VIETNAM WAR DOGS MONUMENT DEDICATED

The Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial formally dedicated its War Dogs Monument at the state Memorial site on Sunday, September 18, 2011.

A large crowd of Vietnam veterans, Vietnam dog handlers, law enforcement agencies, Gold Star mothers, friends and families joined several retired and active-duty military and law enforcement service dogs for the historic occasion.

This is the first monument in the United States specifically honoring the service and sacrifice of the 4,000 war dogs who served in Vietnam, which is located on site at a state Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

It is made from the same shipment of granite which provided the monoliths used at the Memorial’s Place of Words and Place of Names.

In addition to the dedication ceremony and as a tribute to those who served, a number of veterans displayed vintage military service vehicles from the World War II and Vietnam eras, which have been restored and offered for exhibit.

The ceremony was held adjacent to the War Dogs Monument location, at the Place of Words. The Color Guard for the occasion was the VVA Chapter 554 of Auburn.

Speakers included Laurance White, member of the VVA Chapter 111 of Western Massachusetts, who read his poem titled “The Dogs of War,” honoring the Vietnam war dogs and their handlers.

Erick Robertson also spoke. He was joined by his dog Porkchop, an Australian Shepherd. The pair were among the heroic search-and-rescue personnel who responded to the World Trade Center site in New York City after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Of the more than 300 dogs who worked at that place and time, Porkchop is now one of only 25 dogs who survive.

The dedication ceremony also featured Michael Lemish, the country’s leading military dog historian, and author of two books on the subject: War Dogs, a history of these brave canines from World War I to the present; and Forever Forward, a chronicle of the heroism and bravery of war dogs in Vietnam. Mr. Lemish was joined by his companion Lucy, a retired military service dog.

Standing vigil over the monument throughout the ceremony were dogs and their handlers from law enforcement K-9 units throughout the state, including Worcester, Auburn, Sutton, Quincy and Revere.

Also in attendance was Robert Kollar, a Vietnam dog handler, who is featured in both of Michael Lemish’s books. He stated that the War Dogs Monument now watches over the rest of the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial site, just as the brave K-9s protected their handlers in Vietnam.

Under fluttering flags and accompanied by the barking approval of the honored guests, officers of the MVVM Board of Directors unveiled the monument, which bears three inscriptions. The first reads:

IN HONOR OF THE DEVOTION, SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF THE 4,000

WAR DOGS AND THEIR HANDLERS WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM, 1965-1975.

The second inscription describes these heroes:

THESE DOGS, USUALLY GERMAN SHEPHERDS, WERE KNOWN AS K-9s. DESPITE THEIR BRAVERY AND DEDICATION TO DUTY, THE K-9s WERE CLASSIFIED AS ‘EQUIPMENT’ DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, AND THOSE NOT KILLED IN ACTION OR BY DISEASE WERE ROUTINELY DESTROYED OR LEFT BEHIND ON ORDERS OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WHEN THEIR HANDLERS RETURNED HOME. THE FATES OF MOST OF THESE LOYAL PARTNERS REMAIN UNKNOWN.

THESE PRACTICES CONTINUED UNTIL 2000, WHEN A LAW WAS PASSED REQUIRING THE GOVERNMENT TO PUT SURPLUS OR RETIRED MILITARY SERVICE DOGS UP FOR ADOPTION BY QUALIFIED CIVILIANS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE FIRST CIVILIAN ADOPTION OCCURRED IN MASSACHUSETTS IN 2002.

DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, THE K-9s PERFORMED DUTY AS SENTRIES, SCOUTS, TRACKERS AND MINE AND TUNNEL DETECTORS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE K-9s SAVED MORE THAN 10,000 LIVES AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS’ WORTH OF EQUIPMENT, EARNING THEM THE DEVOTION OF THEIR HANDLERS AND THE ADMIRATION OF A GRATEFUL NATION.

MORE THAN 100,000 MILITARY SERVICE DOGS HAVE SERVED THEIR COUNTRY SINCE WORLD WAR I, AND THEIR DESCENDANTS REMAIN AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES TO THIS DAY.

The third inscription on this monument, written by an unknown source, sums up our feelings today and always:

HE IS YOUR FRIEND, YOUR PARTNER, YOUR DEFENDER, YOUR DOG.

YOU ARE HIS LIFE, HIS LOVE, HIS LEADER.

HE WILL BE YOURS, FAITHFUL AND TRUE,

TO THE LAST BEAT OF HIS HEART.

YOU OWE IT TO HIM TO BE WORTHY OF SUCH DEVOTION.

The War Dogs Monument, now part of the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at Green Hill Park in Worcester, Massachusetts. Admission is free, and directions are available elsewhere on this Web site.