May 25, 2015
Remember Heroic Dog-Handler Teams on Memorial Day
By Elise Cooper

Memorial Day is a holiday to remember all the military men and women who died while serving their country. Americans should observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials, or gathering with a family of the fallen, instead of attending sales. This year, American Thinker decided to pay homage to those who are always on the front lines and have saved many American lives: dog handlers and their four-legged partners.

Ever since World War II, military working dogs and their handlers have been an important and worthy part of the war effort. All interviewed regard this as one of the top five most dangerous combat duties. The dog team’s job is to be out front and make a safe passage for all those who follow. In essence, they are both the first line of offense and defense, whose sole duty is to save the lives of America’s finest. Retired gunnery sergeant Kris Knight noted to American Thinker, “Look at this one statistic: in a fourteen-month period, 160 IEDs were found. Just think how many of our military lives were saved.”



John Burnam, a Vietnam dog handler and author of Canine Warrior, wants Americans to understand that the dog and handler have always been put in harm’s way in all the wars fought since WWII. “The enemy knew they were an asset to our military, so they tried to take the dog and the handler out.” Knight, the former Marine canine course chief, and Marine Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham, the current kennelmaster, have similar stories. They noted that in Iraq and Afghanistan, the enemy put out rewards for killing military working dogs and their handlers because the dogs were very successful at thwarting IEDs.



But Burnam also wants people to understand that the enemy was not the only killer of many military working dogs. “There was a very dark chapter in our nation’s working dog history. At the end of 1973, when many handlers were sent home from Vietnam in the haste for our military to depart, they left a huge number of dogs behind by euthanizing them. The handlers were not even notified and knew nothing about it. Dogs were also euthanized because many people thought a highly trained military canine would not be able to adjust to civilian life.” On Memorial Day, we should think about Robby, a Belgian Malinois military dog who was put to sleep even though his handler made every effort to adopt him. Robby’s Law, passed in 2000, specifies that retired military dogs should be put up for adoption instead of killed

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This Memorial Day, Americans should remember the dog teams who are a valuable asset to protect those in the U.S. military in harm’s way. Everyone should offer their respect to the ones who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As Congressman Jones stated, “the dog teams are a special gift by Go-d to those who wear the U.S. uniform.”

The author writes for American Thinker. She has done book reviews and author interviews and has written a number of national security, political, and foreign policy articles.

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/...l#ixzz3bAZUeL1d