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MWDTSA
by Ken Besecker
The US Army Infantry School, Dog Training Detachment (DTD) was located at FT Benning, GA. during the Vietnam era.
The DTD had a couple of hundred dogs, almost all German Shepherds (or at least dogs having pointed ears and a saber shaped tail), in various stages of Scout Dog Training. The basic Scout Dog Handler’s Course was about six weeks long. The best student handlers were chosen to follow up that training with an additional off leash training course. Scout dogs were trained to alert (by smell, sight, and/or sound) on personnel, equipment caches, and trip wires. In the field, Scout Dog Teams walked point with Infantry units to give early warning. “Dogman, take the point” is a phrase embedded in the heart and soul of every Scout Dog Handler.
To get to the important details of my Military Working Dog (MWD) experiences, I’ll leave out the experiences at DTD (like thinking the first dog assigned to me, Hans, was going to eat me alive if I entered his kennel). Incidentally, Hans never did like me (or anyone else) and after his several attempts to commit homicide (on me) I was assigned several other dogs. The idea was for Scout Dog Platoon Commanders to be exposed to as many dog personalities and training situations as possible.
DTD trained Scout Dogs and Scout Dog handlers for the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. During the Vietnam War, in addition to Scout Dogs, the Army also utilized Combat Tracker Dogs (both handled by Infantrymen and assigned to Infantry units. Sentry Dogs, Patrol Dogs, and to a lesser extent, Explosive and Drug Detector Dogs were each handled by Military Policemen and assigned to Military Police units. Likewise, the Marines, Air Force, and Navy utilized various the types of dogs necessary for their combat missions.
Sentry Dog Teams (one dog and one man) in Vietnam generally worked fixed facilities such as Air Base perimeters or larger “permanent” facilities. Sentry Dog teams proved invaluable to warn against facility attacks. It can be very lonely when it is pitch black and you are by yourself in the dark at the perimeter of an airfield or other facility. That loneliness is significantly compensated knowing your dog is by your side and is using all his/her capabilities to detect any intruder. Mine and Tunnel Dog Teams were generally assigned as Infantry to Scout Dog Platoons and were the fore runners of today’s military explosive detector dogs.
The relationship between dog and man was, and is, an unbreakable bond. The handler’s life and those being supported was entrusted to the dog, who would endure the heat, rain, leeches, jungle vines, mountain side footing, elephant grass, bamboo, and all other discomforts until he or she dropped, just to hear their best friend say, “good dog,” and get a pat on the side or a scratch on the head. The real life accounts of dogs lying beside their wounded buddies or continuing to track or scout or guard in the face of any danger are countless.
While in Vietnam, I also served at the United States Army Vietnam (USARV) Dog Training Detachment (USARV DTD). The USARV DTD mission was, in part, to receive all incoming trained scout dogs and handlers from FT Benning and supply them to the various Scout Dog units in the Army, generally one Scout Dog Platoon per Army Brigade. USARV DTD matched up incoming handlers with dogs and provided in country training prior to them reporting to an assigned unit.
Just like my Combat Tracker time, my USARV DTD time provided me with countless memories which provide smiles and sadness yet today. For example, while with Combat Trackers, we had many many successful tracks and “experiences.” As the result of one particular mission, the entire team was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for valor. The entire team includes Otis, Tracker Dog number T019. I still have the order awarding the medal and the picture of the Division Assistant Commander pinning the Bronze Star on a yellow towel hung around Otis.
Otis was a great tracker and quite a character. If we had to wait too long (by Otis’ determination) for a helicopter to take us in to land or rappel to a mission, Otis would pout. His entire persona would change until the helicopter arrived and we were on board. Incidentally, every dog I can remember loved riding in helicopters, a trait I personally never acquired. All I wanted to do was get out of them and on the ground where it was safe.
The dog heroes in Vietnam and today’s dogs are endless. I still remember Sam a large black Labrador Retriever. Sam’s handler was killed in action shortly before I arrived at the 62 IPCT. Sam was nearing the end of his working days and there was no handler to work him. Sam became a King of the kennel and often was allowed to just roam the unit area when someone was there to watch him, play ball or whatever. The Commander of the unit to which the 62 IPCT was attached mentioned several times that he remembered Sam from the Commander’s previous tour with the same unit. Indeed, he more than mentioned SAM, he wanted Sam to be his mascot and go wherever he went. I explained I couldn’t do that, that Sam was a MWD, etc etc. Eventually, I wore down. (Hope the statute of limitations has passed). I completed a death certificate for Sam indicating he had been killed in action; took the certificate to the 1st Cavalry Division veterinarian for his signature and Sam was no longer a MWD. Sam became instantly retired! From that day forward Sam went with the CO wherever the CO went: laid around his office, flew on the command helicopter, went in the “club,” lived in the commander’s quarters, etc. What a wonderful retirement for a dog who gave so much to his handlers, the Team and his country.
“One eyed” Jack was still another one of kind who saved countless lives, both working as a Scout Dog and as a trainer at USARV DTD. Jack was wounded in action and, in part, lost an eye. Jack was used as a training dog at USARV DTD. Jack was paired up with newly arrived off leash Scout Dog handlers who were having difficulty reading their dog’s alerts. Scout Dog alerts varied from the extreme of sticking their nose up in the direction of detected scent and holding it there to the other extreme of simply flicking their ears and keep on walking. “One Eyed” Jack was invaluable with training handlers. Jack gave a strong alert, but generally didn’t hold it very long. When Jack would alert (and the handler would miss it) the handler would tell Jack to “move out.” Jack would take a few steps, and again alert. If the handler missed the alert again, the handler would again tell Jack to “move out.” It was generally at this time Jack would take a few steps, alert again and then look back over his shoulder (on the side which had no eye) and stare at the handler as if Jack were saying something, like, “…that’s three times, I’ve told you, now pay attention.” It generally didn’t take many iterations of being stared at by a half blind German Shepherd Dog that handlers quickly began to pay attention to Jack and consequently to read and trust their assigned dog.
Today’s MWD handlers have learned, as have past handlers, that trust is possibly the strongest trait developed between handlers and dogs. The dog trusts the handler for basic needs: food, water, exercise, and love. The handler trusts the dog with the handler’s life and the lives of the unit being supported. That trust between dog and handler develops a bond made between few humans and other humans.
We at MWDTSA(Military Working Dog Team Support Association), do what we can to help supply dogs' needs first and then wants of the handlers. Interestingly, most handlers ask for items for their dogs and if they ask for anything for themselves, it’s generally something their entire unit can use. America has some terrific young men and women protecting us!
Editor’s note: Please visit www.mwdtsa.org, and see how you can help support this worthwhile mission.
