Snoopy goes to war with reservists

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Scotty Sweatt
  • UPAR, 916th Security Forces Squadron
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, NC --  Most people are familiar with Snoopy and with his hair-raising adventures in combat with the World War I Flying Ace, "The Red Baron." 

But what you probably didn't know is that Snoopy has also served in the jungles of Vietnam and deserts of Kuwait and Iraq. 

Curious? 

You should be. Snoopy's adventures with the military span more than four decades, longer than most military careers, but he's served them proudly with a member of the 916th Air Refueling Wing. 

Retired Master Sgt. Thomas F. Wolf is a lifelong friend of Snoopy. Their story together is one of tradition and brotherhood, wartime and peacetime, duty and service, about a father and son, and yes, about Snoopy. 

It all began on a hot and dry day in the ICOR area, Republic of Vietnam. Then, Staff Sgt. Thomas F. Wolf, United States Marine Corps, had just arrived in-country. The scene was tense, as Sergeant Wolf and his unit, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, India Company were under pressure to move out quickly to support another Marine unit that was pinned down by enemy ground fire and calling for reinforcements. 

As Sergeant Wolf got all of his men off of the transport vehicle and was about to dismount himself, he noticed a small Snoopy stuffed toy lying in the back of the truck. He quickly grabbed it and put it into his cargo pocket and moved out to help rescue his fellow Marines. Thus began Sergeant Wolf's tour in Vietnam, and Snoopy's. 

From that time on Snoopy was with Sergeant Wolf and his unit everywhere they went. Snoopy endured the monsoon season that began just after this fateful meeting. Snoopy went an every mission, endured every battle, right there beside Sergeant Wolf and the rest of India Company. 

Each of the members of India Company would all pray with Snoopy and rub his head before going on a mission. 

Sergeant Wolf said, "Snoopy has a bald spot on his leather cap from where we had rubbed his head for luck." 

They took care of Snoopy and liked to think of Snoopy as one of their own. Oddly enough when Snoopy would get hurt someone else would normally get hurt as well, so they kept him close and protected him. When Sergeant Wolf was wounded in combat, Snoopy suffered damage in a similar manner. Sergeant Wolf and Snoopy made it out of Vietnam in May of 1969, together. 

When Snoopy returned stateside he was relieved of his duties...for a while.
Then 12 years after leaving Vietnam Snoopy joined the U.S. Army Reserve, along with Sergeant Wolf. After serving for a while as an Army water purification specialist, Sergeant Wolf and Snoopy tried their hands at the U.S. Navy, where they served as mine-sweepers for two years. 

Though Snoopy loved the open sea, his heart longed for the security of dry land, so he and Sergeant Wolf went back into the Army Reserve, where they both stayed until the late 80s. 

It was time for a well earned rest for these seasoned warriors. Or was it? 

In 1989, Sergeant Wolf, and of course Snoopy, came out of retirement and joined the 916th Security Forces Squadron along with Sergeant Wolf's son, Karl Wolf. 

Yes, it was time for Snoopy to give the United States Air Force Reserve a whirl!
Snoopy had too much fight left in him to settle out to pasture just yet. The Wolfs, affectionately know to those close to them as "Papa Wolf and Puppy Wolf" and Snoopy served proudly with the men and women of the 916th for 11 years. 

But all good things must eventually come to an end. In 2000, the senior Wolf stood before family, friends and fellow warriors where he retired with 27 total years of service to the United States military. At his retirement ceremony, to the astonishment of everyone present, for the first time in 27 years, Snoopy and Thomas F. Wolf would part ways.
Sergeant Wolf presented Snoopy to his son, Sergeant Karl Wolf. upon his retirement. The younger Wolf said, "It is the biggest honor I have ever received." 

Since Snoopy began serving with now Sergeant Karl "Puppy" Wolf, he has served along the Iranian border in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he has driven the rough streets of Baghdad and Balad, he's patrolled in the deserts of Kuwait and he's trained and served with his fellow Security Forces warriors in the Global War on Terrorism. 

Now a Master Sgt, Karl "Puppy" Wolf said of Snoopy "One day I hope to pass him on to one of my children."

One thing is for certain, whether he's running with the Wolfs, flying against the Red Baron or hanging out Charlie Brown, this is one pooch that you'll never catch asleep on the front porch.

Karl Wolf summed it up best when he said, "Snoopy has been serving for almost 40 years, and he's still an active member of the military."

Sleep well America, and carry on Snoopy, all is secure.