2015 Assembly Joint Resolution 4
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: honoring the service of all military working dogs.
Whereas, dogs have served in our nation's military with honor and valor throughout its history; and
Whereas, records from World War I reference military working dogs and make note of Stubby, the most highly decorated American military working dog, who was promoted to the rank of Sergeant for his service; and
Whereas, United States Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson authorized the use of dogs in war efforts on March 13, 1942; and
Whereas, dogs accepted into the military training program underwent a rigorous training program that exposed the dogs to muzzles, gas masks, gunfire, and riding in vehicles and focused on obedience and responding to basic commands, so that they could learn to serve as a sentry dog, a scout or patrol dog, a messenger dog, or a mine-detection dog; and
Whereas, the United States Department of War had created 15 Quartermaster War Dog Platoons by 1944, consisting of 20 enlisted men, 18 scout dogs, and six messenger dogs; and
Whereas, Chips, the most highly decorated American military working dog in World War II, famously stormed an Italian machine gun nest in 1943 during the Allied invasion of Sicily; and
Whereas, during the Vietnam War, approximately 4,900 military working dogs served in the United States military and are credited with saving more than 10,000 human lives; and
Whereas, 232 United States military working dogs and 295 United States servicemen serving as dog handlers were killed in action during the Vietnam War, including Specialist Four Richard Michael Banaszynski of Pulaski, Lance Corporal Terrence Daniel Beck of Fort Atkinson, and Sergeant Terry John Payne of La Crosse; and
Whereas, the United States government euthanized thousands of military working dogs at the end of the Vietnam War rather than bringing them home; and
Whereas, after intense lobbying by veterans who served as dog handlers, the federal government changed the law in 2000 so that United States military working dogs can now be adopted by American families after their military service; and
Whereas, retired military working dogs are now often adopted by disabled veterans to whom they bring love, hope, and healing; and
Whereas, since the attack against the United States of America on September 11, 2001, customs dogs, search and rescue dogs, border patrol dogs, police dogs, and secret service dogs have also helped to protect and serve our nation and are accordingly recognized with the military working dogs on K-9 Veterans Day; and
Whereas, a military working dog named Cairo was part of the operation that killed Osama bin Laden; and
Whereas, it is well-known that military working dogs are loyal, loving, and devoted, and that they knowingly place themselves in harm's way, making the ultimate sacrifice by laying down their lives for their partners; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the legislature honors the service of all military working dogs and proclaims March 13, in 2015 and in each succeeding year, as K-9 Veterans Day in Wisconsin; and, be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be distributed to the Wisconsin Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the United States War Dogs Association, the Vietnam Dog Handler Association, and the Military Working Dog Team Support Association.
