JOINT SERVICE HONORS COMMAND Monthly Newsletter October 2014 Volume 1014 If you would like to submit a column for this newsletter, please contact the editor: *SSG Susan Planas, [email protected]* America’s disabled veterans have honored us with their service and selfless duty. It is now our turn to honor them. For the first time, America will pay tribute to some of our most courageous heroes – our disabled veterans. The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will celebrate those men and women who may be broken in body – but never ***** in spirit. ***** American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial - Dedication Ceremony SGT Bilko says… October 5, 2014 “At Ease” means NO TALKING! Throughout our nation’s history, service men and Got that! women have gone bravely into battle, risking their lives and livelihoods, sacrificing their safety ***** to defend America. When their duty is done, many return home to life as it was. Sadly, for A MOMENT IN TIME over 4 million veterans seriously injured in the line of duty, leaving the battlefield does not mark Vietnam War Tanks the end of conflict. These permanently disabled heroes often carry home life-altering disabilities – Although a plethora of deadly weapons and new stern reminders of the price of freedom. tactics for killing people were employed throughout the Vietnam War, only a handful of different tanks were used - this may be because of the terrain, which was often jungle interwoven with many rivers and swamps. However, the following tanks were used during the Vietnam War: M41 Walker Bulldog light tank (South Vietnamese Army), M48 Patton medium tank, M551 Sheridan, Centurion main battle tank (Australia). The Americans used a few Sherman M4A3-M4A6 medium tanks in Vietnam (The M4 Sherman medium tank was the most common Allied tank used in World War II.) However, by the time the Korean War had ended, the Americans had, for the most part, replaced the Sherman with more modern tanks. The North teams. The Vietcong was in such fear of military Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong were supplied dogs that they placed a bounty on the lives of both with Soviet tanks: the T-34/85 medium tank, which the dogs and their handlers. The United States War was first used during World War II, the T-54 main Dogs Association estimates that over 10,000 battle tank and the PT-76 light amphibious tank. The American lives were saved in Vietnam by man’s best Chinese supplied the North Vietnamese with the Type friend. 59 main battle tank (their version of the T-54), the Type 62 light tank, a lighter version of the Type 59 Over the years several types of dogs have been MBT, and the Type 63 light amphibious tank, their Military Working Dogs but more recently the version of the PT-76. majorities are German and Dutch Shepherds and Belgian Malinois. It’s an interesting juxtaposition that The Battle of Ben Het these dogs are chosen because of their unyielding was one of the few affection and devotion to their partners as well as engagements during their ability to bite with a force between 400 and 700 the Vietnam War in pounds. which tanks were pitted against tanks. Different dogs have On March 3, 1969, different skills but in North Vietnamese total they complete forces from the 4th the following duties: Armored Battalion, SENTRY DOGS give 202nd Armored Regiment, attacked US forces from warning and are the 1st Battalion, 69th Armor at a training camp near extremely valuable Ben Het in South Vietnam. The North Vietnamese while working in the had between 10 and 19 PT-76 tanks. The Americans dark or alerting had several M48A3 Patton tanks. One M48 was hit by toward attacks from a PT-76, but it did not suffer much damage. Two PT- behind. Sentry dogs 76s were destroyed by M48s. A third PT-76 exploded were even used by when it struck a mine. the Coast Guard in ***** WW II as coastal fortification guarding The capability they (Military Working Dogs) bring to against enemy the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine. By submarine activity. all measures of performance their yield outperforms any asset we have in our inventory. Our Army (and SCOUT or PATROL DOGS detect snipers and military) would be remiss if we failed to invest more in ambushes. They are trained to work in complete this incredibly valuable resource. silence. Just the mere presence of dogs on patrol greatly General David H. Petraeus decreased the possibility of an ambush, which in turn FOUR LEGGED HEROS was a morale boost for the troops. MESSENGER Dogs’ service to our military goes far beyond the war DOGS require on terror. In United States history, dogs have been extreme loyalty, as fearless warriors, partners they must be and rescuers for over 100 trusted to go from years. Although they were one handler to not officially acknowledged another. They as part of the armed travel silently and services until World War II are able to use natural cover. when 10,000 specially trained canines were deployed. CASUALTY DOGS are trained to search and report casualties in obscure locations. Their ability to When American Military went to Vietnam, hundreds of identify an injured soldier who needs immediate dogs were added to their bases. Within the year of attention has closed the gap in those crucial minutes adding the dogs, enemy attacks on American bases that make the critical difference and has saved were stopped when the Vietcong discovered dog countless lives. CHAPLAINS CORNER In current wars, the dogs are outfitted in protective SOLDIER’S PSALM 91 armor as well as small cameras making it possible for PRAYER their handlers to send the dogs at least 1000 feet ahead of them to get a look at what they’re up against. Again, putting their loyalty and obedience O Lord Most High, help me ahead of fear. to dwell in your secret place and abide under The dogs’ very presence on a military base has an Your shadow. uplifting effect on the troops. These innocent beasts will play ball with them Help me to believe and say out loud for everyone to and lick their faces in hear that You are my refuge and my fortress; that You one moment, and are my God; and that in You I put my trust. ferociously defend them O Lord God Almighty, please deliver me from hidden with their lives in the traps and diseases. next. But it is the dogs’ unmatched ability to Father God, cover me with Your camouflage; hide me sniff out explosives that under Your wings; and let Your truth be my shield and may have technically buckler against the fiery darts—the lies—of the saved the most enemy. lives. Millions of dollars have been spent on technology that can detect Lord Jesus, help me not to be afraid of terrorists’ bombs, but none have come close to the detections attacks in the night; or weapons that fly by day; or made by a Military Working Dogs and their handler. sicknesses that walk in darkness; or destruction that wastes at noonday. Like any good partnership, many of the soldiers assume a short hand with their four-legged O Holy God, though a thousand fall at my side, and partners. Some handlers have even claimed their ten thousand fall at my right hand; please let it not dogs share their personality or think the same way come close to me and my companions. they do. Out in the fight against terror, the dogs and O Lord Most High, let me live to see the reward of the their soldiers even begin to resemble each other, wicked, because You are my refuge and my home. covered in desert dust as they trudge together in Let no evil conquer me and let no plague come into combat. my house or near my family. That’s why it’s O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer, please set no surprise angels over me to keep me in all Your ways, to bear that even the me up in their hands and to keep my feet from toughest men stumbling. and women have been Father God, help me to tread upon the lion and adder known to shed and trample the young lion and the dragon under my tears when feet. their time with their service dog comes to an end. And I can see why. After all, these dogs truly Lord Jesus, I love you with all my heart and I know live up to their K9 Promise: Your name. Deliver me and lift me on high to soar with the eagles. I call upon you to be with me in times My eyes are your eyes. To watch and protect you of trouble to deliver and honor me because I know and yours. My ears are your ears. To hear and Your name. Please show me Your salvation and detect evil minds in the dark. My nose is your satisfy me with a long life. nose to scent the invader of your domain. And so you may live, my life is also yours. I ask this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen ***** ***** DID YOU KNOW? going’” a voice of calm in the sea of distressed asked’ “To get my gloves,” Mahoney replied. “Here, take The Four Chaplains these,” said Rabbi Goode as he handed a pair of gloves to the young officer. “I can’t take those “Not for my safe return, that wouldn’t be fair. Just pray that I shall do my duty…never be a gloves,” Mahoney replied.