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[Crewella]

Just thought you might be interested.

I was brought up in Saigon during the vietnam war, and we took on Justin, a retired Australian army tracker dog that could not be taken back to Oz.  This is the story.

http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/vietnam/dogs.html

http://www.5rar.asn.au/gallery/Justin.htm

And his medals:

http://www.aussiewardogs.org/resources/downloads/Justin_profile.pdf

In going through my late mum's stuff as I cleared her house, I came across photos of the day he arrived, which made me research the story, and discover there is now a memorial to the 11 tracker dogs left behind in Vietnam, so I got in touch and sent my pics to the ANCC (Anzac Day Commemoration Committee) who want to use them for a display.  Sad story, but an interesting one.  He was a lovely dog.

Most of the pics were taken by the army PR department:







And a couple of years later:

[RedwoodsMama]

Hi Crewella, lovely story, but I do think you should change the stories title, I think EVERYONE will love this story not just Aussies! I had tears in my eyes as I read this and saw the pictures of all the dogs. I also grew up during the Vietnam war, but not in Saigon as you, I was a "hippie" back then, not in the middle of things. I do remember watching the news each night in my living room, and years later reading about military dogs, and allways assumed they were taken care of. ( After all, they were Soldiers" ) Touching story and well told, I assume that is you in the pictures of the little girl and dog. Lovely story , even if sad. Thanks for sharing it, I enjoyed it and learned about the fate of some of our bravest soldiers, it doesn't matter what country or troop they were with, they were all fighting for the same cause;  ( RIP all Dogs who served your country and stayed behind.
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                          RWM

[Crewella]

Thanks RWM.  Yes, that's me.  I remembered Justin and how he came to us (I was an only child so he was a good friend) but it was lovely to find the pics and more about the story now I'm older.

[RedwoodsMama]

 What a cute little girl you were...( now you are a lovely woman) how long did you live in Saigon, did your dad have a job there by any chance? How long did you have Justin,,,how old was he when he passed? Did Justin show any signs of anxiety or trauma like soldiers from that era showed...( I knew friends who suffered from Agent Orange.. and were really affected traumatically by the war.. ) I may have missed it, but were any of these dogs ever portrayed on any documentaries or movies other then the ones you mentioned? I know on Facebook I have read about soldiers over in Iran , Iraq, etc, bringing back dogs because they were so close to them. When you live day in and day out with a buddy who guards you, gives his life for you, how can you leave him behind?

                   I am sorry about your mom, I know last year you talked about her being ill, but did not know she had passed, thankfully she had saved some great photos and memories for you to share. I think it is a very heartwarming story, the kind we need more of in this world. Thanks again Crewella, I am going to share it with a couple of my animal friends who I know will appreciate it very much.

                                             RWM   

[Crewella]

We lived there for 5 years - my dad worked for a bank out there (my parents originally met in Saigon when they were both working there individually).  We were told he had 'lost his nerve', but he settled in well and had no problems whilst with us.  I've not found any more info - but I'm still looking.

Actually, the sad thing is that we had to leave him too - he came to us at the end of 1969, and we had to leave three years later and pass him on the the next manager, who was local.  We were told that the bank (who I guess officially 'owned' him, and the house we lived in) still looked after him after the war ended.

Thanks RWM, it's been a tough year clearing her house, but you're right about the memories.

[Lunamione7]

Brilliant story Crewella, I love the pictures. I do not know very much about the Vietnam War, it was never mentioned in school, only WW1 and WW2 was studied. At one point we had to write an essay on a war animal, horse, bird, dog, even cats and rats who had won a medal so I knew that memorials existed and I have even been taken to the one at Goolwa on a school trip... we were never spoken too about Vietnam though, not sure of the reason for that.

In the town I live in now there is an annual event to recognise war horses, there is a terrific statue of one named Sandy from WW1. He was allowed to come home.

Also your mum had great sunglasses 

[InmemoryofRomeo]

What a cute pair you two made I'm glad the doggy had a kind and loving home for a while. Who could possibly blame a dog for 'losing his nerve' after the horrors of war.

[kat]

It is a lovely story - nice to see that a good home really was found for the dogs.  Such a shame that you weren't allowed to take him with you when you moved.  The most heart wrenching part for me though was that the Army refused to explain to the dog handlers and their families why they weren't allowed to bring their buddies home.  Perhaps if they had been kind enough to explain their reasons then the parting would have been made a little less painful, as it would have made a lot more sense.  Very sad story.  Interesting just how small the world is though.  I'm glad your family was able to give Justin a good home for a few years

[Crewella]

Thanks guys.  We really didn't have a lot of choice - Saigon fell in 1975.