SILVER STAR FLAG ®
SILVER STAR BANNER TM
THE NAME "SILVER STAR SERVICE BANNER" IS TM
Copyright 2005-2010
All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer:
The Silver Star Banner and Flag is in no way connected to the Silver Star Medal
The Silver Star Families of America is a non-partisan, not-for-profit charitable organization committed to supporting the United States Wounded Military Members and Veterans from all wars, past and present, and honoring their sacrifice with Silver Star Banners.Content within this web site is the sole property of The Silver Star Families of America"All photos and letters sent to the SSFOA become the property of the organization to be used in any way we deem appropriate." SSFOA reserves the right to conduct the day to day business of the organization as they deem appropriate.
All materials, ideas, projects etc made for the SSFOA while you are a member becomes SSFOA property. State Coordinators and Reps will be chosen at the discretion of SSFOA National Headquarters. SSFOA is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit public charity organization. See your tax advisor. For more info on deductions see: http://apps2.irs.gov/charities/contributors/index.html
Questions/Comments Pertaining To This Web site CONTACT US
BEST VIEWED IN INTERNET EXPLORER BROWSER
MILITARY WORKING DOG ALUMNI
Handler SSgt Justin Aycock
War Dog Name Ciba/H181
MWD Ciba/H181 (Patrol) - 8th SFS, Kunsan AB, ROK. Ciba was my second MWD that I was partnered with, she was certified in only Patrol work. She has to be one of the most loyal/loving dogs that I have worked with. She was "My" dog. Some of my best memories of Ciba were when we would post out to the perimeter of the base and pull LP/OP duties or patrols on the beach in the heat, snow or rain. The last exercise that we worked together it was snowing, there was at least 2 ft already on the ground and it was still coming down hard. Anyone that has been stationed in Korea can vividly recall how cold it gets. But there is no place that I would rather be with Ciba. I always made sure that my partner was warm/comfortable, before I was. I must have carried on hours of conversation with Ciba and she would just look up at me like she understood what I was talking about. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her and all the good times we had together.
Years of service 2002-Present
Handler SSgt Justin Aycock
War Dog Name Dani - D054
comments MWD Dani/D054 (EDD/Patrol) - 341st SFS/Malmstrom AFB. MT. I never got the chance to deploy with Dani, wish I had. He was my first dog in the two years we were partnered we had fun while working together. My best memories are of Dani sticking his head in the snow banks around base while we were conducting out foot patrols/checks around the base at night.His favorite time of the year was Christmas when we would ride through the housing areas making our rounds and he would bark/growl at the mechanical reindeer that people would decorate their yards with.One of the hardest things I ever had to do was to leave Dani after I got orders to PCS to Kunsan AB, ROK. I must have sat in his kennel with him for at least an hour and fed him a big steak before petting him behind the ears like he always loved for me to do and then telling him goodbye.
Years of service 1999-Present
MWD: Lucky 95M5 Handler Don Kelly
Lucky was a male German Shepard born on 7 Oct 1965 in Canuga Park,Ca. He was purchased by the USAF on 6 Jul 1968, He was tattooed with number 95M5 and the given a battery of physicals and tests. After he passed them he went through Sentry Dog Training and then Patrol Dog Training at Lackland AFB. He arrived at Korat RTAFB in Thailand in Oct 1963. He was there defending the perimeter of the base until his death in Aug 1974 at the age of 9. He was one of over 4000 War Dogs that didn't come home from southeast Asia. He defended his country and protected his handlers every night without hesitation. All he ever wanted in return was the praise from his handlers for doing the job he was asked to do, whether it was running the obstacle course for the 1000th time or attacking the enemy head on. May he never be forgotten for his heroic deeds and dedication to his country. I will do my best as one of his handlers to tell his story and preserve his memory in history forever.Years of service 6
...............................................................................................................
MWD: Kobuc Handler: Stephen A. Janke I received Kobuc as a 20 year old handler in Vietnam. Kobuc was a sentry dog that had been in the Air Force Dog Program since 1968. On May 23, 1971 he alerted to an advancing enemy squad in the woods outside our POL fuel area. After a brief firefight and satchel charges thrown at us knocking us to the ground they retreated with the help of other Air Forces Security Forces and Kobuc helped with other teams to clear the area. I had him for my entire tour of duty in Vietnam. Twenty five years later I learned that Kobuc was one of a small number of dogs given to the South Vietnamese Army to help defend their country upon our withdrawal. Kobuc was given to the service in 1968 by Michael O'Reiley from California whom I have tried to contact unsucessfully. Kobuc helped me survive my time in Vietnam and had several other handlers before the end of the war. I still carry his picture in my wallet and think of him every day.
Years of service 1968
...............................................................................................................
MWD: Nick Handler: James Sheffield
MWS: Caesar Handler: Jim Andrews Vietnam
Caesar worked with me nearly every day for 1 1/2 years in Vietnam. He was a golden German Shepherd and the best friend anyone could have. He was my eyes and he was my ears. He "covered my back" always, in every situation. I will never forget him.
Silver Star shining for sacrifice, honoring wounded, ill and dying members of our Armed Forces, and bringing remembrance to those so deserving of our thanks.
We will never forget . . . WELCOME HOME!
®
