Tan Son Nhut Association Photo of the Month

	Graphic courtesy of: Charles Penley 377th Security Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut, Air Base Saigon, Vietnam October 1967 - July 1969
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - August 1967 Lt General William W. Momyer, awards the Bronze Star Medal to Lt Col Johnson, for his action on the night of Dec 4-5, 1966. Lt Col Grove C. Johnson, passed from this life on July 26, 2007. Rest in Peace, my friend. Charles Penley
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - Auguest 1967 Major Roger P. Fox, received the nation's third highest award, the Silver Star Medal, for his actions taken on Dec 4-5, 1966. Let history take you back forty-three years ago this month. It is now 1:10 A.M., December 4, 1966, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, it is quiet as usual and then a sentry dog alerts to some movement in a very large and deep ditch, known as "Utah Ditch." It is surrounded by tree's, bushes and weed's, located on the north-west side of the installation. The handler calls in the situation report, of a large group of men, moving inside his defensive position, where this ditch is located, to Central Security Control (CSC). Almost simultaneously, other sentry dog handler's saw the same movement. Radio traffic begins to pick up. Immediately the enemy forces opens up with automatic weapons fire and mortars. The Air Base was hit by stand-off weapons of approximately 33 of these mortar rounds. The size of the Viet Cong infiltration force was estimated to have been over 75 sappers and commando's. For the first time a ground assault on Tan Son Nhut Air Base begins. (Previously, on April 13, 1966 Tan Son Nhut had been attacked with 246 Rockets and Mortars within thirteen minutes.) Once inside the perimeter, the enemy had divided into smaller groups to attack their various targets. The targets were the bomb dump, flight line and targets of opportunity. This first report from the sentry dog handler enabled the air policemen of the 377th Air Police Squadron, time to engage the enemy. A blocking force had been established and the fighting was fierce. Thanks to the quick action's of the air policemen, damage to aircraft and facilities was minimal. Aircraft destroyed--------000 Aircraft damaged---------000 US KIA-------------------------003 US WIA ------------------------015 RVN KIA-----------------------003 RVN WIA-----------------------004 Enemy KIA-------------------028 Enemy prisoners---------004 Really, it was just a moment ago for those who was there Roger P. Fox passed from this life on Dec 14, 2000 Rest in Peace, my friend. Charles Penley
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - August 1967 Story courtesy of: Charles Penley 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 A2C Alvin W. Curie, 377th Air Police Squdron, received the nation's third highest award, the Silver Star Medal, for his actions taken on Dec 4-5, 1966. It was Curie, who handled the M-60 machine gun and A2C Robert B. Kane, assistant machine gunner, who defended their assigned bunker in Delta Sector, Delta Bunker-11, on the single runway, positioned on the inner defense perimeter, all through the attack. When daylight came and the action died down a little, it was discovered there were thirteen dead enemy bodies less than 100 feet, from their bunker. Alvin W. Curie passed from this life on Dec 7, 1983. Rest in Peace, my friend. Charles Penley
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - Auguest 1967 A2C Tommy C. Poole, received the nation's third highest award, the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal for his actions taken on Dec 4-5, 1966. A2C Poole is a sentry dog handler.
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - August 1967 Story courtesy of: Bill Cummings 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 February 1966, A2C George Bevich and his sentry dog, Rex 674F, departed Loring AFB, Maine, enroute to an assignment with the 377th Security Police Squadron at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam. Some ten months later, in the early morning hours of 4 Dec 1966, George and REX were manning one of the distant perimeter K-9 posts at TSN when two Viet Cong Sapper units penetrated the perimeter of the base. George raised the alarm and engaged the enemy. He was subsequently killed by artillery/mortars in the attack and REX was wounded. At the time of his death George was just 22 years old. In raising the early warning alarm on that tragic morning at TSN with his fellow dog handlers, George's brave actions saved lives and aircraft. George was the first U.S. Air Force dog handler to be killed in Vietnam. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal. His name is inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Wash, DC, Panel 13E, Line 9. George was well-liked by all who knew him. He was our brother-in-arms. His fellow dog handlers admired and respected him a great deal, "The Bond" has not been broken, and it never will be. All remember George today with deep affection; he is not forgotten. Indeed, we lost a friend and a brother on that terrifying December morning at Tan Son Nhut. We believe that it is incumbent upon all of us not to let George's memory die. So we ask that you set aside a moment each December 4th to remember -- to think of him with his big gut-busting laugh, his life tragically cut short by a horrible war -- and who, in the end, gave his life for each of us. A2C George M. Bevich passsed from this life on Dec 4, 1966. Rest in Peace, my friend. Charles Penley
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - August 1967 A2C Arrant, Wilbert B., Jr., AF14888866, wounded in action on 4 Dec 1966, is being presented the Purple Heart at U. S. Army 3rd Field Hospital by Col Grover K. Coe, Tan Son Nhut's Base Commander. (Dec 1966) 377th Air Police Squadron Nov 1966 – Nov 1967 Worked for CMSgt Ford, “A Flight Security.”
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - August 1967 A2C Richard E. Gary, AF14833423, wounded in action on 4 Dec 1966, is being presented the Purple Heart in Lt Col Grove C. Johnson's office. Lt Col Grove C. Johnson C. Johnson, Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron is awarding the medal to A2C Gary. (Dec 1966)
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - August 1967 SSgt Habecker, Barry L., AF13546189, wounded in action on 4 Dec 1966, is being presented the Purple Heart at U. S. Army 3rd Field Hospital by Col Grover K. Coe, Tan Son Nhut's Base Commander. (Dec 1966) 377th Air Police Squadron “C Flight Security” Saigon, Vietnam
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - August 1967 A2C Davis, Lyle K., AF14861942 wounded in action on 4 Dec 1966, is being presented the Purple Heart at U. S. Army 3rd Field Hospital by Col Grover K. Coe, Tan Son Nhut's Base Commander. (Dec 1966) 377th Air Police Squadron. “C Flight Security” Saigon, Vietnam Chest wound, gunshot, on duty – condition fair.
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - August 1967 A2C Janiak, Thaddeus M., AF16792041 wounded in action on 4 Dec 1966, is being presented the Purple Heart at U. S. Army 3rd Field Hospital by Col Grover K. Coe, Tan Son Nhut's Base Commander. (Dec 1966) 377th Air Police Squadron. Saigon, Vietnam – 1966 – 1967 A2C Thaddeus M. Janial passed from this life on May 30, 1999, Demotte, IN. Rest in Peace, my friend. Charles Penley
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - August 1967 A2C Simmons, Russell., AF19824064 wounded in action on 4 Dec 1966, is being presented the Purple Heart at U. S. Army 3rd Field Hospital by Col Grover K. Coe, Tan Son Nhut's Base Commander. (Dec 1966) 377th Air Police Squadron. “C Flight Security” Saigon, Vietnam
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - August 1967 A1C Shahan, Tommy N., AF14545835 wounded in action on 4 Dec 1966, is being presented the Purple Heart at U. S. Army 3rd Field Hospital by Col Grover K. Coe, Tan Son Nhut's Base Commander. (Dec 1966) 377th Air Police Squadron. Sentry Dog Handler, handled Prince Saigon, Vietnam Mar 10, 2009, I called him on the phone and he told me that he is 73 years old. Does not have a computer. Says A2C George Bevich, who was KIA, handled REX 674F. A1C Shahan spent six months in the hospital. U. S. Army 3rd Field Hospital and Walter Reed Hospital. Shahan injuries, Chin, right arm and right leg.
	Graphic courtesy of: Lt Col Grove C. Johnson Commander, 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 August 1966 - August 1967 A2C Throneburg, Robert A., AF14840178 wounded in action on 4 Dec 1966, is being presented the Purple Heart at U. S. Army 3rd Field Hospital by Col Grover K. Coe, Tan Son Nhut's Base Commander. (Dec 1966) 377th Air Police Squadron, Saigon, Vietnam Sentry Dog Handler, handled NEMO A534. Throneburg injuries, shot in the left shoulder NEMO A534 injuries, shot in the left side of his face and the bullet exited near his right eye. NEMO A534 was the first sentry dog to be sent home to the states from Vietnam. He became a goodwill ambassador for the remainder of his life. NEMO A534 died Mar 15, 1973. Just before total darkness on December 4th, 1966 after A2C Throneburg and Nemo were posted, NEMO alerted and was released to attack the VC who had evaded earlier detection. Nemo and his handler were both wounded, but not before killing two VC. Nemo's injuries included the loss of one eye and a gunshot wounded that ripped into his nose. A sweep of the area by the Quick Response Team (QRT) met with negative results. Using additional sentry dog teams, the security forces located and killed four more VC. A second sweep with the dog teams resulted in the discovery of four additional VC who were hiding underground. The remaining enemy forces were soon killed by other security police. Before help could arrive, Nemo, an 85 pound German shepherd, although severely wounded, protected his handler by crawling across his body, and guarding him against anyone who dared to come near. When help arrived, they were able to convince Nemo to leave his handler, who was then given first aid. Nemo, suffering from a gunshot wound to his face, and the lost of his right eye, was relieved of sentry dog duties. The 377th SPS was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat Valor for its "heroic valor," against the Viet Cong infiltration force.
	Graphic courtesy of: Bill Cummings 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 Charles Penley 377th Air Police Squadron Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, Vietnam APO 96307 NEMO A534, is the USAF's most famous sentry dog, from the Vietnam War, died on Mar 15, 1973, Lackland AFB, Texas of old age. Rest in Peace, my friend.