9th Inf Div Tracker Team Photos 1968

[noexpert]

Couple of pictures I took of the 9th Div Combat Tracker Team during a training exercise outside of Bearcat in 1968... Tried to clean them up, but the quality has deteriorated over the past 40+ years.

[noexpert]

2nd pic... Sorry the scroll isn't any clearer... I looked at the original pic through a jeweler's loupe and that didn't bring it up either. I do remember that they all wore a variety of scrolls, some in color, some subdued. I think his just reads "Combat Tracker"... There are a pair of crossed sabers embroidered on the front of his cap. He is the one to the right in the first photo.

[noexpert]

I think the above message is wrong... I don't believe that he is the one standing to the right. Sorry.

[NobleLoyalGSD]

noexpert,

 

Thank you for your service and for posting these and other items/info!

 

I just wanted to add/clarify that the soldier and German shepherd are probably a scout dog team (one dog, one handler) which used German sheps exclusively. There may, however, be combat tracker team members present in the photo (for example the soldier with the "cowboy" style boonie hat) since these two teams often were used in conjuction with each other but each had a unique and separate purpose. (The cowboy style hat seemed to be a more common item amongst the trackers and the k-9s used were Labs.)

 

Thank you again!

 

~Jeff

[noexpert]

noexpert,

 

Thank you for your service and for posting these and other items/info!

 

I just wanted to add/clarify that the soldier and German shepherd are probably a scout dog team (one dog, one handler) which used German sheps exclusively. There may, however, be combat tracker team members present in the photo (for example the soldier with the "cowboy" style boonie hat) since these two teams often were used in conjuction with each other but each had a unique and separate purpose. (The cowboy style hat seemed to be a more common item amongst the trackers and the k-9s used were Labs.)

 

Thank you again!

 

~Jeff

 

Thanks for the information. Been a loooong time. I do recall that there was also a lab out there. I may still have some other pics. I'm rummaging around.

I was along for the ride with a lot of these units...unlike Combat Photographers or PIO's my primary job was to get picks of uniforms and equipment so the rest of the team could make paintings... Hard to explain to people and basically meant I was either regarded as a nuisance, a "special needs" cousin, or someone who wasn't there. :crying: I spent almost a week with these guys, they were really nice guys and I left having no idea what why they had labs and shepards. Great dogs though.

[noexpert]

Here is a pic of one of the handlers with a Lab.

[noexpert]

Found another. The tab is slightly clearer in this one...but still not perfect... As I said, stuff is scattered and some of it, in no modesty whatsoever...is not good or worth bothering with.

[noexpert]

Found another. The tab is slightly clearer in this one...but still not perfect... As I said, stuff is scattered and some of it, in no modesty whatsoever...is not good or worth bothering with.

 

 

And I uploaded the wrong picture...so let's try again...good thing I don't cut diamonds for a living...