| Flannelly and Bruiser |
| During my research on the War Dogs I have read quite a bit of information. I have read many stories of heroic dogs and their dedicated handlers. I wish that I could bring you each and every heart warming story, but space and time are limited. I chose a story that was shared with Bruce Watson in an article he wrote about War Dogs. I hope it touches each of you that reads it and sparks positive memories in the vets who visit my site as well. In September 1969 Flannelly and Bruiser were leading a patrol 12 miles south of Da Nang. Suddenly the German shepherd stopped, his ears went up, Flannelly fired and then "all hell broke loose," he remembered. Flannelly went down, his chest ripped open so he could see one lung. He told Bruiser to leave, to get out of danger, but the dog stayed, tugging his handler's shirt. Flannelly reached up, grabbing Bruiser's harness, and the dog began to drag his master to safety. Taken to the nearest hospital, Flannelly refused to be transferred for better care until he saw his dog. One afternoon, Bruiser came. Flannelly, who now lives in Lynn, Massachusetts, recalls, "I never saw him coming, I was in such a daze from the medication. He crawled up from the bottom of the bed and put his head on my face. I was so happy to see him, I just hugged him and cried." Thanks to his dog, Flannelly came home. No one is sure what ultimately happened to Bruiser, and John Flannelly is like so many other handlers - he never got to thank Bruiser or say good-bye. A fact that caused much pain then, and still today in many veterans of Vietnam. |