Beadle County Veterans Memorial

Beadle County veterans are honored across World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, with memorial fountain dedications in 1966 and 1987 and extensive rolls of names on walls and plaques. Special attention is given to dogs that served during the Vietnam War, especially German Shepherds and Labradors trained for field duty to detect snipers, trip wires, booby traps, and the Viet Cong and their drivers. These dogs were described as loyal and at times dragged their handlers to safety during combat while taking bullets. Scout dog platoons operated on a rotation schedule, but only 200 of the 4000 dogs that served returned to the United States. Treated as equipment, they were worked until killed in combat, lost in arsenal mishaps, turned over to Army of the Republic of Vietnam troops, or euthanized, making their service a one-way trip. The memorial also includes patriotic inscriptions, poems about sacrifice and freedom, veterans' organizations, sponsors, and repeated calls to remember those who served.

Huron, South Dakota · United States