That night, three sentry dogs, Rebel, Toby and Cubby, would die in action and one airman, George Bevich, would also be killed in action. Overall, K-9 and security forces would kill more than a dozen enemy in that engagement at Tan Son Nhut. The others were killed by forces responding to Throneburg’s call for backup. The Air Force would later say that Throneburg and Nemo killed two from an element that had engaged them. He was credited with saving Throneburg’s life. He was five years old when he returned from the war having spent eight months in recovery. Nemo recovered from his wounds at Tan Son Nhut and was later retired from active duty. Throneburg earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal. Throneburg was airlifted to Japan where he underwent multiple surgeries and recovered for seven months. The K-9 team was briefly reunited at the base hospital, but the two never saw each other again. His right eye was removed as a result of the gunshot wound. Nemo required skin grafts and a tracheotomy to help him breathe. Nemo was taken to the base veterinarian and he was in “bad shape,” according to the base vet. A former K-9 handler was finally able to get Nemo off of Throneburg so he could be medically treated and taken to the hospital. Nemo lay atop Throneburg guarding him as sentry dogs were taught to do. Nemo continued to engage the enemy and that allowed Throneburg time to call for backup.Īs Throneburg started to fade out of consciousness, Nemo came back out of the darkness, severely wounded, and crawled on top of him. Throneburg was shot in his shoulder and fell to the ground wounded and Nemo took a bullet on the nose while he was charging at the enemy. The Viet Cong soldier fired several shots from his AK-47. Nemo’s ears shot up a second time only this time Throneburg turned loose the 95-pound Nemo. It was his first time in combat after being in country for five months. Throneburg engaged the enemy soldier firing his M-16. 4, Nemo detected someone and almost instantly the intruder started to flee. The military working dog team of Throneburg and Nemo were charged with finding the enemy and killing them.Ībout 0300 hours on Dec. The base had been attacked by a barrage of mortar fire and more than 60 enemy were dispersed around the base trying to breach the perimeter. Air Force Airman Bob Throneburg was on patrol with his K-9 Nemo at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam. Here are six military dogs you should know. military credits them with contributing positively to their respective military campaigns. Defense Department data, we’ve narrowed down a short list of military dogs everyone should know. When coupled with a handler who is a part of a larger team, the dog comes to understand that his or her role is to sniff out bombs or drugs and protect those who are a part of his or her pack. Like most pack animals, dogs try to find their role in their packs, contributing to a group and always putting the greater good of the group over themselves. If there is a creature on earth that is completely selfless, it is a dog.
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