Dan Byrd’s Personal History After graduating from Sarasota High School, Sarasota, Fla. in June 1964 I joined the U.S. Army 6 July 1964 to be a MP. I was first sent to Ft. Jackson S.C. for “Basic Training”. After basic I was sent to Ft. Gordon, Ga. for “Military Police School”. While I was in MP School I volunteered to be a “Sentry Dog Handler”. I was sent to Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. As a Sentry Dog Handler in the states we were only used during the night. I along with my Sentry Dog Partner “Prince” (This was a one-man, one-dog team. We Guarded Nike- Hercules Missiles Bases that were used in defence of the Strategic Air Command, Air Force Bases in the States. Our dogs were trained to alert on anyone or anything that might try to enter our patrol area, and if an intruder penetrated the area the dog was trained to STOP the intruder. My first duty assignment after Sentry Dog Training was to Warner Robins AFB, Ga, 4th Missile Bn, and 61st Artillery. The missile site was in Jeffersonville, Ga. (just south of Macon Ga) From there I was transferred to Homestead AFB, Florida, “A” Btry. 2nd Missile Bn. “A” Btry. was right in the middle of Everglades National Park, South Dade County. The missile site was so new that the missiles hadn’t even been moved in yet, so we billeted at Homestead AFB. When we moved to the Missile Site we were only there about a week or so before being sent home on leave. The leave was before being sent to Vietnam in August 1965. I really didn’t do anything real important while I was in Vietnam. I was just there! With “The Originals” We were the first loads of Military Police, Army Sentry Dog Handlers. We were what turned out to be the 212th MP Co. K-9 (Sentry Dogs). Sentry Dogs and Handlers were used to patrol Ammo Dumps, Petroleum Storage, Food Storage, Air Craft landing areas, Top Secret Radio areas, and most anything that was to be “A Secure Area” The Vietnamese Nationals were afraid of our K-9 Partners. And the VC had a bounty on the Dog Handler’s and More on the Dog! After I returned to the states (without my K-9 Partner) I was stationed at Ft. Stewart, Ga. While there I was assigned to the 21st MP Platoon in July 1966, I was an MP Game Warden at Ft. Stewart. In Dec. 1966 I was sent to Hunter Army Air Field, Savannah, Ga. Where I was a regular MP. I pulled Gate Duty, Patrol Duty, and was in charge of a Town Patrol Detail. I was Honorably Discharged from The U S Army on 5 July 1967. After I was discharged from the Army, I knocked around for a while, and ended up in LaPorte, Ind. Were I was a City Policeman. I worked there until the weather got so bad I could not stand it! (Cold & Snow) I returned to Sarasota Fl. where I belonged. And was a Deputy Sheriff. I joined The Florida Marine Patrol (a state police agency) after returning to Florida. The Florida Marine Patrol is/was the oldest Law Enforcement Agency in the State of Florida. It started June 4, 1913 and is still in existence today. In 1999 the Florida Marine Patrol merged with the Florida Freshwater Fish and Game Commission and formed the Florida Wildlife Commission. The agency is a State Law Enforcement Agency. It is called “FWC” now. If you watch the OLN network they have a program called “E FORCE” that is what my job was. When I was hired I was the 136 Officer in the state. We patrolled over 8600 miles of tidal shoreline. I was a Field Officer, which meant that I patrolled in a Patrol Boat most of the time! If you are a law enforcement officer it was the best job in the State of Florida. During my carrier as an officer I started an investigation that led to the seizure of 57.8 Tons of Marijuana (still a Florida record). I received two life saving awards while I was an officer, but I saved 11 lives, it just wasn’t recorded back then. While I was an FMP Officer. I received Officer of The Year Award in the state 3 times; I was officer of the year in different counties that I worked in a couple more times. I was promoted to Sergeant in 1982, then Lieutenant in 1986, and retired a Captain in 1996. I have 3 children, a girl and two boys. My two oldest children are married (daughter and son) my daughter Donna & her husband, have been married for 11 years and they are working for a large corporation in Orlando. She made me a grandfather in March of 2005 and My Granddaughter’s name is Madison, and she is BEAUTIFUL. I have twin grandsons as of Feb 09! My oldest son Danny is a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and is stationed at New River Marine Air Station in N.C. He just returned in July 2008 from his 4rd tour in Iraq. He is a “HUEY” Helicopter Pilot. My youngest son Kevin is in Retail Sales/ Repairs at Cell Phone store in Pt Chatlotte Fl. He is very good at what he does! I am proud of all 3 of my children! They have made me Very Proud! I have been married 41 years, and I am enjoying my retirement. I live about 35 miles south of where I grew up in Sarasota, Fl. I am Very Proud to be a member of the Vietnam Dog Handler Association, and the Military Police Sentry Dog Alumni, and have been since I found their web sites 10 + years ago, and joined each that day. I am also a member of The Blue Knights XVI, Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club. A Club of Police Officers, and retired police officers, and a Member of The Fraternal Order of Police, Charlotte County Chapter 66 I enjoy playing on the computer, and riding my 2003 “Ultra Classic” Harley-Davidson. I have re-met some of the 212th Originals Sentry Dog Handlers that went to Vietnam with me in 1965, via computer, and have made contact with some more MP’s and Dog Handlers the same way. I would not trade their friendships for anything! Dan Byrd 212th MP Co. Sentry Dogs, (Originals, 1965-66)Captain, Florida Marine Patrol, (Retired)23096 Turnbull Ave Pt. Charlotte, Fl. 33954941-629-1455 Home941-626-3818 Cell