Photo Above Top Row - Left To Right: TSgt Tom Swartz, Kennelmaster; Lt. Col. John Cady, Chief of Veterinary Service, Thailand; and seven Thai Military Officials Bottom Row - Left To Right: A1C Peter Christiano & Lita 9M71, A1C Robert Stillabower & Ara 9M72, A1C Carl Newcomb & Tina 9M69, A1C Harold Horn & Storie 9M70, and A1C Joe Balboa & Kelly 9M73
In July of 1968, the United States Air Force presented the Prime Minister of Thailand, Thanom Kittikachornn, five grown female dogs and four puppies as a gift of appreciation from the United States of America. The females arrived at U-Tapao, Royal Thai Air Base (RTAB) on March 24, 1968. The puppies were born on April 25, 1968, as Sentry Dog Lita (9M71) delivered a litter of five (three males and two females) at the Security Police kennels at U-Tapao. One of the puppies died on May 14, 1968. This was to assist the Thai military in starting a dog program. This was also the first time that our military procured dogs for a breeding program. The dogs were to be used to establish a Royal Thai Palace Guard Kennels at Korat RTAB, Bangkok, Thailand. At the turnover ceremony, held at U-Tapao, the Thai military officials accepted the gift of out canine warriors. The dogs arrived in country with the first shipment of military dogs to Thailand. It was rumored that the "gift" was used to attain Thai permission to use sentry dogs on the military bases.
Above Photos Courtesy of Dave Broeker
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