3/25 Infantry – «40th Infantry Platoon Scout Dog»

The 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Regiment served as part of the 25th Infantry Division and was heavily engaged in combat operations throughout 1967 in some of the most contested regions of South Vietnam, including the areas around Cu Chi, Tây Ninh, and War Zone C. The battalion participated in major search-and-destroy operations aimed at disrupting Viet Cong strongholds and supply routes near the Cambodian border. During these missions, scout dog teams from units such as the 40th Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog) played a critical role in detecting ambushes, hidden bunkers, booby traps, tunnel entrances, and enemy infiltrators in dense jungle terrain. Working alongside infantry patrols, these highly trained handlers and dogs became an essential part of combat operations and field security during the war.

Vietnam Zippo factory engraved on the front side with crossed rifles and the designation «3 / 25», representing the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Regiment, together with the inscription «40th INF. PLAT. SCOUT DOG» and the image of a scout dog beneath. The «3/25» designation is also notably associated with the well-known Vietnam War film Platoon, as director Oliver Stone based the movie on his own experiences serving with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Regiment in Vietnam.