We have been learning about Minneota’s Royal Hettling, who grew up on the family farm and graduated from Minneota High School in 1969. After enlisting in the Air Force and training as a Security Police dog handler, he deployed to Vietnam in August 1970. The dog handlers assigned to the 483rd Security Police Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base provided security for high value targets, including the fuel and ammunition storage areas and the base perimeter.

Royal recalled their squadron commander, Lt. Col. Roy, briefing the new dog handlers about his expectations. He told them to be alert as they were the first line of defense for the base and it was up to them to alert the base of a threat.

Royal described the dog handlers’ mission on a guard post with their dog.

“It was to deter, detect, and detain. First, your presence was to deter any local native from entering. If you couldn’t, then you were supposed to detain them. In most cases you weren’t going to be able to detain them because their mission was to get by you to destroy something. If you couldn’t detain them, then you were to eliminate them by whatever means.”

But Royal soon realized the unit often was not staffed to provide the security the commander expected. That realization left him uneasy.

“We were never at full strength. Sometime we were at half-strength. At times one handler had to cover two posts. In fact, some nights you’d pull one post for half the night and then switch to another area for the other half.”

Royal explained how the dog handlers learned of each nightly posting.

“When you came off duty in the morning the duty roster for the following night was already posted. You’d look to see what post you’d been assigned. We were always short people, so our time off was limited. For a while we had one night off every 35 nights. We’d get a few more people in and went to one night off every twenty-five nights. Finally, it was one night off every 15 nights.”

Royal listed the equipment the dog handlers carried each night.

“We would take no more than was required. We carried the rifle (a CAR-15, short-barrel, assault rifle); ninety rounds of loaded magazines; one ammunition pouch; a couple slap flares; the dog’s muzzle, collar, leash, and choke chain; our radio; and a canteen of water. That was it.”

The dog handlers did not wear flak vests or helmets because they wanted to be able to move quickly and feel the wind direction on their face while patrolling.

Royal explained the dog handlers’ routine for nighttime security duties.

“They’d pick us up around seven o’clock in trucks and we’d stand guard mount, a mandatory formation. They’d give you all the necessary information for the night from intelligence reports about whatever is coming your way. The sun went down around seven-thirty or eight o’clock. You’d go out right after sunset and you’d come in just before sunrise.”

After guard mount the handlers picked up their dogs from the kennels, always a loud process because the dogs were excited to see their handlers. The handlers fitted their dogs with their collar, muzzle, and leash before lifting them into the posting truck, which took them to their assigned posts. Once at their post, the handlers lifted their dogs down; removed their muzzle; checked in with the nearest guard towers to alert them their supporting dog team was on-site; and began patrolling their post.

Royal described the challenge of working nights, especially when working with less-experienced tower guards or security augmentees in perimeter bunkers behind his patrol area.

“Everything changes at night. All you see is darkness and shadows and if you stare at a shadow, it going to take human form. Once that shadow takes human form, it’s going to move toward you. That’s what scares people. It’s in their mind, but is not real. Even on a still night, there is always air movement through the brush. If people listen hard enough, that rustling reminds them of a voice. It’s a figment of their imagination, but that is what their mind does to them.”

Royal knew his dog, Thunder, had an acute sense of sight, smell, and hearing and kept a close eye on him for alerts.

“You were assigned to one dog because you had to know his body language. No two dogs alert the same. If the intruder was close, Thunder would growl faintly. Otherwise he would stop panting; perk his ears; and just look. As soon as the dog alerted, you’re on the radio. Sometimes he’d stop; start moving his head around; and sniff the air. You know there was something there, but he was probably a ways away. Thunder was searching the area for his scent.”

Royal recalled Thunder’s first alert. It happened while they were patrolling the perimeter outside My Ca village.

“One night Thunder let out a bark and pulled me over. That’s when I saw the intruder in the brush. I was at the line we could not cross. All I could do was radio, ‘I’ve got a strong alert — a 10-5-5 here.’ You’d better send a SAT (Security Assistance Team) team over.’ In the meantime this guy is working his way back to the village.”

Night after night Royal and Thunder patrolled their posted areas. Many nights Thunder never alerted. Occasionally Royal saw him alert and both man and dog tensed for a possible enemy encounter.

©2024 William D. Palmer Contact me at prairieviewpressllc@gmail.com with any comments about or story suggestions for “Prairie Lives.”