Canine Warrior: How a Vietnam Scout Dog Inspired a National Monument

During his second tour as a US Army infantryman during the Vietnam War, John Burnam became a scout-dog handler. On combat missions, he learned of the dogs' amazing abilities: With superior senses of sight, hearing, and smell, the dogs were highly skilled at finding enemy caches of ammunition and supplies, hidden base camps, and concealed tunnel entrances, and they saved countless lives by enabling American troops to avoid booby traps and ambushes.

By 1983, when Burnam retired from military service, he had developed a compelling interest in the history of America's war dogs. Recognizing the invaluable service of the dogs and their handlers, he became passionate about the idea of a monument to honor them. When he launched the project, he couldn't imagine what a lengthy process it would be, but thanks to his efforts and those of his colleagues, the National Monument for U.S. Military Working Dog Teams has been built at Lackland Air Force Base, near San Antonio, Texas, where all of America's military dog teams are trained.