A United States Air Force Vietnam K9 Warrior Who Never Came Home

Here is the story....

I was Lindy’s handler in Vietnam from 1972-1973. Lindy 68M7 never came home - and here is my story:

December 2015 was 43 years since I walked my K-9 partner LINDY 68M7 to his death.

As the war came to an end we were given a choice: turn our K9's over to the South Vietnamese Army, or put them down, for they were excess equipment and would not return to the United States.

It was our sole decision to make – at least they gave us that.

My decision was painful, but swift.

LINDY would never work under the leash held by anyone other than an American Service Member – never.

It seems like it happened just yesterday....

I fell into the line that had formed by the metal building with Lindy by my side.

I watched as a K-9 team would enter the building, and a handler would exit with an empty leash – I watched this scene repeat itself over and over again.

Then, it was my turn. I entered the building with Lindy, lifted him up and placed him on the cold steel table.

As they prepared him, I moved directly in front of him and took his head into my hands and looked into his eyes.

I never broke contact with our line of sight – I told him I would never forget him and that I would see him again – my partner, my K9, LINDY then closed his eyes and left me.

He would have given his life for me, but instead, I just took his from him.

At that very moment, part of me went down with him.

When you’re 20 years old, in a war zone, and you have to walk your K-9 partner to his death after all you have been through together, it shakes you to the inner core.

The hurt, the guilt, and the sadness still haunts me to this very day; and on that dark day, except for a few handlers, no one else really cared.

Nothing more need be said.

SFC Alfred Brown, United States Army Retired 1995
SGT, United States Air Force 1971-1974
377th SPS K9, Tan Son Nhut & Bien Hoa AB
South Vietnam April 1972 - March 1973.