Clair-Mel City in Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

K-9 Corps/K-9 Handlers

Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022

1. K-9 Corps/K-9 Handlers Marker

Inscription.

K-9 Corps/K-9 Handlers. Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park. [front] K-9 Corps . Over 4,000 military dogs served in Vietnam as scout, sentry, tracker and patrol dogs (German Shepards, Labrador Retrievers). It has been estimated that their presence prevented over 10,000 casualties. The K-9 teams proved so effective that the Vietnam Cong began placing bounties on the dogs and their handlers. Of the 4,000 dogs that served in Vietnam, only a handful returned to the states, when the war ended. The military refused the handlers pleas to bring the dogs home and ordered them left behind. In America’s haste to get out of Vietnam, we left the forgotten heroes of the K-9 Corps to be put to sleep, turned over to the South Vietnamese troops, or let loose to fend for themselves. These were very special shoulders and will always be remembered in the hearts of those who served with them. On point and forever forward , The K-9 Corps. (reverse) K-9 Handlers “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, for whoever has shed his blood with me shall be my brother.” . Today, as we remember our fallen military members who valiantly gave their lives to protect our freedom, let’s also commemorate our four-legged force and their handlers that have done the same. Officially, “Military Working Dogs,” these canines have saved countless lives by sniffing out IEDs and weapon caches in Iraq and Afghanistan, and alerting to danger along the way in Vietnam. Since the dogs first entered military service in 1942, they have acted with the same level of courage, dedication and loyalty as their human counterparts. Designated as “equipment “ by the military(although this is being challenged), they are considered and treated as anything but. “The dogs are…assigned a rank one step higher than their handler to enforce the idea of that the dogs need to be treated with respect,” Marine officials told the Marine Corps Times. From handler all the way up to the top brass of the military, approbation of their worth is ubiquitous. Gen. David Petraeus said: “The capability they (Military Working Dogs) bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine. By all measures of performance their yield out performs any asset we have in our inventory. Our army (and military) would be remiss if we failed to invest more in this incredibly valuable resource.” To handlers, MWDs are more than just a valuable resource to the military. The bond that’s formed between the two is truly unsurpassed and makes for some incredibly heartrending stories.

[front] K-9 Corps
Over 4,000 military dogs served in Vietnam as scout, sentry, tracker and patrol dogs (German Shepards, Labrador Retrievers). It has been estimated that their presence prevented over 10,000 casualties.

The K-9 teams proved so effective that the Vietnam Cong began placing bounties on the dogs and their handlers. Of the 4,000 dogs that served in Vietnam, only a handful returned to the states, when the war ended. The military refused the handlers pleas to bring the dogs home and ordered them left behind.

In America’s haste to get out of Vietnam, we left the forgotten heroes of the K-9 Corps to be put to sleep, turned over to the South Vietnamese troops, or let loose to fend for themselves. These were very special shoulders and will always be remembered in the hearts of those who served with them.
On point and forever forward — The K-9 Corps.

(reverse)
K-9 Handlers
“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, for whoever has shed his blood with me shall be my brother.”

Today, as we remember our fallen military members who valiantly gave their lives to protect our freedom, let’s also commemorate our four-legged force and their handlers that have done the same. Officially, “Military Working Dogs,” these canines have saved countless lives by sniffing out IEDs and weapon caches in Iraq and Afghanistan, and alerting to danger along the way in Vietnam. Since the dogs first entered military service in 1942, they have acted with the same level of courage, dedication and loyalty as their human counterparts.

Designated as “equipment “ by the military(although this is being challenged), they are considered and treated as anything but. “The dogs are…assigned a rank one step higher than their handler to enforce the idea of that the dogs need to be treated

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with respect,” Marine officials told the Marine Corps Times. From handler all the way up to the top brass of the military, approbation of their worth is ubiquitous.

Gen. David Petraeus said:
“The capability they (Military Working Dogs) bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine. By all measures of performance their yield out performs any asset we have in our inventory. Our army (and military) would be remiss if we failed to invest more in this incredibly valuable resource.”

To handlers, MWDs are more than just a valuable resource to the military. The bond that’s formed between the two is truly unsurpassed and makes for some incredibly heartrending stories.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Military.

Location. 27° 58.568′ N, 82° 21.754′ W. Memorial is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. It is in Clair-Mel City. It can be reached from U.S. 301 0.2 miles south of East Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Marker located within Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal

K-9 Corps/K-9 Handlers Marker (reverse) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022

2. K-9 Corps/K-9 Handlers Marker (reverse)

address: 3602 US-301, Tampa FL 33619, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is on Florida’s Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Vietnam Women’s Memorial (here, next to this marker); Hillsborough County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Lt Col James Michael Basta (a few steps from this marker); Operation Desert Shield (a few steps from this marker); Operation Desert Storm (a few steps from this marker); The Gulf War (a few steps from this marker); Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf (a few steps from this marker); Army Otter - Caribou Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022

3. K-9 Corps/K-9 Handlers Marker

War Dog and Handler image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022

4. War Dog and Handler

Out of war and great tragedy many abandoned or killed with no notice to handlers. So many dogs died for no reason, but never forgotten. Because of the bond between partners came a loving and supportive organization. Stormy, the hero who was the impetus for the United States War Dog Association by her partner, always partners forever.

Stormy M467, 1st Marine Scout Dog Platoon image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022

5. Stormy M467, 1st Marine Scout Dog Platoon

DaNang, Vietnam 1966, (Female) DOB Apl 1963 - Approx. DOD 1972, CPL Ronald L. Aiello, 3rd BN Fifth Marines

SGT. John M. Powell & General, Vietnam 1969-1970 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022

6. SGT. John M. Powell & General, Vietnam 1969-1970

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 13, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 437 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 13, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.