Currently, the dog and handler display in the downtown museum features a mannequin soldier in combat gear kneeling beside a small dog.Memorial to the working military dog.

Searching for a military dog

Royal Hettling knows the importance of a military dog better than most people. After all, he and his German Shepherd, Thunder, spent a year together in the war zone of Cam Ranh Bay during the Vietnam War.

Forty-eight years later, Hettling, who co-owns and operates the Vietnam Memorial and History Center in Minneota with his older brother Charlie, is hoping visitors will understand that he is trying to be sensitive in his search for a dog for his new K-9 unit display.

"I was trying to get a real German Shepherd dog done by a taxidermist," said Hettling, who was a dog handler in the 43rd police squad from 1970-71. "I don't want to upset anyone, though.”

"I want the dog to look like he's alerting an enemy is approaching. Basically, I want the dog to look like he's working and doing the job it was trained to do."

Hettling has contacted veterinary clinics and humane societies to see if a dog might become available, but so far he hasn't had any luck in his search. Currently, the dog and handler display in the downtown museum features a mannequin soldier in combat gear kneeling beside a small dog.

"I could only find a small garden-sized dog so far," Hettling said.

"It looks like a pup with a happy face. I want a more realistic-looking dog.” "The main reason for the dog display is to commemorate the service that military working dogs played in Vietnam."

The soldier in the current display is not wearing a helmet. "We never wore helmets when we were with our dogs," Hettling explained.

"We needed to feel the wind on our forehead so we knew what direction to position our dog to best pick up a scent." Hettling has also been searching online for a manufactured dog that looks realistic. He found one made in China and contacted the company, but they were sold out and wouldn't be restocking anytime soon.

There are standard replica German Shepherd dogs on sale, but the price is steep and most don't have the look Hettling is looking for. When Hettling returned home following the war, he was unable to bring Thunder back with him because of military restrictions.

Thunder, as with most of the military dogs, was eventually put down.

"In the end, our hurry to get out of the military considered (the dogs) to be surplus military equipment," Hettling noted. "They did not want to take the time necessary to quarantine them for reassignment to other bases." Hettling has a colored picture of Thunder above the dog and handler display. "Thunder was a great dog," said Hettling.

"I'm sure I wouldn't be here today if not for that dog. He alerted me several times. I don't think most people realize that these dogs saved over 10,000 lives in the Vietnam War." The approximate 400 military K-9 dogs were trained to react when an enemy approached.

The radio code "Ten: Five Five" was used by the 43rd Security Police Squadron K-9 unit for a canine alert indicting the presence of a threat. "These dogs were our eyes and ears," Hettling said. "With a dog, we had the advantage." Hettling devoted a chapter in his book, "Ten: Five Five" about the various times his dog alerted him. The book can be purchased at the museum with proceeds going back to the museum for more displays and educational material.

Because of a dog in the K-9 unit's effectiveness, the Viet Cong placed a bounty on both the U.S. dog handler and his dog. And in order for the bounty to be claimed, the Viet Cong soldier had to provide evidence of the tattooed left ear of the dog, as well as the uniform patch and leash of the dog's handler.

And Hettling feels it is important to have a dog and handler display to educate those about the perils of war.

"We want to inform the public that the military continues to use dogs today," Hettling said.

"And they continue to save American lives.” "Unfortunately, that story is never told. After all, they served this country just like we did. They need to be recognized accordingly."

Royal Hettling, who handled dogs in Vietnam.

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