Tennessee Celebrates Resolution for "K-9 Veterans Day"

Donna Fefee - Event Coordinator

K-9 Veterans Day Knoxville, Tennessee

By John Homa

Korat, Thailand & U-Tapao, Thailand

The idea for K-9 Veterans Day originated with Vietnam veteran Joseph J. White, 47th Infantry Platoon, Scout Dogs. Unfortunately, Joe passed away unexpectedly in October 2009 without seeing his dream fully realized, but his widow and innumerable other dedicated volunteers continue to work towards his goal.

Additional background about this endeavor can be found at k9veteransday.org

Additional photos taken at the event can be viewed by clicking HERE.

The German Shepherd Dog Club of East Tennessee, together with the University Of Tennessee College Of Veterinary Medicine, hosted a "K-9 Veterans Day" observance on March 13, 2010. The event took place at the UT Vet Clinic, site of the replica WWII Guam 25 Marine War Dog Memorial. This event honored all dogs from all wars, including past and present military working dogs, police dogs, search and rescue dogs, dogs used by the Secret Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, dogs used by other agencies, and even the therapy dogs and assistance dogs who comfort and help our wounded veterans. This event was an opportunity to recognize and pay tribute to those dogs that selflessly serve humanity and make our world a better place - one of the many benefits derived from the human/dog connection.

Five dog handlers attend the Knoxville event, Perry Money, Carl Hartman, Tom DeHoog, John Ammons, and John Homa. There was a good turn out from the public for a first time event. Knoxville Police Department K-9 Officers accepted a K-9 Veterans Day proclamation from the City Mayor and handlers from the Knox County Sheriff’s Department accepted a similar proclamation from the County Mayor.

Other handlers from nearby Loudon County also attended. The Vietnam Dog Handler Association provided certificates of appreciation for the event hosts as well as Vietnam Dog Handler Association challenge coins and pins given out to the military troops present and law enforcement handlers. The ceremonies included a Marine color guard, an Air Force singer for the National Anthem and a bugler for taps. There were speakers from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, City of Knoxville, Knox County, and John Homa, representing the Vietnam Dog Handler Association.

There was some great air time dedicated to the event from a local TV which could still be found at http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=115840&catid=2 as of this printing. There was a display table with information about the Vietnam Dog Handler Association, Feed the Dawgs and, Old Dawgs and Pups programs.

Four Veteran Dog Handlers, lead by Perry Money, placed a wreath at the Guam Memorial to honor all service dogs.

Not that they all aren’t, but today was an excellent day to be a dog handler. The Vietnam Dog Handler Association celebrates memorials with events throughout the country and at times, they seem to be enclosed around us, but today it felt to be reaching out to a greater audience. Joe White would be proud of Donna Fefee with the German Sheppard Club of East Tennessee and the UT College of Veterinary Medicine for their involvement and hosting the event for all types of service dogs.

Text from John Homa’s speech:

Imagine - Back in the mid sixties to mid seventies if you were not a volunteer but served somewhat willingly, it usually meant you were drafted.

Imagine - Being in a foreign country in tall grass at just about eye level and you hear gunfire going off in front of you. All of a sudden something hot slams into your left shoulder. Next thing you know you’re in a helicopter heading for a medical unit to get patched up.

Imagine - Being on post all night, then hitting the sack and being awakened just two hours later by your buddies and being dragged down to the beach for a swim and a few beers. But you go. Could be fun!

Imagine - Being in the jungle on night patrol and looking out for booby traps and land mines. Heck it’s hard enough doing it during the day let alone at night and in monsoon season!

Imagine - Being on post for eight hours, hopefully in mid shift, and if you’re lucky someone brings out the box lunches or you eat out of a can.

Imagine -Being on a scouting patrol in the jungle and feeling a sting on your leg and then you start to lose consciousness. Next thing you see are bright surgery lights in the medical unit and some happy faces. Someone says “same thing happened to another in your unit two weeks ago. Snake got him too, but he didn’t make it.”

Imagine -Talking trash with the other guys on the back of a truck going out to post and maybe getting into a fight or two. But all is cool out on patrol, everyone watches out for each other’s backs.

Imagine -Your best buddy coming up to you and saying, man I zeroed out today on my short timer days and I’m leaving on that jet plane. My tour is up today pal.  I am going home! I am sorry you can not go with me.

Imagine –For years being in a concrete room with a wooden pallet for a bed and you sleep on the concrete because you get tired of the pallet. Or, you are chained up to a wooden looking bird house structure on stilts with some poorly made bedding. You are given the same old food to eat every day. And what about all those mosquitoes and bug bites.

Imagine -Today’s forces doing three and four tours of duty. Can you envision doing seven and eight tours back in the sixties?

Imagine -One day you are declared surplus. Surplus?

Imagine -Being lead back into that medical unit and looking up at a few grim faces and feeling a pin prick in your arm and going to sleep for the last time.

Over 4000 military working dogs served in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia during the Vietnam era and are estimated to have saved 10,000 lives. All experienced many of the things I have just mentioned and more. Very few returned back to the states. Some were sent to the Philippines or Korea. Some lived out their lives where they were stationed in country. Many, many more went into that medical unit for the last time. I have been told stories about handlers letting their dogs go free in the jungle to fend for themselves rather than bring them into the kennels for the last time. They could have been just that, just stories, but I wish, with my three dogs, I had done that! They were drafted and served more than willingly and gave their lives for this country.