If you have any questions, additional biographical information, personal remembrances, or photographs you would like to contribute, please contact the History Project Manager via this Email Link. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
PFC Gordon Leroy "Lee" Currier, Jr. Both Were Killed In Action ~ 31 January 1968 ~ Vietnam |
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If you served with PFC Currier his brother would appreciate hearing from you. Joe Currier |
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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 --- |
--- 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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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.
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New kennel at Fort Meade named after PFC Currier |
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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. |
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. Photographs courtesy of the Currier family. |
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