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Boozer

There were two Air force and two Army pallbearers for the ceremony with an Army SFC behind the pallbearers. Many of the officers on the island showed up for the ceremony in Class A uniforms

and stood to the side during the ceremony more or less at attention.

Boozer was carried to the base of the flag pole and the concrete "Fire plug" and buried there. 

Boozer 3

Casket setting aside Boozer's fireplug along with a black wreath.

Boozer's casket with insignia.

Boozer's casket with insignia.

Boozer's casket decorated with black wreath and his pallbearers.

Boozer's funeral detail standing at the entrance to building 600.

Preparing to move Boozer's casket to the grave site.

Boozer's last walk from building 600.

Boozer's funeral detail.

Boozer's funeral honors.

A friend's last look.

Boozer's final resting place.

Pallbearers and Honor Guard being dismissed.

Boozer's headstone, near the plug.

Boozer's monument and flowers.

Boozer II made his appearance on "The Rock" somewhere around 1956.
 
He quickly made friends with everyone and gained a place in virtually everyone's heart during his lifetime.
 
This can be attested to by the inscription on the plaque donated in Boozer II's memory as follows:
 
"The Greatest Morale Factor on Shemya Since WWII."

Here's a picture of Boozer and Ltc. D. Critchlow, Pilot, standing in front of Bldg 600.

This was taken Now 25, 1963 (just after the assassination of President Kennedy).

1966 - Arthur Godfrey's short visit to Shemya for a refuel. He seemed to like old Boozer.

Fall of 1958...Boozer was special friend of mine. I use to take him to the wooden movie theatre and put him down sideways in front of me and put my feet under him to keep them warm. He never seemed to mind. My last night on Shemya I did exactly that. ~ Don Maris

One of the few pleasant memories I have of Shemya; Boozer & me. There must have been a few other pleasant moments, but mostly I remember grim, grim, grim. ~ Bill Jaaskelainen, Jr. USAFSS 1961-1965

Boozer II, Fall of 1958

Boozer II, Fall of 1958

Boozer laying in the snow in Shemya.

TRIBUTE TO BOOZER II


At 1200 hours on the last day of 1968, a living legend, Boozer,

was put to sleep on Shemya following a long illness.

 

The 2064th Comm Sq., together with other organizations of the base,

turned out in mourning when Col. Ashworth, Base Commander and

Lt. Col. Slesinger, USASA Commander, acting on the advice of the Base Surgeon's Office,

authorized Boozer's demise.

 

Although at different times Boozer was claimed by both the

Army and the Air Force units as their mascot,

it is generally conceded that he belonged to the entire island.

 

The island also belonged to Boozer; there was nowhere that he was not welcome.

 

He was so popular that US Army Security Agency Field Station, Shemya,

appointed Boozer a Command Sergeant Major.

 

It is believed he also carried a colonelcy in the Air Force Reserve.

 

"Often touted as the greatest morale factor on Shemya, 

Boozer, the island's oldest and longest steady resident,

was laid to rest on New Year's Day 1969

in a place of honor next to the Shemya 'plug'."

 

The dog, who was at least part Husky, had a somewhat nebulous history.

 

It is commonly thought that he was brought to the island in 1956

by the Army commander at the time

and was somewhere between 12 and 16 years old.

 

© 2016 Proudly Created By Jennifer Ann Reagan Miller

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