My American Heroes ~ K-9 War Dogs

Red Cross Dogs	Memorials	Chips	Caesar
Duke	Fluffy	Smoky	Rin Tin
War Dog Sites	New Law - Nov. 2000	Recommended Reading	"My American Heroes" Site Portal

Known as "Red Cross Dogs", during World War I, most every country utilized dogs to aid with the battlefield wounded. These dogs were trained and specialized in seeking out wounded and bypassing dead soldiers. Strapped to their bodies, the dogs carried water canteens and small amounts of medical supplies. If the wounded man was unconscious or unable to move, the dog would return to his handler, usually taking something belonging to the soldier, and lead a rescue team back.

These dogs, although under heavy fire, were also trained not to bark so as not to alert the enemy of their location.

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Another Fabulous Memorial To Be Built!!!!

Please allow me to introduce to you Bill Wigginton, Jr., Member of the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association, Vietnam Security Police Association and National War Dog Team Memorial Committee. As a member of Vietnam Dog Handlers Association, who are also committee members on the National War Dog Team Memorial effort, they are going to build a National Memorial in Washington, D.C., dedicated to all War Dogs and their handlers from all wars and peacetime since WWI. ^5!!

Please visit his War Dogs Memorial Site and see what they are doing and how you can help this extremly worthwhile cause - for all our 4-legged Angels!

Thanks Bill for all you and the Handlers Association do and all you are doing for our War Dogs!!

And, special thanks for doing me the honor of this post and being a small part of this fabulous effort!***

God bless all our K-9 troops and all the K-9 Handlers - past, present and future!!!
December 25, 2004

Presently, there are a total of four (4) American War Dog Memorials in six (6) locations.
Their locations are:

Honoring War Dogs Of WWII - Marines

Sculptor: Susan Wilner
Location: Guam, Dedicated: 1994
Location: University Of Tennessee, Dedicated: 1998

"This War Dog Memorial, an exact replica of the official memorial in Guam, was donated to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine by Dr. Maurice Acree July 17, 1998. It honors not only the war dogs, but symbolizes the special connection people share with dogs.

A noble Doberman pinscher represents hundreds of heroic war dogs that served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Although most were Doberman pinschers, German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and occasionally, a collie served during the war as sentries, messengers, and scouts. But they also served other roles to the Marines who served with them...devoted friend, confidant, trusted companion."

The photo and all information regarding this War Dog Memorial
is gratefully obtained and published with the permission
of the Webmaster, University of Tennessee
For more information, please visit
The University Of Tennessee's terrific website.

In Guam, The Yigo Cemetery was located on the 'west' side of Marine Drive, Route #1, not far from Andersen Air Force Base. The cemetery was in place in 1968 up to about 1993, when the site was exhumed in preparation to be moved to the current site at Naval Station.

Text on the plaque at Yigo War Dog Cemetary reads as follows:

Here rest 24 U.S.M.C. War dogs
that gave their lives as scouts exploring caves and as sentries.
4 of these dogs were killed in action
liberating Guam in 1944.

I am: Hobo, Kurt, Nig, Skipper, Poncho,Prince,
Koko, tubby, Fritz, Blitz, Emmy, Missy, Cappy.

Placed in their memory by the
surviving officers & men of the
2nd & 34d War Dog Platoons of the 3rd Marine division,
many of whom owe their lives to the
bravery and sacrifice
of these gallant animals lying here.

Erected in 1922, the War Dog Cemetary in Hartsdale, New York
Honoring War Dogs Of WW1 - All Services

Sculptor: Robert Caterson
The inscription on the monument reads:

"WAR DOGS
Dedicated to the memory of the War Dog,
erected by public contribution
by dog lovers to man's most faithful friend
for the valiant services rendered
in the World War 1914-1918"

Riverside, California
Dedicated: February 2000
and
Fort Benning, Georgia

Dedicated: October 2000
Sculptor: A. Thomas Schomberg

Honoring All War Dogs - All Eras And Services

Both sites use the same monument to honor War Dogs.

Port Neches, Texas
Dedicated: November 2000
Sculptor: Doug Clark
Honoring Vietnam War Dogs - All Services

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One of the most famous war dogs is Chips. Chips was donated by his owner to the military during World War II. Chips was a member of the first group of war dogs sent overseas in October 1942 bound for French Morocco. Chips and other war dogs in this group were not trained as scouts but as sentries guarding the permeters at night.

Licata, Sicily, July 1942 - early in the morning, Chips and his handler, Pvt. John Rowell, walked the permeter of camp and came upon a camouflaged pillbox which opened fire as they approached. Chips broke free of his handler and headed for the pillbox. The firing stopped within minutes and emerging from within was an Italian soldier with Chips biting his arms and throat. Arms raised high in surrender, three more Italian soldiers followed.

Chips sustained minor injuries including scalp wounds and powder burns, "showing that a vicious fight had taken place inside the hut and that the soldiers had attempted to shoot the dog with a revolver. But the surrender came abruptly indicatinng that Chips was solely repsonsible."
(M.Lemish, War Dogs-A History of Loyalty and Heroism)

Chips was dubbed by the division and the press as "hero dog". In recognition of his service, Chips was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star and the Purple Heart, all were later revoked.

In 1993 Disney produced a TV move about Chips called "Chips the War Dog".
Chips was sent home in 1945, where he succumed to kidney and heart failure in 1946. He was awarded, unofficially, the Theatre Ribbon, with arrowhead (signifiying assault landing), and eight battle stars.

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Caesar, a messenger dog, with his handler during World War II. Wounded during a Japanese attack, Caesar carries the scar of a bullet wound to his left shoulder.
(War Dogs-A History of Loyalty and Heroism; National Archives)

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Duke alerts his handler, Pvt Walker, to a Vietcong spider hole, which are well hidden.
(War Dogs-A History of Loyalty and Heroism; National Archives)

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Fluffy's story is truly remarkable. Rescued and trained by her owner, SFC Russell Joyce, Fluffy's journey, as an Iraq War Dog, to the United States was a quest that warms the heart........nothing is impossible!!!.

Please visit:
The Official Fluffy Website
Fluffy's Journey From Iraq To Fort Bragg, NC

All Photos Herein Copyright 2003 SFC Russell Joyce
Or Their rightful Photographers - Used With Permission
Thank You, Russell!

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Smoky, a miniature Yorskire Terrier, is a former Corporal in the WAC. Smoky was overseas 2 years and flew 13 combat mission over Borneo and Mindanoa. Smoky was trained by her owner, Bill Wynne, of Cleveland, while overseas.

After the war, Smoky continued to entertain troops and civilians alike. Smoky died in 1957 at 14. In 1996, Wynne wrote Yorkie Doodle Dandy, a Memoir, which continues to be a popular seller today. The War Dog memorial fulfills Wynne's decades-long dream and immortalizes a very special little dog, who was not only a famous "war dog" but also the "first therapy dog of record," according to researchers at TV's Animal Planet. The Yorkshire Terrier breed has grown in popularity since Smoky was found in New Guinea. Only 65 Yorkies were registered with the AKC that entire year. Now, approximately 5,000 a month are registered. Susan Bahary of California was commissioned to create the beautiful sculpture of Smoky.

Over the years, Smoky has been honored with Memorials at the following locations:

1. Ohio Veternary Medicine Association Animal Hall of Fame: "#1 Dog Hero"; Location: Columbus, Ohio; Established in 1995

2. AKC Museum of the Dog; Location: St. Louis, MO; Established in 1996

3. Hickham Air Force Base; Location: Hawaii Established in 2000 by the 26th Air Space Intelligence Squadron; Description: This is the lineage successor to Smoky's 26th Photo Recon Squadron.

4. University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine; Location: Knoxville, TN; Established in 2003

5. Doggy Park; Location: Eastlake, Ohio Established in 2004

6. Cleveland Metroparks; Location: Lakewood, OH; Established on November 11, 2005

Note: The Imperial War Museum of London has Smoky's war blanket on exhibit for viewing through May 2007.

To read more on this remarkable little hero,
please visit:
Yorkie Doodle Dandy
4-Lb. Yorkshire Terrier Hero Of WWII - Official Website
or
Smoky's original site:
Yorkie Doodle Dandy, Yorkie War Dog
Pictures/text of Smoky are copyright. Used With Permission
Thank You, Bill!

The Bahary Studios pays tribute to Smoky and War Dog Memorials, with beautiful photos and information. Please visit:
Bahary Studios
Thank you again, Bill for this information!

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Rin Tin is a 7-year-old, 98-pound German Shepherd assigned to the 354th Security Forces Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Rin Tin is a military working dog.

The picture on the left depicts Rin Tin waiting for the command to enter a tube during training Aug. 18, 2004.

The picture on the right shows Rin Tin pausing to chew on a toy during training Aug. 18, 2004.

Military working dogs here provide anti-terrorism and security to the base as well as to deployed locations worldwide. Rin Tin's day usually begins at 4 a.m. with feeding and a seven-point checkup by his handler. Then comes grooming, a rub down, obedience training and a run through the confidence course before beginning the day on patrol.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang

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Terrific Sites On Our War Dogs

Official Web Site of the 47th Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog)
War Dogs - US Army's Use Of Dogs 1942-Present
War Dogs ~ America's Forgotten Heroes
United States War Dog Association

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New Law

On November 6, 2000, H.R.5314 became Public Law No: 106-446 amending Title 10, United States Code, to facilitate the adoption of retired military working dogs by law enforcement agencies, former handlers of these dogs, and other persons capable of caring for these dogs.

The the full text of this law can be found on the Library of Congress website at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:h.r.05314:

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Recommended Reading Available At Barnes & Nobel
...War Dogs: A History of Loyalty and Heroism
Michael G. Lemish, Paperback, Brassey's, Inc., November 1999

...War Dog Heroes: True Stories of Dog Courage in Wartime
Jeanette Sanderson, Paperback, Scholastic, Inc., March 1997

...War Dog Heroes: True Stories of Dog Courage in Wartime
Jeannette Sanderson, Hardcover, Demco Media, May 1997

...Dog Company Six, Edwin Howard & Howard Simmons,
Hardcover, Naval Institute Press, May 2000 Paul B. Morgan, Paperback,
Hellgate Press, January 1999

...Dog Tags of Courage: The Turmoil Of War And Rewards Of Companionship,
John C. Burnam, Foreword by Michael A. Hamilton, Hardcover, Lost Coast Press, September 1999

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Source:
.. War Dogs ~ The Untold Story Of Dogs In Combat
.. Information And Some Pictures From: Quartermaster - The War Dog Program
.. War Dogs: A History of Loyalty and Heroism, Author: Michael G. Lemish