From the VDHA President

by John R. Harvey

December, 2024

The Luckiest Platoon

     This story begins 59 years ago. It was the end of June 1966. Eighty-one young men began to board a train headed for South Carolina at stations in New Haven, Milford, Stratford, Darian, Stamford, Manhattan and Port Authority. They were headed for a summer vacation at Paris Island, having just enlisted or been drafted into the United States Marine Corps. There was short hair and long hair. There were those who were calorically challenged (fat) and those who looked like they had been in a POW camp with ribs pushing up against their shirts.

     Two and a half days later, following one train change and a final bus ride, they arrived at the Marine Corps famous or infamous recruit depot. Upon departing the bus, we were instructed to stand on yellow foot prints painted on the pavement. Throughout all of the yelling and screaming we were shuffled through a gauntlet where our heads were shaved, multiple needles shoved into our skinny little arms, and were issued our new hip green clothing otherwise known as uniforms.

      Our senior drill instructor. Staff Sgt Ott, soon found out that his entire platoon had been recruited in the Northeast, thus dubbed us the Yankee platoon. Platoon 2027 was born. The calorically challenged soon lost their excess weight, and the skin-and-bones guys started to bulk up. Led by our other drill instructors, Sgt Albright and Sgt Washington, we soon developed the motto “One Big Heel” as we placed first in our battalion’s close order drills competitions. Sgt Washington’s cadence could have auditioned at Carnegie Hall. All these years later when I am out for a walk I will hear the sound “Give me your left right left".

     Over the next couple of years, 77 out of 81 men in our platoon deployed to Vietnam, some for multiple tours. In spite of multiple combat action awards and purple heart injuries all 77 returned back home. One member of our platoon had been severely injured during TET. After spending 35 days in a coma in Japan he emerged with no memories of where or why he was where he was. A doctor suggested that he “return to the beginning of whatever he could remember.” So, while back home on leave in Connecticut, he pulled out his basic training year book for Platoon 2027.

     Thus he began a 50-plus year legacy of trying to find and connect with all of his brothers from Platoon 2027. His search, for the most part, was centered in New York City and Connecticut. However, over the years, he traveled throughout the United States to follow up on any leads he might have received. He eventually found 45-50 members of our Platoon.

     Some had become very successful, some had overdosed on drugs, some were living on the streets, and some just wanted to be left alone and put the horrors of war behind them. As a brotherhood, we began annual get-togethers in Nags Head, North Carolina, or Christmas parties in Plainville, CT.

     In 2006, we celebrated our 40th anniversary back at Paris Island. We had the privilege of installing a monument near Maggi Marine. The monument was dedicated to what the brass at Paris Island referred to as the “Luckiest Platoon in the Marine Corps.” This designation was bestowed based upon the number that went to war and the fact that we all returned home.

     On November 9, 2024, ten members of our platoon were able to get together in Southbury, Connecticut to celebrate the 249th birthday of the Marine Corps. We were a motley crew. Two members hold doctorate degrees, one was a successful real estate mogul, one had had a successful career in the yachting industry,  one had started a successful manufacturing company and owned a vineyard, and one had a successful 30-year career with the Veterans Administration helping men from all of the various conflicts over the past 60 years deal with the remnants of war. I think that our drill instructors would have been proud.

     As the holidays approach I want to wish everyone in our VDHA family a wonderful Happy Thanksgiving, a very Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy New Year. We all have a legacy that we should tell. I would encourage everyone to send our editor Steve Lemish your memories - while we still can.

       The VDHA was organized in 1993 by a group of six veteran war dog handlers who served during the Vietnam Conflict. One of their original goals was to search for and re-unite veteran war dog handlers and honor the memory of their war dog partners.
       As a result, the VDHA has grown from six members to approximately 2000 members. Our membership consists of veteran war dog handlers and dog loving supporters of all ages and gender.
       Many members have been featured in the print and film media, and during many of our nation's annually scheduled patriotic events. A significant achievement is the highly acclaimed TV documentary, "War Dogs, America's Forgotten Heroes." We welcome the informational contributions of all dog handlers from all eras.
       The VDHA was founded with three core objectives in mind:
• Educate the public of the accomplishments of dog handlers in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam Conflict and the dogs that served with them.
• Provide opportunities for the research and preparation of a detailed history of the use of dogs in the Vietnam Conflict.
• Locate and provide fellowship among dog handlers of all US Armed Services.
       The VDHA continues to be a part of war dog memorial projects throughout the country. Some have since been dedicated and more are on the horizon.
       Getting the US Postal Service to issue a War Dog Stamp that honors the service and sacrifice of the nation's war dogs is one of our goals.
       Educating the public on what these incredible four-footed animals have done to save American lives on the battlefields of foreign wars is always at the forefront of every effort we support or sponsor. During every modern War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, men have volunteered to serve as "Dog Handlers." The military duty of having served with a dog in War is a bonding relationship and memorable experience like no other, that lasts a lifetime.