No U.S. air base defended by Air Force Air Police, Security Police or Security Forces has ever been overrun or conquered by an enemy. The work of these men (and women today) is essential to the survival of aircraft, pilots, crews and maintenance and support personnel. We are proud of this record, and proud to support the United States Air Force with our own special expertise. An Air Force report written in 1973, “Base Defense in Thailand,” states that the Security Police Sentry Dog teams were “The Most Effective Defense Team Yet Devised.”

Sgt Alexander Liverano served in the U.S. Air Force as a Security Policeman and Sentry/Patrol Dog Handler from 1968 until his Honorable Discharge in 1972. He served a full year of that time in Thailand, working off-base, base perimeter and high-value-target base interior K-9 posts at two front-line combat bases prosecuting the Vietnam War: Takhli RTAFB and Nakhon Phanom RTAFB. There he defended F-105 fighter-bombers, RB-66 ECM and reconnaissance aircraft, A-1 fighter-bombers, CH-53 and HH-53 combat search and rescue helicopters, AC-119 gunships, OV-10 and O-2 forward air controller aircraft, and HH-43 firefighting and rescue helicopters.

During his service Sgt Liverano earned the National Defense Service Medal; Air Force Good Conduct Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; Presidential Unit Citation; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device and one Oak Leaf Cluster.

A large hand-painted copy of this photograph of Sgt Liverano working with his Sentry Dog Dante 632M was placed on display at the Military Working Dog training facility, 355th Security Forces Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, in 2011. In a letter to Sgt Liverano about the use of the photo, Squadron Commander Lt Col James Hodges wrote “The photo has tremendous impact as an icon of combat air base defense in Vietnam and Thailand in the Vietnam War, and is especially meaningful to all of us in the 355th Security Forces Squadron today because of the continuation of the legacy of the 355th, from Takhli RTAFB then to Davis-Monthan AFB today.

“My thanks are extended to you for allowing us to use your photo in this long-lasting tribute to the service you and others gave our country during the Vietnam War.”