View complete article and references at Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina at: https://docsouth.unc.edu/commland/monument/242

Description: The memorial is an L-shaped bench made of polished dark granite resting atop a base of light granite. Although the marker is meant to honor all dog soldiers that served in Vietnam, this marker memorializes a specific dog named Bernie. Both the bench and back of the marker contain carved images of Bernie, a German Shepard. The back contains an inscription honoring dogs that served and were killed in Vietnam.

Images: Inscription on bench | Inscription on back

Inscription:
Back: BERNIE / 74 M8 / DOG SOLDIERS IN VIETNAM / OVER 4000 CANINE SOLDIERS / SERVED IN VIETNAM'_ 281 DOGS / WERE OFFICIALLY LISTED AS / KILLED IN ACTION'_ ONLY ABOUT / 200 OF THE DOGS THAT SERVED / WERE RETURNED TO THE U.S'_. / IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THESE / DOGS AND THEIR HANDLERS / SAVED OVER 10,000 LIVES'_ / SSGT DONNIE TAYLOR, / BERNIE'S HANDLER / DEDICATED NOVEMBER 11, 2005

Bench: CANINE SOLDIERS

Dedication date: 11/11/2005

Subject notes: Although dogs have been used by the U.S. military since World War I, the Vietnam War saw the most use of dogs in combat. A list created by NIH Veterinarian Dr. Howard Hayes confirms 3,747 dogs used in Vietnam, although estimates of the actual number of dogs used is around 4,900 between 1964 and 1975. No official records were kept until 1968. Of the thousands of dogs in Vietnam, only around 200 returned, and none returned to civilian life. As many as 10,000 handlers served in Vietnam with these dogs.

Location: The marker is located in Rock Quarry Park, directly south of the tennis courts and east of the Museum of Life and Science bike path. Rock Quarry Park is located off Murray Avenue.

Landscape: The marker appears in a wooded area of the park, surrounded by foliage and embedded in the ground.

City: Durham

County: Durham

Subjects: Animal Monuments, Vietnam War