It was several years ago when we met Scott for the first time. At that time, his partner was Sonny. Sonny was a hit when we went to the Georgia capitol to meet with Gov. Sonny Perdue. Since then, Scott has moved to another location and has a special lab named Lucy. Lucy loves to play with tennis balls and when her supply got low, Scott contacted us for some help. Through the efforts of a couple of supporters, we were able to get several tennis balls, along with doggy grooming supplies and treats. We even sent a few treats and supplies along to Scott, too. Scott and Lucy, thanks for all of your hard work. Stay safe.

One of the consistent themes among dog handlers of every generation is their admiration for the Veterinarians and Vet Techs that assist with the care and support of working dogs. MWDTSA was very lucky over the past year and a half or two to be in contact with a very engaged Army Veterinarian at one of the Iraqi Central Operating Bases, Camp Speicher. Dr. Holly Landes was a constant contact for getting info and product in to the dogs and handlers and had great ideas for additional products that were of help to her and her staff. Please enjoy these two photos that she sent of her suiting up for a bite session and one of the Speicher vet techs, Sgt. Lazo, with one of the dogs at their kennel.

In the last photo: From right, U.S. Army Capt. Elizabeth Williams, a veterinarian with the 218th Medical Detachment, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Eller and Senior Airman Daren Marshall help align Zack, a military working dog, on a table before receiving a chest X-ray Dec. 13, 2008, at an air base in Southwest Asia. Eller is an X-ray technician assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group and is deployed from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Marshall is a military dog handler assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and is deployed from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. (DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore, U.S. Air Force/Released)

So a tribute to the Veterinarians and Vet techs who are veterans, too. Thanks for all you do to keep the dogs happy and healthy.

It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. For me, sometimes it’s even more than that.
Years ago, even before 9-11, as I started to learn about the role of Military Working Dogs in Vietnam, I ran into a couple of photos posted on a website that were just so compelling to me that I felt that I had to get involved. Both photos were of dogs and handlers from the 47th Infantry Platoon Scout Dog in Vietnam. The one that I have permission to use is attached. If you look at the photo, the face of the young man and the dog reveal tomes about being in a war.

I have been honored to have an opportunity to meet this young man, who is now many years older, at a reunion at Fort Benning back in 2002. And, although I told him then that a great deal of my passion for this work started with the connection I felt to that photo, I’m not sure he really fully understood. It haunted me.

Equally compelling is the photo of a dog handler following the lead of a labrador retriever through the dangerous waters of Vietnam. Following this dog team are the remaining members of a Combat Tracker Team.

If we fast forward to our current missions and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, I’ve been lucky to have received and uncovered many wonderful photos over the years. But again, but a few really stand out to me as photos that tell a full and valuable story about how two friends, one human and one canine, can combine into a force mulitiplier and make the world safer for all of us. Yes we do owe them all a debt of gratitude, but I think in these simple and straightforward photos you will clearly see the love that runs up and down that leash, the commitment to the mission and the unique work and nature of a military working dog and his handler. I think you’ll see it if you look with your heart. As one of my all time favorite books Le Petit Prince is quoted, “On ne voit bien, qu’avec le coeur.” One only truly sees with the heart. If you open your heart, it’s all so hard to miss.

Dog handlers, past and present we salute you all! Stay safe.

Dixie

Photo credits:

Olivia, a military working dog, sleeps next to her trainer inside a U.S. Army Stryker after a morning of conducting vehicle searches in Mosul,. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michele A. Desrochers) (Released)

A U.S. Marine and military working dog, Marty. take a break as they conduct training. f. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jennifer L. Jones) (Released)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Russell McLaughlin, takes a moment to scratch the back of his military working dog after the completion of a raid in the village of Tall Qabb village, Kirkuk province, Iraq.. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Maurice Hoffman, a K-9 military working dog handler attached to the 10th Mountain Division, rests with his working dog after a cordon and search in the village of Al Kahn in Kirkuk, Iraq,. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Bendet) (Released)

Al Dodds is back along with hero dog, Tess. Al is a veteran Navy dog handler from the Vietnam era. He signed up with a contractor to take his Human Remains Detection (HRD) dog , Tess, over to assist in special searches for missing Americans. We first met at a reunion event at Fort Benning back in 2002 or 2003 and later he joined us for a special event with the wonderful Navy handlers down at King’s Bay Kennels, just north of Jacksonville, Florida.

Later, as the US went to Iraq and Afghanistan, we had service members who went missing and the need for HRD dogs became obvious. Several missing members have been found and their remains returned to their families in the US.

Over the months that he and Tess have been working in Iraq, he’s been sending many photos. Take this opportunity to check out the photos, take a look at the story behind Tess’ hero dog status on the “Heroes” link on the front page of the website. She’s quite a girl.

Lots of photos have made it to these blog pages showing the currently deployed handlers, but thought you all might enjoy seeing some of the photos from the Vietnam Era. With a nod to the combat tracker website, I’m going to generously steal what they have to say. 1. Because it’s correct and 2. because I’m too tired to paraphrase.

In Vietnam, there were “small groups were small, highly-trained units usually consisting of five men and a Labrador Retriever. This group was called a “Combat Tracker Team” (CTT). They were a composite group and cross-trained, enabling all members to complete the mission. The purpose of CTT was to: reestablish contact with the “elusive enemy”, reconnaissance of an area for possible enemy activities, and locate lost or missing friendly personnel. The methods used in completing the missions were Visual and Canine Tactical Tracking. The unit was usually supported by a platoon or larger force and worked well ahead of them to maintain noise discipline and the element of surprise.”

Enjoy some of these photos and check out the Combat Tracker Website at www.combattrackerteam.org for many more photos and much more in depth information.