23Jul-Photo Release – on February 16, 2022, in Riverside CA. Aside from the limited connection I had with the VDHA since 2003, at the time of this event I’d had zero interaction with any other Veteran’s organization. I barely stayed active with the VDHA until I finally caved in and attended a reunion in 2018. That event led to an ever increasing involvement on my part with the organization and with the world in general, outside of my little family circle.
Vietnam Dog Handler Association
This group of men (and women – Associate members) have been instrumental in my recovery over the last 20 + years. None more than the first guy in the image gallery – Jon Hemp – who represents the best of us and is still active, not just with K9 groups, but he’s a Patriot Rider too and answers to those calls also. We all call him Papa Dawg. Further in, you see lines of men approaching the memorial to place a rose of remembrance for all those who’ve passed before us.
There’s a headshot of a gentleman sporting a green Vietnam Veteran baseball hat. This is one of the most important men in my life today – and back then. Joe Robinson was a platoon mate in the 34th IPSD. He has the dubious honor of having produced the only photo of Popi (then Shorty) in Vietnam *. After we met up in San Diego at that reunion, he sent it to me. His friendship and recognizing me after all those years is the only reason I stayed at the reunion. Until he called “Shorty! Is that you?” across the room at me, I felt completely out of place among all those heroes. Things changed rapidly after that for me. Joe and I are still close and communicate as much as we can. He’s SoCal to my NorCal – about 350 miles apart.
I’m often reminded of that age old saw that soldiers claim as their own, I never was and am not now a hero, but I did work with a few. They are here in these images. Each of these heroes stood at the forefront of the patrol or at the wire between our compounds, our troops, and the enemy without. Many of these men led patrol’s every day through the jungle in Indian country for an entire year. Their contributions are legendary. From earning a Medal of Honor to numerous other commendations and much recognition, to include saving the lives of ten thousand fellow soldiers, these men and their K9 partners ARE the epitome of the American War Hero. I am humbled and honored to be considered a part of this community. Thank you, Perry. WOOF!
At the end of the gallery are shots of war birds of the era, The F4-Phantom, A LOCH -tiny helicopter – note this one is from one of the units whose birds I guarded on Bien Hoa at the 229th Aviation company – the 1st of the 9th, 1st Cavalry. In fact we guarded all of these aircraft at one location or another.
That LOCH may even be one of the ones my CO rode in as an observer as often as he could. He often tried to get one of us to go with him so he could enjoy the ride fully while the “volunteer” rode Shotgun with a weapon. I was foolish one time. Flying at tree top height at 200 knots in a little bubble was fare more terrifying than walking the berm at 0200 hours. There’s also everyone’s favorite, the UH-1B Huey troop transport. A Cobra gunship – I watched one work one of the alerts Prince and I made on enemy troops out in the open. It was the most savage devastation possible – like you cannot imagine. The last image shows what you might see on any GI compound in Vietnam, the Republic of. That my friends is the ubiquitous Hooch. The structure a lot of us lived in if we were lucky enough to sleep on a base camp.
23Jul-Photo Release
War Dogs – February 16, 2020 Riverside, CA – 23Jul-Photo Release
The West Coast War Dog Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, CA, was dedicated on Presidents’ Day, February 21, 2000.
It came together after a 1999 Discovery Channel documentary (War Dogs – America’s Forgotten Heroes) sparked a major fundraising drive. Jeff Bennett (founder of Nature’s Recipe pet food) led the campaign, raising over $1 million to build two identical, massive war dog monuments—one at March Field and an exact twin dedicated later that year at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Key Features of the Riverside Memorial – 23Jul-Photo Release
Location: Positioned right in the Heritage Courtyard near the main entrance of the March Field Air Museum, just down the road from the Riverside National Cemetery. Surrounding the monument, concrete pavers are inscribed with personalized dedications to individual military working dogs and handlers who served across various branches and conflicts.
The Sculpture: Created by renowned sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg (who also sculpted the famous Rocky statue in Philadelphia), the monument stands about 16 feet tall. It depicts a life-sized military handler alongside an alert German Shepherd standing guard.
The Inscription: The base carries the simple, powerful tribute:
“They protected us on the field of battle. They watch over our eternal rest. We are grateful.”
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