Feco: Part of the United States Coast Guard’s explosive detection unit in Northern California, Feco (FEE-coe) was honored for his more-than-1,335 searches of vehicles, ferries, ships, people and buildings. “He’s not only my partner, he’s become my best friend,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Cory Sumner. Feco, a Hungarian Vizsla (VEEZ-luh), has been to three Super Bowls, two World Series and many other big events. It will be hard to top that when he retires in July.
Hurricane: When an intruder jumped over the White House fence in October 2014, with President Barack Obama and his family inside, this Secret Service canine jumped into action. “He took the individual clean off his feet,” said the dog’s handler, Marshall Mirarchi. Hurricane, a Belgian Malinois (pronounced MAL-in-wah), “was cut up pretty good from the fight” but “did what he was supposed to do.” He and Mirarchi are now retired from the Secret Service.
Ziggy: Deployed five times to four countries with the United States Marine Corps, this German shepherd amassed quite a record before retiring. He went on 56 nighttime helicopter raids and helped discover 43 weapons stockpiles, a dozen bombmaking facilities and more than 5,000 pounds of homemade explosives. But in putting his life on the line several times, Ziggy’s most awesome statistic might be this: Not one Marine ever died on his watch.
Smoky’s combat exploits included crawling through a 70-foot-long pipe barely bigger than she was. The pipe ran under an important military airstrip in the Philippines. A long string was tied to Smoky’s collar. When she emerged from the pipe after a few minutes, soldiers used the string to pull vital communications wires along the same path — a job that would have taken the men three days, with enemy bombers flying overhead.
Anna traveled from Ohio to Washington, D.C., with her dad to accept a medal for her grandfather’s dog Smoky. During World War II, Smoky and Corporal William Wynne of the United States Army Air Forces became backpack buddies in the Southwest Pacific. Smoky went on 12 combat missions, survived air raids and typhoons and is credited with possibly saving the lives of many people.
LAYTON, Utah – Defenders and military working dogs from the 75th Security Forces Squadron at Hill Air Force Base gathered with the community on K-9 Veterans Day, March 13, to dedicate a Vietnam Veterans War Dog Memorial at Layton Commons Park. The monument which honors U.S. military dogs that didn’t return after serving in war is located near park’s Vietnam War Memorial Wall, which honors the nearly 60,000 American men and women who died in the conflict. According to the U.S. War Dogs Association, during the Vietnam War, 4,900 war dogs served, with only 204 returning home to the United States. Of the nearly 4,700 who remained in Vietnam, only 350 died in combat; the rest were just abandoned by the country they served as they were considered military equipment at that time. The War Dog Memorial also has plaque stating if it weren’t for war dog heroes, another 10,000 names might have been added to the Vietnam War Memorial Wall. Jim and Linda Crismer, members of the Northern Utah chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America, raised funds for the War Dog memorial project. Crismers adopted military dog, Mazzie, who worked as a MWD in Kuwait, was the model for Salt Lake City artist, Lena Toritch, who sculpted the memorial. “I feel the K-9 Memorial is an instrumental reminder to the community and region of the value that is and has been placed to the work of military working dogs and their handlers,” said Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Wiggins, 75th SFS non-commissioned officer in charge of MWD section. “For decades, we have built exceptional bonds with K-9s to execute difficult and unimaginable missions that have saved countless lives,” he said. “Today was an opportunity to take a moment with our community and share the trust and faith we all have in our K-9 partners.” The dedication ceremony was attended by law enforcement and other working K-9 teams from the community and featured two Vietnam War K-9 handlers who spoke about their experiences with the war and their bonds with their K-9s. The ceremony also featured a blessing of the K-9s before the monument unveiling. “To see so many of our fellow K-9 handlers from across the region also attend was amazing,” said Wiggins. “We work and train with some of these other handlers and this was the first time we were able to take a break from training to just listen to the stories of past and present handlers and truly recognize our four legged partners for their duty and sacrifice.”
Photo By Cynthia Griggs | Community members pet retired contract working dog Mazzie, who sits in front of the…… read more read more
This work, 75th SFS MWD handlers honor war dog heroes, by Cynthia Griggs, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
Photo By Cynthia Griggs | Community members pet retired contract working dog Mazzie, who sits in front of the Vietnam Veterans War Dog Memorial, which was modeled after him, during the dedication ceremony March 13, 2021 in Layton, Utah. The monument honors U.S. military dogs that didnt return after serving in war. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cynthia Griggs) see less | View Page
U.S. Military War Dog Memorials
There are numerous memorials dedicated to war dogs, including: