During Vietnam in the EOD circles, we had a basset hound named Red Dog, that went to Vietnam with a unit in 1965 and got back home in 1973. He was just a mascot and moved from unit to unit during his stay in Vietnam. In 1972 everyone in country contributed to the, "Bring Red Dog Home Fund", and a guardian was elected and appointed. Red Dog was wounded twice, once in a mortar attack and once shot with a 45 cal pistol. He died of cancer sometime around 1978 or so. The vet had to put him down, but when he examined and x-rayed Red Dog's body, he found more fragments of the mortar still in him. He was featured in Army Times once, with his guardian SGM Hole.
Morning EOD.
Thanks for sharing about Red Dog with us. Officially we weren't supposed to have any dogs, but unofficially we had about 7 that "hung around" the Company area at base camp.
I had one the "hung around" my hootch, although I didn't "own" it it went just about everywhere with me. "Puppy" was the first real dog I "owned". Broke my heart to have to leave him behind after more than a year.
This is a wonderful story. I'm so glad he was able to come home, so many others couldn't.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I'll look for the story online and maybe we can feature it here, too.