554 RED HORSE's Vietnam mascot was honorary Chief

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Annals of the Air Force Civil Engineer Magazine --  The following text is from an article that appeared in the November 1969 issue of Air Force Civil Engineer (Vol. 10, No. 4):


RED HORSE Mascot Makes his Presence Known

PHAN RANG AB, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM -- Like many units in the Republic of Vietnam, the 554th Civil Engineering Squadron (RED HORSE) at Phan Rang AB has a living symbol. What makes its symbol different from most other unit symbols is that it eats grass.

For more than a year, a Chinese pony named "One and a Half," has been the living symbol and mascot of the squadron. Purchased in nearby Phan Rang city, "One and a Half" is about as tall as a Shetland pony. But his size doesn't deter from his eating habits.

Sgt Stanley Kirby, who has taken care of the mascot in his off-duty time for the past four months, says the animal eats all day long. "We feed him grass, oats, corn, carrots...he'll eat just about anything," explains the Sergeant, who works in the RED HORSE dispatch office.

"One and a Half" is not above sharing a cigaret (which he eats) with the men," comments Operations Office Maj Marvin T. Howell. "We knew about 'One and a Half' before our team came over last year. So when our C-141 landed at Phan Rang, a supply of oats, hay and saltlick was unloaded along with the rest of the men and equipment.

The horse is normally kept in the RED HORSE compound during the day. Sometimes he is taken out for jaunts around the base. At night, he is placed in his corral, a small fenced-in stable, which members of the squadron built and have added to over the months.

"One and a Half" attends the squadron Commander's Calls and whenever the RED HORSE unit has honor guard duty, there's an equine standing tall in the ranks. For this and other important occasions, "One and a Half" will don his special red blanket which bears "honorary" chief master sergeant stripes. Dressed this way, the mascot has met several high ranking officers, including former Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen John P. McConnell.