When John was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1967, he had no idea how profoundly his life would evolve over the decades to come.
“I was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1967. My Basic Training was at Fort Knox, Ky; AIT was at Fort Lewis, Washington; APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) training at Fort Knox, Ky. I was assigned to the Berlin Brigade, Berlin, Germany in June 1967. I was assigned to the 4th Aviation Bn, 4th Infantry Division in Pleiku, Vietnam in November 1967. I was in Vietnam until late October 1968. Upon my return from Vietnam, I was discharged from the U.S. Army at Fort Lewis, Washington.”
Years later, the effects of his service still ripple through his life. John was diagnosed with ischemic heart disease, possibly linked to Agent Orange exposure, and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2017. “I have Atrial Fibrillation (a-fib), but cannot detect when it might occur,” John explained. It was during conversations with Veterans Administration doctors and 4 Paws for Ability that John learned about service dogs that could be trained to detect medical emergencies.
“I agreed to be placed on a ‘wait list’ for a Medical Alert service dog,” he said. “Although I encouraged 4 Paws administrators to put me last on their list and help other Veterans first.”
But 4 Paws for Ability didn’t forget John, and in June of 2025, he graduated with his new partner, Porter, as part of the Pacific Blue Class.
“Porter has given me another level of protection to recognize if, and when, I might need assistance. He is constantly by my side and demonstrates extreme loyalty,” John shared.
That loyalty was put to the test not long after Porter came home. “Porter had been with me for about a month after arriving home in Kentucky. I suffered a fall on concrete while working outside, and one leg was bleeding. Porter immediately went into ‘medical alert mode’ and began with his bark alert. This was exactly what he had been trained to do.”
For John, Porter isn’t just a companion, he’s a lifeline. “Porter has two main tasks to perform in the event I suffer A-Fib. If I am conscious and can say ‘Help’, he begins a Bark Alert, no matter where we are. If I am verbal and can say ‘Alert’, he will go to a programmed button device that we have on a wall in our home and hit it. He is also trained in balance and mobility.”
With Porter by his side, John says he feels a new sense of peace. “I have a heightened sense of security and dependability with Porter in my presence. As I stated earlier, he provides another level, or layer, of protection for my well-being.”
“I would hope that those reading this would develop a deeper sense of appreciation for individuals with physical limitations and the amazing work that service dogs do for those individuals. My limitations are not visible, but internal, and I have been given a ‘gift’ that changes my life daily. Please remember to support our veteran population.”
This Veterans Day, John and Porter stand as living proof of what it means to serve, and to be served in return. Through trust, training, and an unbreakable bond, their partnership reminds us that heroes come in many forms, some on two legs, and some on four.