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Dogs have been our companions for thousands of years.
Our four-legged friends have bonded with us as pets and family members.
Here is my dog, Callie.
They perform many roles for us humans, such as helping hunters,assisting the police, and aiding disabled people.
This influence on human society has given them the nickname --- “man's best friend."
For the K-9 handlers in the US military, dogs are a soldier's best friend.
Since World War I, tens of thousands of dogs have served in the United States Armed Forces
alongside their handlers in K-9 units.
War dogs have served in combat, saving thousands of lives of our military troops.
In this episode, meet Nemo, the German Shepherd military working dog
who served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War.
His heroic story is next on Marking History!
This is the historical marker for Nemo, the military working dog who became a canine hero during the Vietnam War.
This marker, Nemo's statue and his memorial kennel
are all located here at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas where they train military working dogs.
Now let's learn more about Nemo and the story behind his marker!
On December 4, 1966, Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon
was attacked by a large force of Viet Cong commandos.
After the assault, enemy stragglers remained hidden.
Air Force airman Robert Throneburg started out on night patrol with his war dog, Nemo, to find these enemy stragglers.
Suddenly, the German shepherd's ears shot up and his body stiffened.
He sensed the intruder before Throneburg saw him. Throneburg turned Nemo loose.
The Viet Cong fired several shots.
Throneburg took a hit in his left shoulder and Nemo took one on his nose and lost his right eye.
Nemo still attacked the enemy, which gave Throneburg the precious minutes he needed to call in reinforcements.
After Throneburg fell unconscious, Nemo crawled on top of the soldier's body to protect him from harm.
And there Nemo lay, guarding his handler.
Throneburg recovered from his wounds and received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star medal.
Nemo recuperated at the air base before retiring from active duty.
Nemo returned to the US as the first-ever sentry dog to officially retire from active service.
Yet, his service to his country did not end there.
Nemo became the face of the K9 Corps, and helped recruit thousands of dogs into military service.
Nemo passed away in 1972.
His permanent gravestone is inscribed with his name, serial number, and a reminder of his heroic exploit:
If history can be taught with stories
they can never be forgotten.
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