Me, Photographs, Scout Dog Platoon, Vietnam.

Rusty and Me, 1998.

This is for me. It's to remember. It's to fix what I can. It's to say thanks. It's to anguish. It's for joy.
Scout dog handler, Vietnam, 8/70-5/71. My experience: 24 short stories, one slide show, 20 cassette recordings and 150 photos. Photos of the guys, the dogs, the Vietnamese, Saigon, Bien Hoa, Vung Tau and me.
Many photos are of 25th and 34th Scout Dog Platoon members. I thank them for putting up with my camera and me. I want them to know; my fondest memories are of this time. I hope this web site brings joy.
Golden Retrievers in Cyberspace™ This is a link, an established, award-winning web site.

This web site looks best 1024 pixels wide. Assault in the dog feeding shed

Photos, Comments, Stories and Sound. My Stories are Blue, Sound is Green, the Slide Show's Gold. Click a small photo for photos and comments.

The Field, The Guys and These Photos.
The field below our platoon area is littered with war debris. Sandbag bunkers returning to earth, shells half submerged in rock hard clay. I can not walk through the field without wondering about the guys who came before me. Click the small photo for photos, comments and Introduction to Twenty-Four Short Vietnam War Stories.

Practice
25th Scout Dog Platoon members. A field outside Bien Hoa. Click the small photo for photos, comments and a short story, Bien Hoa Army Base.

USO Show Time. 73 seconds, audio from the March 22, 1971 Tape. More information on The Sunday Morning Tape page.

Helicopters, My Job and Experience.
Smiles from a door gunner and pilot. Click the small photo for photographs and comments. Plus two short stories, Exciting Log and A Long Night and Leaving for Vietnam.

The Guys
It's only proper to write, every region is represented and we make a fine platoon. Four pages of photos. Click the photo for page one of The Guys, plus short stories, The Chaplain and a 50/50 Chance and Death By Our Own Hands.
Go to The Guys, page 2 of 4. A Village.
Go to The Guys, page 3 of 4. My M16 and A Charley Alpha.
Go to The Guys, page 4 of 4. Contributed photos, Bowman's story, Himmelman's story and The Claymore.
This is a link. The mother of all dog platoon web sites, Vietnam Dog Handler Association. Handler's names, E-mail addresses, (They're there; you'll have to search for them.) National War Dog Memorial campaign, links, more. The best place to find your Vietnam dog handler buddy.

My Dog Tux. The Dogs.
Like all the dogs, Tux is a lifer, he has handlers before me, he has a handler after me. It seems a little sad, but the dogs are very lucky. They get the best food, they get the best medical care. They are with their dog friends or with people who are very glad to see them.
Click the photo for page one of three. Photos, comments, and two short stories. How I Invent the Nylon Dog Lead and A Love Story.
Go to The Dogs and Guys, page 2 of 3. Great Reoccurring Fear.
Go to The Dogs and Guys, page 3 of 3. A Miracle.
This is a link. Public Law 106-446 makes DoD military working dogs available for adoption. Department of Defense Military Working Dog Center. "Adopters must sign an agreement that absolves DoD and the government of any liability ... must pay all the costs"

Camp Life
Chicken Noodle and Tux.

Click the top left photo for page one, Camp Life, plus Yecker's Guitar,
Me and Barrack Sound and the short stories: C-4, Soda and Death By A Friend's Hands.
Go to Camp Life, page 2 of 3. My First and Second Missions
Go to Camp Life, page 3 of 3. Genuine Envy and The Snake.
Go to Bob Hope, The Christmas Show. Wonder.

Vung Tau and Saigon
Quick visits, great adventures. In many ways, great places.
Click the top photo, go to Vung Tau, page 1 of 2. Also a short story, Me, the Barrack and Sergeant Smith.

Go to Vung Tau, page 2 of 2. Night Watch and Remember the Dead.
Go to Saigon, page 1 of 2. Not the Greenest Guy.
Go to Saigon, page 2 of 2. Mustache versus Brigade Headquarters.

The Sunday Morning tape page offers a slide show with sound, Scout Dog Platoon, 70-71. A cassette recording of radio broadcasts, The Sunday Morning Tape and I read five of my Twenty-Four Short Vietnam War Stories. Also, another short story, Stormy Ride.

Audio Trip to the USO; Regularly we go to the USO, Saigon. I record this trip. Click Truck Ride ... for Prologue to Audio, sound and photos. Join the guys and me on the road, 34th Scout Dog to USO, Saigon.
Prologue and Truck Ride to the USO, Saigon, page 1 of 3.
Morning at the USO and a Taxi Ride, page 2 of 3. Note and A Gunship.
Saigon Streets, Concert and Back to Scout Dog, page 3 of 3. Lucky Again.

One page of Links
I'm Gary Zemel; if you find mistakes, if you have comments, E-mail. Gary Zemel
I thank Lynn, Holly and Ruth for proofreading and encouragement. I must give credit to Stanley Karnow. I rely on his book, VIETNAM, A History, Viking Press, for dates and details.