Scout Dog Tab Gold Pins and Buttons

Dogs in warfare have a long history starting in ancient times. From war dogs trained in combat to their use as scouts, sentries and trackers, their uses have been varied and some continue to exist in modern military usage.

Dogs in warfare have a long history starting in ancient times. From war dogs trained in combat to their use as scouts, sentries and trackers, their uses have been varied and some continue to exist in modern military usage.

Combat Tracker - The purpose of Combat Tracker is to reestablish contact with the enemy, reconnaissance of an area for possible enemy activities and locate lost or missing friendly personnel. The unit was usually supported by a platoon or larger force. and work ahead of the supporting/main force to surprise and make contact with the enemy.

48th Infantry Platoon Scout Dogs (DaNang). The 48th was with the 196th LIB under American Division. Pleiku/An Khe/LZ Hawk Hill/LZ Baldy/Chu Lai The 48th IPSD was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 2 September 1966, with Lt. Ian L. Jones in command. After training at Fort Benning (1) the unit deployed to Vietnam on 11 January 1967, with a strength of 1 Officer and 14 Enlisted men and 26 dogs.(2) After arriving in Vietnam on 15 January 1967, the Platoon moved to Tay Ninh on 23 January 1967, to join the 196th Light Infantry Brigade (LIB).

The 48th IPSD was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 2 September 1966, with Lt. Ian L. Jones in command. After training at Fort Benning the unit deployed to Vietnam on 11 January 1967, with a strength of 1 Officer and 14 Enlisted men and 26 dogs. After arriving in Vietnam on 15 January 1967, the Platoon moved to Tay Ninh on 23 January 1967, to join the 196th Light Infantry Brigade (LIB) .

In March 1965*, military working dogs were approved for use in Vietnam. By July 17th, forty teams had been deployed to three bases - Tan Son Nhut, Ben Hoa and DaNang. This was only the beginning, by the end of the year there were 99 dogs in the country. By September 1966 more than 500 dog teams were deployed to ten bases. In the seventeen months between July 1965 and December 1966 not a single Viet Cong sapper team penetrated a base guarded by sentry dogs.

The 48th IPSD was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 2 September 1966, with Lt. Ian L. Jones in command. After training at Fort Benning the unit deployed to Vietnam on 11 January 1967, with a strength of 1 Officer and 14 Enlisted men and 26 dogs. After arriving in Vietnam on 15 January 1967, the Platoon moved to Tay Ninh on 23 January 1967, to join the 196th Light Infantry Brigade (LIB) .

Brigade Reconnaissance 48th Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog) Troop F, 8th Cavalry (Air) Troop F, 17th Cavalry (Armored) 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry (Armored) 64th Infantry Platoon (Combat Tracker)

48th Infantry Platoon Scout Dogs (DaNang) The 48th was with the 196th LIB under American Division. Pleiku/An Khe/LZ Hawk Hill/LZ Baldy/Chu Lai The 48th IPSD was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 2 September 1966, with Lt. Ian L. Jones in command. After training at Fort Benning (1) the unit deployed to Vietnam on 11 January 1967, with a strength of 1 Officer and 14 Enlisted men and 26 dogs.(2) After arriving in Vietnam on 15 January 1967, the Platoon moved to Tay Ninh on 23 January 1967, to join the 196th Light Infantry Brigade (LIB).

48th Infantry Platoon Scout Dogs (DaNang). The 48th was with the 196th LIB under American Division. Pleiku/An Khe/LZ Hawk Hill/LZ Baldy/Chu Lai The 48th IPSD was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia, on 2 September 1966, with Lt. Ian L. Jones in command. After training at Fort Benning (1) the unit deployed to Vietnam on 11 January 1967, with a strength of 1 Officer and 14 Enlisted men and 26 dogs.(2) After arriving in Vietnam on 15 January 1967, the Platoon moved to Tay Ninh on 23 January 1967, to join the 196th Light Infantry Brigade (LIB).

1966–1973: Approximately 5,000 US war dogs served in the Vietnam War (the US Army did not retain records prior to 1968); about 10,000 US servicemen served as dog-handlers during the war, and the K9 units are estimated to have saved over 10,000 human lives. 232 military working dogs and 295 US servicemen working as dog handlers were killed in action during the war. It is estimated that about 200 Vietnam War dogs survived the war to be assigned at other US bases outside the US. The remaining canines were euthanized or left behind.