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PFC Gordon Leroy "Lee" Currier, Jr.
and his K9 Partner "Satch"
212th MP Company (Sentry Dog), 95th MP Battalion
89th MP Group, 18th MP Brigade

Both Were Killed In Action ~ 31 January 1968 ~ Vietnam


They Say,
our deaths are not ours,
they are yours,
they will mean what
you make of them.

They say,
we leave you our deaths,
give them some meaning.

Archibald MacLeish
poet and WWI
veteran.

Click on each ribbon for criteria

If you served with PFC Currier his brother would appreciate hearing from you.

Joe Currier
309 NW Lincolnwood Dr
Lees Summit, MO 64063
Home 816-525-3894
Office 816-525-3100

Email

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     PFC Currier trained with the 981st MP Company (Sentry Dog), at Fort Carson, Colorado, and at Lackland AFB, Texas. The company deployed to Vietnam in December 1967, as a separate platoon, and joined the 212th MP Company in Vietnam as their 4th Platoon.

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     During the early morning start of the Vietnamese Tet New Years Offensive on Wednesday, 31 January 1968, PFC Gordon Leroy Currier, Jr. age 22, of Independence, Missouri, was walking his post with his German Sheppard K9 partner, Satch (M164).

They were responsible for patrolling a section of the perimeter of the large 3rd Ordnance Ammunition Supply Depot located in the Long Binh Military Post.

     This early morning PFC Curries would face a K9 Handlers greatest concern when through the early morning darkness behind a  heavy mortar attack a large Viet Cong force penetrated the perimeter area of Tower #13 at his sector. PFC Currier and his K9 partner Satch defended their position against the initial assault, and as it quickly grew in intensity they were forced to move back to the base of a perimeter watch tower where they set up to again confront the oncoming enemy. Armed only with his M-16 rifle and a 45. caliber side arm, the attackers quickly overwhelmed their position and both died from small arms fire.

     As reported by CPT Thomas Roberts (COL Ret), Commanding Officer, 212th MP Company, November 1967 to June 1968, and 2LT Gary Freedman, Platoon Leader, 212th MP Company, December 1967 to December 1968. Photographs courtesy of Joe Currier.
2 May 1968 The Currier family received a letter from Major General Kenneth G. Wickham, Adjuant General, Department Of The Army, offering them his sympathy in the loss of their son and notifying them that PFC Currier was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service, the Purple Heart Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

--- General / Personal ---
Last name: CURRIER
First name: GORDON LEROY JR
Home of Record (official): INDEPENDENCE
State (official): MO
Date of Birth: Thursday, January 24, 1946
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Single

--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: PFC
Serial Number: 55986184
Component: Selective Service
Pay grade: E3
Military Occupational Specialty code: 95B10
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Wednesday, December 6, 1967
Date of Casualty: Wednesday, January 31, 1968
Age at time of loss: 22
Casualty type: (A3) Hostile, died while missing
Reason: Gun, small arms fire (Ground casualty)
Country: South Vietnam
Province: Bien Hoa
The Wall: Panel 36E - Row 004

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Letter from CPT James T. Robert, Jr., Commanding Officer, 212th MP Company

June 23, 2006

SFC Chad Benansky
Kennel Master
241st Military Police Detachment Military Working Dog Section
Directorate of Emergency Services
Building 6619, Mapes Road
Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755

Dear Sergeant First Class Benansky:

     It is fitting that your working dog kennel is to be named for PFC Gordon L. Currier, Jr., and his dog Satch. PFC Currier, a member of the 212th Military Police Company (Sentry Dog), represented the very finest of military policemen in the 18th Military Police Brigade.

     As his company commander, I was truly amazed at his daily courage and bravery in face of the unknown. He represented a small, chosen group of soldiers who had the special qualities of intelligence, calm decision-making, individualism, and reliability. Night after night, he and his fellow warriors of the first platoon would stand guard mount, place their dogs on cargo vehicles and move to their duty locations on the perimeter of the 13 mile oval road around the ordnance battalion’s Long Binh ammunition storage depot. There, they would walk their posts alone in the dark of the night. Armed only with their M-16s, a 45 caliber pistol, a helmet radio that seldom worked, and their best friends, their dogs, they searched for the enemy. Their mission, as individual teams, was to deter, detect and report the location of enemy sappers trying to penetrate, map and destroy the armaments that allowed our infantry, armor and artillerymen to continually defeat the VC and North Vietnamese in battle. On a one on one stealth encounter, they never lost!

     On the night of January 31, 1968, PFC Gordon Currier was, unknowingly, at the apex of the VC attack. The enemy had found a gully to move their force to within assault distance of the perimeter. Their objective was to attack and enter at the point of a corner of the depot. Fortune was with the VC as the wind was flowing toward them. They attacked first with mortars to destroy the perimeter wire and then by assault through the opening. While under the mortar barrage at his position, Gordon Currier moved to a prepared fighting position and fought back until overwhelmed by an estimated 20-30 enemy soldiers. By then, fighting was general throughout the area and the TET Offensive had begun.

     PFC Currier was one of those quiet professionals in our Company. He did his duty superbly. He was always dependable. He loved his dog, Satch and together they were a wonderful team. He was a special soldier. He was a hero to each of us.

     My very best to Gordon Currier’s family and to those who are the very best of the Army’s finest soldiers, the Military Police Working Dog Handlers.

Sincerely,

James T. Roberts, Jr.
United States Marshal for the
Southern District of Georgia

 

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28 June 2006 "New Kennel at Fort George Meade, Maryland, honors fallen heroes." A working dog kennel was dedicated as the new Gordon L. Currier Jr. Military Working Dog Kennel, a home to four military working dogs that patrol and support Fort Meade and, at times, support the President of the United States.

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Email from SGT Paul Vanhoy, 3rd Ordnance Battalion, Long Binh, Vietnam 1967-1968

     I was with the 78th Ordnance Detachment, 3rd Ordnance Battalion, Long Binh Post from January 1967 - August 1968. Our Detachment was next door to the Dog Platoon as we called them. I was there the night of January 31st 1968 when the NVA and VC came over the wire into the Long Binh Depot in a massive attack.

     Gordon Stood his ground and then more. He didn't retreat but instead did his duty and held his ground until he was hit several times by Small Arms fire. He & his dog were found the next day When we had finally pushed the Enemy back and out of the depot.

      His actions were of the highest order and his loyalty to his Country was outstanding. His death had a great impact upon everyone that knew him. He and his dog shall never be forgotten nor his deeds. His name is etched in Granite both at the Memorial in Washington D.C. and our hearts.


Sincerely,


Former SGT Paul Vanhoy Section Chief 78th Reno Detachment, 10 May 2007

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New kennel at Fort Meade named after PFC Currier

      When Joe Currier of Lee's Summit, Mo., remembers his brother Gordon, he reflects on his brother's courage and ultimate sacrifice.

"My brother was a shy person," Mr. Currier said. "He loved his family, baseball, popcorn, and his dog … not a day goes by that I don't think of him."

    PFC Gordon L. Currier Jr. and his German Shepherd K-9 partner, Satch, were killed in the Vietnam War while performing sentry duties at the Long Binh Military Post in January 1968.

Now the heroic partners are honored through the dedication of a new kennel facility at Fort George G. Meade.

     During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Col. Kenneth McCreedy, installation commander at Fort Meade, recognized Pfc. Currier's father, Gordon Currier Sr. and his son Joe, while presenting the family with a plaque commemorating the kennel's dedication.

"We hope that you know that your son and brother will be honored here always," Col. McCreedy said.

The new Gordon L. Currier Jr. Military Working Dog Kennel is now home to four military working dogs that patrol and support Fort Meade and, at times, support the President of the United States.

Click on to enlarge
Click on to enlarge

Designed by Fort Meade's kennel master, Sgt. 1st Class Chad Benansky, the kennel is a state-of-the art facility made to support the training, comfort and health of its canine residents.

The kennel has air conditioning, heated floors, a training area, obedience course and even a bathtub. A smooth floor coating protects the dogs' paws.

     Completed in February, the project took more than a year to build. The kennel can hold up to ten dogs, a capacity that will eventually be reached as more dogs arrive each year. The building, which costs $1 million to build, is also designed to be added to if necessary.

Military dogs began living at Fort Meade two years ago. Dogs were housed in a temporary building that was little more than a storage area.

The new facility is no ordinary doghouse-and these are no ordinary dogs.

"These guys are the first responders to the President of the United States," said Col. Arnoldo Claudio, chief of staff and Provost Marshal of the Military District of Washington.

Mostly German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois breeds, the war dogs are trained to patrol and detect explosives in support of anti-terrorism efforts and the Military District of Washington. Their mission, and that of their handlers, include protecting the president, vice president and chief of staff.

"We ask them to approach a bomb when nobody else wants to," Col. Claudio said. "That's a huge responsibility."

It was that responsibility that the late Pfc. Currier, of Independence, Mo., knew well and gave his life to protect.

On Jan. 31, 1968, Pfc. Currier and Satch were sent on a detection mission when they were overtaken by some 20 to 30 enemy soldiers firing small arms in a skirmish that marked the beginning of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam.

During World War II, war dog training began under the Army Quartermaster Corps. In 1951, the Military Police Corps took responsibility for the training and use of the dogs who have served in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Afghanistan. Today, approximately 150 dogs are serving Army-wide, with 108 dogs serving in Iraq.

Being a top dog isn't easy. Each day, the dogs receive obedience training and train on the obstacle course behind their kennel, with and without their handlers. They are taught special commands and how to negotiate different types of environments and terrain. Their rigorous program is designed and overseen by Staff Sgt. Warren Bias Jr., who is plans and training NCO.

"The dogs exercise every day," said Sgt. Bias. "A lot of running, jumping, searching … even water training."

Originally trained at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, military working dogs are given one rank higher than their handler to discourage any potential abuse by their handler. But if the handler is promoted, so is the dog.

Upon promotion, "He'll (the dog) get a big steak," Staff Sgt. Bias grinned.

During the dedication ceremony, Col. Claudio said he sees the kennel as more than just a home for the dogs.

"This is not just a kennel facility," he said. "This is a war camp … it has to do with saving lives. Making sure we're ready and capable of doing our mission at the highest level of service."

One of the dogs at Fort Meade is Junior, a 3-year-old longhaired German shepherd trained to patrol and detect explosives. Despite all the tough training, there's a soft side to the loyal canine warrior. He often goes with his handler, Sgt. Scott Warner, to the Post Library summer reading program. During career day at West Meade Elementary, Sgt. Sgt. Warner and Junior stop by for a visit. Sgt Warner said that it's good for the kids to learn about the dog and to not be afraid of him.

"Junior loves kids," Sgt. Warner said.

As Sgt. Warner and the other dog handlers at Fort Meade work in and around the new kennel every day, they will remember the sacrifices of Pfc. Currier and Satch.

"Pfc. Currier lives in each one of these dog handlers … trying to do the right thing," Col. Claudio said. "By honoring him, we're honoring the entire K-9 community working here and around the world."

Karen McLaughlin is a freelance writer in Severn.
Published July 01, 2006, The Capital, Annapolis, Md., Copyright © 2006 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.

Photographs courtesy of the Currier family.

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