In the silence of darkness, the Airman Robert Throneburg and Sentry Dog Nemo patrolled near a graveyard on Tan Son Nhut Air base on the night of December 4, 1966. On security patrol, Nemo alerted Throneburg to a group of hidden VC."Watch him," said Airman Throneburg. The dog's muscles tensed for action."Get him!" -- was the next command and Nemo lunged savagely forward, into the enemy's nest. Airman Throneburg followed close behind.
In the first moments of encounter, Airman Throneburg and Nemo killed two of the VC. But, before additional security police could reach them, Airman Throneburg was wounded in the left side shoulder and then spun by the first bullet wound and was wounded again in the back left shoulder. After being wounded Throneburg radioed the insurgents locations before passing out. In the action, Nemo's eye was hit and his snout was creased by enemy bullets. Despite being wounded and blinded in one eye, Nemo returned to his handler. Crawling across Throneburg's body, Nemo guarded his handler against any who dared to come near until medical help could arrive. The residing Vet had to eventually be called in to remove Nemo from atop his handlers body. The remaining enemy were soon killed by other security police.
Nemo lost one of his eyes, but recovered from his wounds and was credited not only with saving the life of Airman Throneburg, but indirectly prevented further destruction of life and property at Tan Son Nhut.