega tudi zlorablja!

[@zafrullahyazid6542]

When your war dog dies, part of you dies with it.

[@tmq0311....]

Lesson learned "Do not bring dogs to Vietnam, since Vietnam eat very much dog meats" I know that because i'm eating a dog as a Vietnamese right now.:))

[@vandongnguyen9999]

Hay 😂

[@DarkDreamer126]

I will not cry in class

[@kleepic3787]

This is why we must protect the living beings we decide to bring into our families or care for Not to damage them Help them live a happy life I know there are people with mental issues, that shouldn't be alive in the first place, that cause this and reproduce to make more idiots But seriously Let's have respect towards our fellow living beings in this earth

[@vicmatic12]

it's sad

[@d.i.d.krippledich3404]

"They don't have a voice, they don't have a vote.. so no one gives a darn. They don't have no money to contribute to some politician." Cpt. John Kubisz

[@josephbingham1255]

And most of the guys in Vietnam did not have the right to vote either. 21 was the National Voting Age until 1971. It took war protesters to get it changed to 18. "Old Enough to Fight Old Enough to Vote" Even then I was told as he was commander and chief I "had to vote for Nixon" Seriously. RIP you loyal pups who served.

[@markusgreger]

When the war went badly...the military went to the old Wehrmacht manuals "Partisanenbekämpfung" that is why you see Schäferhunde in vietnam.

[@andoovellayan]

Its unthinkable that American government made its soldiers to leave their part of life, the dogs to leave behind, whatever be the cost.

[@elinovak3770]

It is part of the Geneva convention to harm animals during war time

[@Luke-rt9bx]

That is Awful sad it also seems like a waste of money and resources? Could’ve been given to police like it just doesn’t seem to practical to just put them down afterwards when a good portion of them could’ve stayed as working dogs... how old where they even 2-3 years? Blows my mind

[@josephbingham1255]

They were not put down. They were left behind as part of the "equipment" to help the fight the NVA/VC. When Vietnam fell these dogs which had long had prices placed upon their heads by the NVA/VC would have fallen into the hand of those who detested them. These old handler's best hope is they did not suffer long.

[@justingreene5951]

👍

[@mglg4707]

Some say what we can do to animals is what we will do to people.

[@josephbingham1255]

A person's soul can be known by how they treat animals.

[@S62bhas]

Why Wasn't the issue brought to the Chaplain & Social Actions' they would have spoken they had limits Yes An Apology must be given & Responsibility also

[@missouriconfederacy9610]

Sad....

[@carlatan]

who's the real Animal now humans or pooch

[@S62bhas]

Amen Praise the Lord

[@Alfred420411]

Hopefully they have programs or people to look after the ones that don't get adopted due to their "suitable" requirements. ALL of those dogs deserve to have a good final place to lay... Seems they are nothing more then throw away tools to the governments agenda and not worth the training or housing if some just get euthanized due to their suitability requirements. I'm happy for the ones the get adopted BUT they all should be given their final place. I bet the ones that are not suitable for adoption were the most attentive and most no non sense of the working dogs. Seems like they should have a program for these dogs that don't get adopted. I guess it's not a quick/cheep fix to a bad problem so we will just get rid of them?! If it seems wrong, that's cause it is. Thanks to ALL the working dogs. Salute.

[@josephbingham1255]

President Clinton in 2000 made it easier for handler's to obtain their dogs - sometimes.

[@BrunoBoy3913]

Scotty 8M94

[@chidinh7568]

Yeah!!!! Vietnam!!!!!!!

[@nephildevil]

dunno if you could just retire them in a family, these dogs are trained to kill, it's not like a police dog that bites the arm, these go for the throat.

[@edkelsey3617]

Darkvine That’s BS .

[@beerustardryu5452]

@@edkelsey3617 That's the truth sentry dogs were known to kill.

[@josephbingham1255]

@Chanel Serasinghe President Clinton made it easier for handlers to obtain their dogs in some cases. Dogs that were kept in the military and could not adapt to a new handler were sometimes euthanized. Lackland AFB near San Antonio, Tx. had a dog training facility in the S.W. part of the base. Part of it was a fenced building with a tall chimney rumored to be the crematorium. Anyways these loyal dogs deserved better! You can tell the soul of a person by how they treat animals. RIP loyal pups who served.

[@S62bhas]

I would never put dogs deployed in any every wars no no no no no Government is bunch of crooks

[@S62bhas]

we must still bring the perpetrators to justice yes

[@80bbygrl]

"Dogs in the military save lives".... Ya, and we repay their love and respect by leaving them behind 🤬

[@tmq0311....]

Vietcongs with AKs: "nice, free food" Btw in Vietnam we (Vietnamese) can eat dog meats and it's viscera very much(like how US eat burgers)

[@jhohnerman2223]

Vietnamese probably ate those dogs lol

[@josephbingham1255]

These dogs long had prices placed upon their heads by the NVA/VC. When Vietnam fell they would have fallen into the hands of those who detested them. So there is the possibility there may be more truth to your statement that perhaps intended. The best hope these old handlers have would be their loyal friends did not suffer long.

[@huyphung802]

Thanks for the meat supply

[@wilguntwo]

LOWLIFE

[@josephbingham1255]

You can tell the soul of a person by how they treat animals.

[@kayb-a9507]

NO ONE LEFT BEHIND, MANY TRUE HEROS Were LEFT BEHIND, Animal and Human, SHAME ON AMERICA.

[@derpherpp]

They ate the dogs furring the war because they want to try vietnam food delicacy.

[@yolandalyons1373]

No, they did NOT. Why would you even type something like that?! The dog handlers would have done anything to protect their dogs. Obviously, you have never talked with any dog handlers.

[@derpherpp]

You're

[@josephbingham1255]

Obviously not a Veteran.