I was Whitey's (18M3) first handler. We were paired up in April 1968 and trained together at Lackland AFB. In June 1968 we were assigned to the 456th SPS at Beale AFB in California. In December 1967 I received my orders "with dog" to the 635th SPS at U-Tapao, Thailand. After combat training at Lackland in January 1969, we arrived at U-Tapao on February 12, 1969 to begin our tour.
I believe this photo of us is from a larger group photo of the Demo Team at an
off-base demo we did in a fishing village just to the east of the base in the late 1969.
I left Whitey and U-Tapao on February 11, 1970. Whitey went on to have eight other USAF handlers after me. Whitey died in August 1976 of Pancreatitis septicemia.
Rest in Peace my Buddy! I will always carry your memory with me.
