01-05-2025
It was hard to say goodbye to his buddy
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — April 30th, 2025, marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon that officially ended the Vietnam War; one of the bloodiest wars in American history.
Over 58 thousand US service members lost their lives in this week, our parent company, Nexstar TV and all of its stations across the country are airing war stories about Vietnam Veterans, thanking them for their service, sacrifice, and bravery.
A lot of people probably don't know this, but canines played a big role in the war.
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We met one of the dog handlers who says he probably wouldn't be here today if not for his four-legged friend.
When they say a dog is a man's best friend…
'Most people didn't even know they were there,' Vietnam War dog handler Russ Freeburg said.
…that's an understatement when it comes to the Vietnam War.
Russ Freeburg of Garvin, Minnesota, was a Sentry Dog Handler at Da Nang Air Base from July of 1967 to July of 1968.
As a security policeman, Freeburg was assigned Prince, a nine-year-old German Shepherd.
Prince and Freeburg became the best of friends. He even still has copies of Prince's military dog records, whose serial number was 025E.
Freeburg has a vest depicting his unit and his love for Prince.
'Just my best buddy, you spend every night all year out on the perimeter, you know keeping the perimeter secure,' Freeburg said.
Over 4,000 dogs were used in the war for their keen senses of smell and hearing.
Freeburg says the dogs are credited with saving thousands of lives.
'Especially the scout dogs, if Charlie was set up for an ambush and our Marines were walking into it, the scout dogs could pick that up quick,' Freeburg said.
When Freeburg's year-long tour in Vietnam was up and it was time for him to go home, he couldn't bring his buddy back with him.
'That's hard, yeah, one of the pictures shows the last day. He said goodbye to him. I was down on one knee, shaking his paw and he's looking up at me and that's tough,' Freeburg said. 'You're one, you are with him every night, and I think he was probably saying 'you know Russ, we made a good team while we were here, we helped keep the perimeter secure, so you go home and be with your family and I'll stay here and do what I do.'
When the war was over, the Department of Defense classified the dogs as equipment, and most were left behind and were euthanized, including Freeburg's buddy, Prince.
'I still miss him, you know, I always will,' Freeburg said.
When Freeburg returned home to Minnesota, he got himself another dog; a German Shepherd, like Prince, only he named this one Lucky.
Freeburg would also like to see a statue made of a dog handler and his dog and placed next to the Vietnam Memorial in Pierre.
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