Vietnam Marine Corps Scout Dogs, RVN 1970-1971

[isiah601]

i am the marine with the dog that say friends to the end ineed a copie of this picture please how do i get one

[stevemartinovich]

The asshole who decided to leave our dogs behind should have been fragged or shot or at least run out of the military

[FatBird11]

This is fascinating to me. I wish I could see that movie, "Rain" again.

Actorcop1971, the fact that your dog was from your hometown is amazing!

I enjoyed your video.

[actorcop1971]

Thanks for all you Handlers responding. I have totally forgotten about our US Army Vet Techs who kept the Marine Corps dogs in top medical condition. While sitting in their office, I read my dog's official file and found out he was from my own hometown in NY! That sealed the bond. He was my 2nd dog from a selection of three. This one stood out over the others. We had one week of in-country booby-trap training and sent off in choppers to save lives. Dogs love choppers and flying.

[actorcop1971]

WWII, the Big One. Those were Dobermans, mainly. Ours were German Shepherds or dogs that looked like them. Some, I had no idea what they were and I was glad they were on my side. We had a cemetery and it's in one of the videos. Because I used some sacred music in the video, most of my Vietnam vids will not play outside of the USA. I used some Rolling Stone's music because they also stopped my Mo-Town music. The selections YouTube has are OK but not that heart stopping Stones soundtrack. Thanks

[PuzzlingEvidenceTV]

Home based on Guam, I would go to work in Da Nang during most of '72. When I needed peace from that job, I would go to the War Dog Cemetery on the south end of the island. All the best four-footed Marines were there in ghostly rows, and they would comfort me during the long nights of thinking too much. I would have joined your MOS but I found out early they were leaving the "equipment" in-country after we left. No way I join that travesty....All dogs came home from WW 2.

[TangoDancerGirl4Life]

Jesus, God bless all men and women, and non humans who do so much for us!!! I cant stop crying from watching this!!

I have a GS, and I can tell you he is my best friend, and I know the heartache I will feel the day i will say goodbye! If I can take from the years in my life, and give him mine I would. He deserves them. He knows the word loyalty, and friendship more then anyone, and anything.

Sandra

[actorcop1971]

It was my pleasure to have the dog, not the other way around. His picture is right in front of me, next to photos of other dogs I've had and until recently, had to give up a beautiful blue eyed Siberian. I could not walk him anymore and found a woman who took him in, along with her Siberian! It was like being on patrols with him but the Siberian pulled all the time. Maybe he thought I was a sled? That's his picture on my home page at YouTube. My shirt, his photo.

[TangoDancerGirl4Life]

Your videos are beautiful. I will be checking them all out soon. Please when you have time keep them coming. God bless you for everything you have done friend!!!

[sneezemd]

They had no choice. Godbless all of you and thank you. I love those dogs.

[actorcop1971]

We love them too and that's the reason many returning handlers had survivor guilt over leaving them to the ARVNs and then....to the communists. The government is learing now to "retire" the dogs. It's a first step to making things right!

[actorcop1971]

The dogs developed testicular cancer, a by-product of Agent Orange defoliation. Some were just TOO mean for Stateside Duty. Like one dog we called "Mr. Ceasar." A very mean dog unless he had the right handler.

Side bar; my dog was born and raised in my hometown and I never suspected it because I would see the town on his medical record and just assumed it was me they had the informoation about. It said something like Hometown___ and it was mine. I realized later, it was his too!

[ratrare]

212th MP sentry dog handler...Vietnam 1969...thanks

[wwe4meplusT]

ya but now the Vietnamese eat dog :(

[actorcop1971]

Caitlin, definitions have changed over the years and what was once "expendable" is now saveable. Some dogs are coming home and I just read a great article on a female handler who was wounded in a road-side bombing. She got to keep her dog and many other families of killed in action Handlers get to petition the feds and get custody of their service member's dog. I've had Siberian Huskies, lately, but would love to get one of these former war dogs as a pet. Thanks for caring.

[caitlinrush90]

Do you know if dogs are still listed as equipment?

[keno0930]

Dam,its hard to watch this without tearing up! I cant think of a better partner to have then a dog covering my ass in battle. Thanks for going over there and doing what you guys did for us. Its still appreciated and respected. Your "SF" brother in law. Dan V

[actorcop1971]

In some situations, I was able to cover a lot of real estate with my dog. I tied hm up to my flack jacket and slept on the side of a hill, next to him, knowing fully well that nothing could sneak up on us while we took a needed rest. Later, I was given a late night radio watch. No one told me and a Marine walked over to wake me and Chipper took a good piece of flesh out of the Marine's side. I have the photo I took the next day.

[actorcop1971]

Dogs were considered property and property can be left all over the world. A tank is equal to one dog, left behind. A typewriter equals one dog, left behind. I've heard up to 4000 dogs left behind. At least it's people like us who will forever remember these dogs and the memory of them is alive as long as we are alive unless we put it down on paper or post it here on YouTube for viewing long after we are gone. Semper Fi!

[sgtodeath]

why did you guys have to leave them? Did they get diseases?

[actorcop1971]

Yes, down on the bottom of this page I wrote that they got testicular cancer but, we, the handlers also came down with a bunch of diseases asociated with Agent Orange defoliant under The Ranch Hand spraying program. The Vietnamese also suffer from similar fates as us!