Quite at random I was browsing the history section of a local used book store and picked up a volume titled "War Dogs." A little dry at times but full of information I've never encountered before, it's a wonderful account of the United State's canine military history. A book-lover loves reccommending books to others almost as much as reading them, so here is a link to the book on Amazon: [link
http://www.amazon.com/War-Dogs-History-Loyalty-Heroism/dp/1574882163/sr=1-1/qid=1169360919/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5872296-5351346?ie=UTF8&s=books]http://www.amazon.com/War-Dogs-History-Loyalty-Heroism/dp/1574882163/sr=1-1/[/link]
[link
http://www.amazon.com/War-Dogs-History-Loyalty-Heroism/dp/1574882163/sr=1-1/qid=1169360919/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5872296-5351346?ie=UTF8&s=books]qid=1169360919/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5872296-5351346?ie=UTF8&s=books[/link]
Please consider purchasing a copy if you enjoy the couple stories from it I'll share below, and support the author's hard work and research. [
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We've heard a lot from the media about what 'terrible human-killers' pitbulls are. I submit, for your consideration, one of the earliest American 'war dog' heroes recorded in '
War Dogs':
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Stubby the Pit Bull
[align=left] During the summer of 1917, Stubby became the mascot of the 102d Infantry, part of the army's 26th "Yankee” Division, while they completed their military training in the Yale Bowl near Hartford. [Robert] Conroy smuggled him aboard ship at Newport News, VA, and the pair landed together at St. Nazaire, France, in January 1918. Stubby joined the fighting with the 102d on February 5, 1918, at Chemin des Dames, just north-west of Soissons. During one night while the troops slept, he warned a sleeping sergeant of an impending gas attack, allowing time for the soldiers to don their masks. Another time, Stubby acted as a sentry, clamping his teeth onto a German infiltrator who was then quickly captured.
The small dog accompanied the men into the Toul sector, where he inadvertently strayed into no-man's-land, receiving a shrapnel wound for the errant walk. After recovery from the injury, Stubby and the 102d participated in battles at Chateau-Thierry, the Marne, Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne. The men fashioned a Victory Medal with five bars and attached it to his collar to display his participation in each offensive.
As Stubby's popularity grew, Several French women fashioned a blanket for him to wear. For unknown reasons, it became popular for people to pin medals on the blanket, and shortly be became known as the "Hero Dog.” The actions of Stubby may not be considered heroic, although several messages were carried by the short-tailed dog under enemy fire, but heroism is a broadly-defined term, and if devotion to duty is included within the attributes of a hero, then Stubby fulfills the definition.
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Chips - GSD/Husky/Collie Mutt
[align=left] Chips was a mixed-breed German shepherd, husky, and collie, and was donated to the army by Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York. He arrived at the Front Royal War Dog Center in the early part of 1942. Upon completion of the sentry training class he was attached to the 30th Infantry, Third Infantry Division, based at Camp Pickett, VA, and was paired with Pvt. John P. Rowell as his handler. …
In October 1942 they departed Newport News, VA, as part of the North African invasion fleet and soon landed at the Vichy-held beaches of Fedallah in French Morocco. …
On July 10th, 1943, the Third Division landed in Sicily as part of Brig. Gen. George S. Patton's Seventh Army. …
At about 0420, in the early morning light, Rowell and Chips worked inland about three hundred yards toward what appeared to be a small grass-covered hut but was in reality a camouflaged pillbox. A machine gun opened fire and immediately Chips broke loose from Rowell, trailing his leash and running full-steam toward the hut. Moments later, the machine-gun fire stopped and an Italian soldier appeared with Chips slashing and biting at his arms and throat. Three soldiers followed with their arms raised in surrender. Rowell called Chips off and took the four Italians prisoner. What actually occurred in the pillbox is known only by the Italians and, of course, the dog. Chips received a minor scalp wound and displayed 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, indicating that Chips was solely responsible.
Chips stayed on duty after receiving treatment for his wounds, and later that night he alerted to ten Italian soldiers approaching on a road. Rowell, showing his rifle, took all ten prisoner. The exploits of the war dog soon became well-known throughout the division, and the press seized the opportunity to promote the "hero dog.”
Chips went on to be awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, the regulation prohibiting the issuance of medals to animals having been waived especially for him. [
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I just wanted to share a couple of the stories I've enjoyed so far with other dog-lovers. All I hear and read these days is 'dog attacks this' and 'dog bites that.' It feels good to remember how much our dogs have given for us, and what lion's hearts they have.