Dogs
were serving human beings before recorded history, especially in the
role of protector and war dog. In 2006 the Alabama War Dogs Memorial
Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 non profit organization was formed to formally
recognize and pay tribute to military working dogs (war dogs) and their
Alabama handlers by erecting a monument in their honor and telling their
story. The Board of Directors is diverse, comprised of men and women,
Veterans and non-Veterans, military working dog handlers, and business
owners: all who share a common love of dogs and a patriotic spirit for
our country. In
part, the AWDM Foundation’s mission is to raise sufficient funds with
which to establish and maintain a significant memorial dedicated to past
and present Alabama war dogs and their handlers, the dog teams that
contributed to the well-being of Alabamians serving in distant lands.
The proposed memorial (Figure One) to the dog-teams that went in
harm’s way, indifferent to their suffering and life to protect
American fighting men and women, will be called the “Alabama War
Dogs Memorial”. The
Memorial will be erected at the USS Alabama Battleship Park in Mobile,
Alabama. After
a national search, Clark Memorials, Birmingham, AL was chosen as our
monument partner and contracted to create and install the monument which
consists of three distinct elements. The foundation element is a gray
granite block approximately six feet long, four and a half feet high,
and four feet deep and weighs in over seven thousand pounds, three plus
tons. The bronze figures, add an additional two and a half feet to the
overall height of the monument, represent a war dog team on point; the
depicted dog is catching scent, the dog-handler is behind the dog
watching for the alert-the silent life saving signal-followed by the
kneeling slack man whose job it is to protect the dog-team and pass the
word along to the troops coming up behind. The six figure scene is
titled “The Alert” and portrays an actual combat patrol led by the
Alabamian war dog team of Little Joe and his handler Charles “Wade”
Franks The
black granite slab in front of the monument contains the boot prints of
a Vietnam Veteran dog handler and paw prints of a war dog; this element
is called “On Point” and permits the viewer to stand on-point in the
boot prints of boots that were actually worn in Vietnam, in combat, by a
decorated dog handler. The main tribute, donor list, and war dog and
handlers plaques finish off the AWDM. In
addition to the AWDM monument, the Board is actively engaged in raising
funds through public and corporate contributions to create and maintain
a Military Working Dog/Police Dog/Service Dog Retirement Center in
Central Alabama (Figure Two). We define a service
dog as any dog breed specifically
trained for a specific role to assist humans in performing difficult
and/or dangerous tasks and/or living a better
life; the five main
categories are:
A concept team is currently being formed to draft the initial specifications to achieve and ensure the proposed Service Dog Retirement Center of Alabama will be a dog-friendly environment where service dogs not wanted and/or adopted can live out the rest of their life in serenity and dignity surrounded with compassion, care, and companionship. Suitable service dogs will be reconditioned and trained for public adoption. The retirement center will accept all service dogs on a national basis. Service dogs will reside in communicable indoor quarters with attached outdoor runs and have daily access to a stimulating, self-exercise area; state of the art veterinary medical care will also be provided. Upon passing on, a dog will be laid to rest with dignity in the on-premise cemetery and in the company of their buddies. AWDM
Foundation is also dedicated to creating a statewide awareness by
telling the story about military working dogs and their handlers,
especially the role they play in saving lives in time of peace and war.
A war dog handler heads each of our presentation teams and when
possible, a representative dog is present. Our “Alabama War Dogs”
program is patriotic in nature and customized to audiences; it’s ideal
for schools, churches and other entities. Audiences across Alabama have
found the program entertaining, educational, and energizing; however, a
box of tissue should be on hand. Our special school program is called
Patriot-Pennies and provides an opportunity for students to donate
pennies to the memorial. To schedule a presentation team for your event
or meeting visit our web site at www.awdm.org.
Further,
the AWDM Foundation is an official partner of the Veterans History
Project overseen by the Library of Congress, and as such records
Veterans’ stories and collects related photos and memorabilia to
forward to the Library of Congress archives; each Veteran receives a
copy of their recording. Though we seek and record all Veterans stories,
the AWDM Foundation places a special emphasis on recording the stories
of Alabama military working dog handlers. This year the Foundation is
teaming up with Samford University and its students to record
Veterans’ stories; please contact us if you are a Veteran and/or know
of a Veteran who wants his or her story recorded for prosperity. The
Alabama War Dog
Memorial Foundation started with a simple dream, a
memorial that quickly expanded into multiple programs and projects to
honor service dogs and all Alabama Veterans.
The AWDM Foundation also does presentations for your society,
group or church. Please contact John O’Malley for additional information, to
volunteer your services, and/or make a contribution. John can be reached
at 205-995-8495 or jom@strategicvisionsinc.com.
Or you can contact Bill Wigginton at williamrebecca@earthlink.net
, or call 205-668-9957. We
need your help. We are
trying to find all the Military Dog Handlers that are from Alabama,
lived in Alabama, or was stationed in Alabama.
We have identified 34 Alabama Dog Handlers from Alabama, and have
been contacted by only a few of them. We
have also found seven members of the VDHA that were killed in Vietnam
that were from Alabama, and they will be placed on a separate plaque on
the Alabama War Dog Monument dedicated to the “Honor Roll” they are: Freddie
Lee Johnson, U.S. Army, 12-07-1977, Vietnam James
Oliver White, U.S. Army, 01-22-1968, Vietnam Charles
Douglas Drysdale, U.S.M.C, 01-26-1969, Vietnam Clarence
Creaghead, U.S. Army, 05-22-1969, Vietnam James
C Tosh, III, U.S. Army, 08-21-1969, Vietnam William
Allison Anderson, U.S. Army, 11-06-1969, Vietnam Carter
Parker, Jr., U.S. Army, 10-24-1970, Vietnam If
you have any information about any Military Working Dog handlers from
Alabama, or these seven brave men on our honor roll, please send it to
me by email or at 112 Spring Street, Calera, AL 35040. Thank
You,
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