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John Drexelius was student
in Class 23116 January 1967. I was contacted by him at which time I
asked John to send information on his K9 life. The following email
was received from him telling us of his time where he trained with
Ruff at Lackland and working him at a Nike Site near Chicago and how
he was re-united with him in Korea. John currently live in Old Forge
New York. Thanks John for sharing your pictures and memories of time
spent in the K9 world.
________________________________________________________________
____________________________________
 John in
1999
_______________________________
Hi Vernon;
I am sending you a short history of the 820th MP unit, and a
short comentary of my time in the Army from Lackland to the time I
got out. Also I am sending some more pictures, one being the
class photo at lackland.
820 TH MILITARY POLICE PLATOON (DOG), UNIT
HISTORY
Summary
of unit history for 9 November 1944 to December 31,
1969.
Unit
was constituted, assigned to and activated as the 820 TH Military
Police Company in the European theatre of operations on 9 November
1944.
The
unit served in France from 9, November 1944 to 21 December
1944.
Unit
then moved to Luxembourg, Germany 21 December to 9 March 1945.
On
2 February 1948 the unit was re-designated as the 820 TH
Constabulary Military Police Platoon and served in Germany with this
designation until 15 September 1951.
The
820 TH Military Police Platoon was then at Fort William D. Davis,
Canal Zone 20, August 1954 to 2, December
1954.
On
25 January 1955 the unit served at Fort Buchanan Puerto
Rico.
On
25 December 1959 the unit served in the Pacific Command for the
training of Sentry Dogs and handlers thru 1969. Its physical location was in
South Korea outside of Seoul at Camp Mercer. We had approximately 50 dogs
on hand at all times to be trained and matched up with students
going thru the training program. When necessary dogs were
shipped into us from the United States thru
Quam.
I
do not know what happened to the unit after the above date, I
suspect that it was deactivated shortly after 1969.
_____________________________________________________________________
My Comentary
When eight of us received orders at the end of
our MP School training at Fort Gordon Georgia; the orders simply
said MOS9510. None of
the cadre knew what that MOS was; we waited a half-day for them to
find out. When they
informed us that it was Sentry Dog School at Lackland Air Force Base
in San Antonio Texas it was more than a pleasant surprise for I had
always been extremely fond of Dogs.
When we arrived at Lackland we did not know
what to expect; as is usual in the Army the worst part is the
unknown. Our quarters
at Lackland were extraordinary and much more than expected. I walk down to the Kennel
area and was amazed by the sheer number of dogs. One of my first duties
besides training was to feed the new dog arrivals, which at that
time was an area all unto itself. I remember walking thru the
area petting and feeding them, they looked so lost.
The school itself was an experience that I
shall never forget, the training was so professional, as the cadre
said, it’s not the dog that is being trained, it was us. The eight-week course was
such a great time for bonding with our dogs. My dog “Ruff 87x5” was not
only my protector but also my great pal.
When training ended the Air Force did
everything they could to place us as close to home as possible, in
my case it was at Battery C, at a Nike site in the heart of
Chicago. My home was
Buffalo N.Y., but all things considered it was pretty close. After about five months I
was made Chief Dog Handler, along with that I received the rank of
Sgt. In March of 1968 I received orders for Korea, very bittersweet,
for this meant I could not take Ruff with me. My last night on post was
very difficult; saying goodbye to Ruff was one of the hardest things
I have had to do.
I arrived in Korea and was for a short time
assigned to the 727th MP Battalion, a regular MP
unit. While there I
went to Kimpo to visit the 820th MP Dog School and spoke
with the Commanding Officer, we hit it off right away, and he told
me to put in for a transfer.
In July of 1968 I was reassigned to the
820th. I
gained an extra stripe while there; making me a Staff Sergeant. I was responsible for
anything and everything, it kept me busy helping to run the
unit. In May of 1969,
the shipment order came across my desk for fifty dogs coming in from
Guam, as I went thru the cards I noticed Ruff’s name and tattoo
number, I went to the First Sergeant and the Commander telling them
of my find. They told
me that although officially I could not have a dog assigned to me
they would assign Ruff to one of the other unit members, and that I
could choose him. I
chose Sgt. Neillson, a good friend who looked after Ruff with all
his heart.
The day the shipment of dogs came in I went to
the kennel area at Camp Mercer, the cages were stacked two high, as
I entered the kennel Ruff’s cage was in motion, as I came through
the gates he must have picked up my scent, for he was so animated in
that cage. I knew that
I had to take it easy and take precaution; after all it had been 14
months since I had left Chicago. Truth be told, it was like
Ruff and I had never been apart, I don’t think I ever got a face
licking like the day he arrived.
When it was time for me to leave Korea and the
Army in September 1969, again another parting of the ways for Ruff,
and me I was given the opportunity to personally choose the student
that would take him. I
met with the students, and in the group I found a great match for
Ruff, he loved dogs and accepted my offer to take Ruff. I had an opportunity that
not everyone gets when parting company; to choose his next
handler. Again that
difficult last night before you leave, I took Ruff for a final walk
down to the training area and said my goodbye, the last hug and his
last lick of my face. I
don’t have to tell any of you what that is like, the tears just
naturally flow.
I am now 61 years old, and will never forget
Ruff, and the great opportunity the Army gave me to work within the
Sentry Dog Program.
______________________________________________________________________
Vernon, feel free to use or not use any of
this, as you see fit.
Respectfully,
John Drexelius
__________________________________________________________________________________
The following photos of the 820th
MP K9 Platoon have been provided by John
RUFF 87X5
_____________________________________
820th MP Platoon Sentry Dog School
Headquarters
____________________________________________
Training - Demo
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John and Ruff
_____________________________________________________
Yearbook 1969
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The following photographs were supplied by Paul
Esposito
All photos were taken at Camp Carroll Korea
between Feb 1965 and Mar 1966. I arrived at the 820th In
Jan 65 as a PFC and left one year later as a Sgt E-5. I later went
on to become a CID Agent and retired in 1980 with the rank of CW2.
The time I spent with the 820th holds some great memories
for me.
My CO at the time was 2LT Michael Gersten. He
later went on to become a JAG Officer. I met him again in 1975 in
Korea and he was a Major at that time. The last time I saw him was
in 1976.
Some of the other people I
remember were SGT JB Copland; SGT George Lutz and SFC Singleterry.
Sgt Esposito Re-Up with MWD Rex
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