In The News
400 Dogs Killed In Action
For Immediate Release
Contact: CAPTAIN HAGGERTY
1947 Holman Dr. Cell phone (310) 995-4676
No. Palm Beach, FL 33408 Babette@haggertydog.com
The US military has had over 400 dogs killed in action since the start of World War II. These dogs were finally recognized on May 8, 2004 with the unveiling of a pedestal listing all the dogs' names along with their serial (Preston brand) numbers. This unveiling took place at Fort Benning, Georgia just outside of Columbus, Georgia.
This pedestal was the vision of SFC Jesse S. Mendez (USA retired). It joins eleven other pedestals surrounding the eighteen-foot tall War Dog Memorial and there are to be even more pedestals in the future. The pedestals represent various dog organizations that served with their best friends in combat. A boatswain's bell tolled as each dog's name was read out
There are actually two War Dog Memorials; one at March Air Force Base outside Riverside, California and the other at Fort Benning. The memorials consist of two identical bronzes of a dog and its handler in Vietnam-era combat gear. The memorial at Benning is the only one with the pedestals. Other pedestals in the ever-increasing pedestal project identify K-9 combat units and they have been funded and designed with the help of the respective units. No government funds were expended in the memorials or the pedestal project.
A Californian, Jeffery Bennett developed the idea for a memorial. He put the whole thing together and then decided on two memorials. The fact that many of the military war dogs were abandoned in Vietnam certainly motivated him to move the project forward.
Actor, author and animal trainer Captain Haggerty was the keynote speaker at the dedication. A resident of the Palm Beaches Haggerty spoke about the development of the US military dog program. The Captain pointed out that that the fatalities in relationship to the combat seen by the dogs was relatively low, thus testifying to their efficaciousness. Haggerty, a combat veteran of the Korean War was a graduate of both Ft. Benning's OCS and Ranger School and had a number of interesting War Dog assignments. He currently is on the staff of Babette Haggerty's School for Dogs.
The pedestal listing the names and numbers of the 400 plus military dogs killed since World War II.
The dog and handler cannot be seen here because of the sun but the pedestals are circling the 18-foot tall monument.
A closer view of the pedestals.
Keynote speaker Captain Haggerty in his infantry blue blazer.
The War Dog Memorial at the United States Military Cemetery on the island of Guam. The United States Marines during World War 2 preferred the Doberman Pinscher as its War Dog of choice. Many of our Marines owe their lives to the Dobermans who served on Guam.
The statue stands today in the middle of the graves of the 24 Doberman Pinschers who were killed in the battle of Guam in 1944. The cemetery was swallowed up by the jungle over the years. When the United Doberman Club learned of this, they raised thousands of dollars to commission this bronze statue and to clean up the graves. Finally, about 1984 Pentagon brass and Doberman owners traveled all of the way back to Guam to bring the statue to the cemetery to honor the Dobermans who died giving their lives for the U.S. Marines and for our country. The statue previously had stood in the center courtyard of the Pentagon.
