"We actually had a bounty on our head-- the dog. And they said, get the dog first, and the handler second. All they had to do is cut that tattoo out of that dog's ear and they might get a few more bowls of rice or whatever. But the bounty wouldn't be that much. But then they could cut our insignia off of our uniform and they'd get a double."
Description of Interview:
Jerry Suitor was drafted in 1966. After basic training and AIT at Fort Polk, he trained as a dog handler at Fort Benning before being sent to Vietnam. He joined the 38th Scout Dog Platoon, 25th Infantry Division headquarters at Cu Chi where he took over “reading” a German shepherd named Paddy whose handler had been killed just weeks before his arrival. He developed an excellent working relationship with that dog: “And my dog actually has saved me from walking into punji pits, and a booby-trapped grenade before that. I had a lot of faith in that dog. I do. We are a team.” He worked with the Cav, the 4/9th Infantry (Manchus), the 2/12th Infantry (Warriors), and the 2/27th, but mostly with the 1/27th Infantry (Wolfhounds). Mr. Suitor describes the dangers of walking point with a dog, the horrors of friendly fire, the ingenuity of the Vietnamese people (and the versatility of Coke can), the unsurpassed greatness of ‘60s music, the bonds of combat brotherhood, and his pride in having fought for his country.
Key Words: Fort Polk, Louisiana, Tiger Land, Fort Puke, Fort Benning, Georgia, dog handler, 38th Scout Dog Platoon, Tet Offensive, Hoc Mon Bridge, Kon Tum, Katum, Lucky Hotel, Trang Bang, friendly fire, 2/12th Infantry, ETS (Expiration of Term of Service), Vietnam Dog Handlers Association, Dog Memorial
Key Names: Lieutenant Ford, Sergeant First Class Billy Joe Parrish, Specialist Four Rodney E. Marrufo
Unit:
38th Scout Dog Platoon, 25th Infantry Division
Read the Complete Transcript of this Interview.