Vernon: What a great website you have. Although I have seen several that deal with military working dogs I really haven't seen one like yours dedicated to "Sentry Dogs" and "Dogmen". As a young cop at Suffolk County AFB, Westhampton Beach, NY I repeatedly requested assignment to the K-( unit and about 1963 my request was granted. I broke in on my dog Mambo with meat from the chow hall and candy bars. Later I received formal training from the mobile dog trainers sent to our base from lackland. After we put Mambo Down about 1965 I went to Lackland and picked up Syd who later went on a one way trip to Vietnam after I had left for the Philippines.

Anyway I was kennelmaster at Suffolk County and have some old photos of the cops and dogs that were in my unit. If you are interested I would gladly contribute scanned copies for use on your site.

Our mobile school instructors were Max Youngman and Harvey Boushman. I have their photos as well.

Please let me know if you would like to have copies.

Rich rtinneny@aol.com

Brief Background

Entered USAF July 27, 1960 from Philadelphia following graduation from Roman Catholic High School. Was in Flight 841, 3701 BMTS at Lackland. assigned directly to 52^nd Air Base Squadron, Suffolk County AFB, Westhampton Beach, Long Island, NY as an Air Policeman. Worked security for F 101B Voodoos, Main Gate, Base Patrol, Town Patrol and Sabotage Alert Team duties prior to being assigned to the K-9 unit in 1962.  Completed the Sentry Dog Handler Course via the Mobile Training Team out of the Dog School at Lackland AFB in 1962.  My first and longest handled dog was Mambo who was about 8years old and a veteran of numerous handlers when I was assigned to him. After working with him several years we had to put him to sleep.  I went to the school at Lackland and retrained and brought back to Suffolk County AFB my second dog Syd who was a young spitfire. After I left the unit Syd went to Vietnam with a handler named Hinchey. I served as Kennel Master managing the police handlers and dogs at Suffolk County Air Force Base from 1963-65.

Following my tour at Suffolk County and my K-9 and police career I did several tours at Clark AB, PI. Cape Kennedy, England AFB, Recruiting in Philadelphia, The bomb Disposal School Indian Head MD, Zweibrucken AB Germany and finished my 28 ½ year career in February 1989 as Associate Vice President, Community College of The Air Force.

My days at Suffolk County Air Force Base as a Sentry Dog Handler were some of the best of my career.

Thanks CMSgt Tinneny for sharing with all of us your days in K9