War Dogs - Airborne War Dogs - Vietnam
US Army - 187th Infantry - Airborne
A Shau - Hamburger Hill - Hue
Measures - 4 x 3.4 inches (10 x 8.5 cms)
The 187th Infantry served as part of the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, operating across I Corps in some of the most difficult terrain of the war, including the A Shau Valley, the area west of Hue, the lowlands around Phu Bai, and the mountainous border regions along Laos.
Their missions involved air-mobile assaults, long patrols through triple-canopy jungle, search-and-destroy operations, and continuous contact with well-entrenched North Vietnamese forces.
The regiment’s companies worked from dispersed firebases and were regularly inserted by helicopter into steep, heavily forested terrain where trails were mined, visibility was limited, and enemy units moved freely through the hills.
War Dog teams assigned to the 187th were a constant part of these operations. Each team consisted of a handler and a trained scout dog used to detect enemy scent, recently occupied positions, movement along hidden trails, weapons caches, and booby-trapped approaches.
The dogs worked out front of the point element, providing early warning in terrain where sight and sound detection were almost useless. Their training allowed them to pick up airborne scent, identify disturbed ground, and respond to subtle signs of nearby enemy presence long before a patrol would otherwise be aware.
In day-to-day operations the teams guided companies through dense jungle, alerted patrols to ambushes, sniffed out concealed bunkers, and located tripwires or mined entrances along narrow ridge paths.
They were used in night movements, perimeter security around firebases, and follow-up searches after engagements. Because the 187th frequently operated in remote, enemy-controlled zones, handlers and their dogs often spent long periods in the field under harsh conditions. Many dogs were wounded while working point, yet continued their tasks even under fire, giving infantry units precious seconds of warning that saved lives.
Although remembered in connection with major battles, including the fighting in the A Shau Valley, the War Dog teams were part of almost every major operation undertaken by the 187th in Vietnam.
Their contribution was constant, practical, and vital: reducing surprise contact, identifying hidden threats, and helping infantry move safely through some of the most dangerous terrain American forces encountered in the war.
For your kind Consideration.
Cheesecloth backed Vietnam War patch - Filler - Repro - made for collecting, swapping, made during conflict and through to mid-late 1980's in Vietnam - Pieces were made in Vietnam.
More recent, similar pieces are felt backed (I do not sell felt back) - if you have any questions about anagrams used, translations, unit location etc please ask – I am always happy to answer.