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War Dogs Memorial

SC PICTURE PROJECT 5 Comments

SC Picture Project / Richland County / War Dogs Memorial

Veterans Day of 2015 marked the installation of a special sculpture in Columbia‘s Memorial Park. Created by Illinois artist Renee Bemis, the bronze sculpture depicts a German shepherd and his handler, a United States soldier, during the Vietnam conflict. The artwork honors all military dogs and their handlers from the Palmetto State and is the result of the efforts of Vietnam veteran Johnny Mayo of Lexington. Mayo was the handler of Tiger, a scout dog, who was killed by shrapnel on their second mission together in Vietnam. Mayo credits Tiger with saving his life.

War Dogs Memorial

Ann Helms of Spartanburg, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Historically, military dogs were euthanized following their service, as they were considered expendable military equipment. Around 2,000 dogs were put to sleep after the Vietnam conflict. Today, military dogs are most often adopted upon being retired, usually by their handlers. However, the earlier injustice of euthanizing these dedicated animals inspired Mayo to educate the public about the service of military dogs and work towards a memorial in their honor. Mayo first served on a committee hoping to install a national military dog memorial in Washington D.C. That proposal was rejected in 2005 in lieu of a national memorial at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where dogs and handlers train. Mayo was then asked to help with the project on the local level by the Memorial Park Commission of Columbia.

War Dogs Memorial Rear

Ann Helms of Spartanburg, 2015 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Mayo’s desire to see a tribute to Tiger and others like him was realized on November 11, 2015 when the bronze sculpture was unveiled during a Veterans Day ceremony in Memorial Park. The soldier is seven feet in height, while the dog measures four feet. For those who may notice the World War II canteen in the sculpture, Bemis added it as a tribute to her father, explaining that many soldiers in Vietnam carried World War II equipment.

Plan Your Trip: War Dogs Memorial

Where is War Dogs Memorial located?
Address: 700 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC Columbia
GPS Coordinates: 34.002474,-81.042124
What else should I see?
Adluh Flour Mill 0.4 mile
Finlay Park 0.4 mile
Big Apple 0.5 mile
Old Confederate Printing Plant 0.6 mile
Show me more like this!
  • Columbia Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Military
  • See other South Carolina Parks
    War Dogs Memorial Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mark Palmer says

      June 21, 2019 at 5:02 PM

      Hi,

      Can I get a link to purchase a couple of t-shirts? I spoke to a dog handler that served in the Iraq conflict. I would like to show support.

      Thanks, Mark

      Reply
      • SC Picture Project says

        June 22, 2019 at 12:31 PM

        Hey Mark, very gracious of you! We are not sure if there are t-shirts for sale about this memorial though. At least, we don’t see anything online that shows that or we would link you. If something comes up later, we will definitely let you know!

        Reply
    2. Tamala says

      February 25, 2017 at 6:43 PM

      Met this gentleman today…! Interesting information he shared with me. Thank you for your service and educating us. Blessing to you and all the War Dogs!❤️

      Reply
    3. Robin Welch says

      November 25, 2015 at 9:24 PM

      I agree – Mr. Mayo sounds like a wonderful man, and I am so grateful for his efforts in honoring these dogs.

      Reply
    4. Bill Segars says

      November 23, 2015 at 7:43 AM

      Thank you Ann Helms & SCIWAY for pointing out something to me that I didn’t know we had in SC. I’ll certainly find this memorial. Also thanks to Johnny Mayo for spearheading this worthwhile project. I had no idea that these working, lifesaving dogs were euthanized after their service. I’m glad to see that we have learned the value of “Man’s Best Friend”.

      Reply

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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