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USMC Devil Dogs

For some time the use of trained dogs as sentinels and as messengers had been offically recognized. On Bougainville, the dogs were in the battle lines for the first time and beyond them as "points" for patrols into enemy areas.

By the third day of fighting, D plus 2 day, the Japs began firing at the dogs, Caesar, who carried the first war dog message of the war, was hit twice but more about later.

On D plus 7 days, as the Raiders pushed on into the jungle, Jack, a German Shepherd messager dog, and one of his handlers were hit during a sharp fire fight. Despite receiving a deep gash across his back, Jack reached his other handler with a message that the Nips had struck and stetcher beaers were needed. With the phone lines cut, Jack was the only means of communications the advance party had that day.

There was one other thing that quickly changed the Marines' view of the dogs to a very positive one.

In landing and fighting on islands quite often the Marines were stopped for a time on the beaches. It was a common tactic for the Japanese to infiltrate the beach positions at night time and attempt to kill the Marines.

To prevent this the Marines were always on the alert at night. One night a Marine battalion fired 3,800 rounds, killing a water buffalo and wounding one of their own Marines. But no enemy were known to be in the area.

The next night the Devildogs were called in. It was a quiet night and the Marines got some sleep.

Because of the Dobes keen sense of smell and hearing, they could detect the presence of men several hundred yards away. In one instance, the dogs detected the presence of Jap troops one half mile away.

The Dobes' handlers always had help digging their foxholes, the other Marines always wanted the handler and their dogs nearby.

No unit protected by one of the dogs was ever ambushed by the Japanese or was there ever a case of Japanese infiltration.

During the battles, the dogs led infantry points on advances, explored caves, pill boxes, dugouts, and scouted fortified positions. They did sentry duty with military police at crossroads day and night. They occupied foxholes in forward outposts at night.

They and their handlers were officially credited with leading three hundred and fifty patrols during the mop up phases of the battles. The handlers accounted for over three hundred enemy slain. Only one handler was killed on patrol.

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History Channel reran its hour on Iwo Jima yesterday with 3D digital depictions of key fortifications.

The bravery in combat of the American fighting man is unmatched and ever inspiring.

Charlie Daniels bemoans the politicians-sans-juevos drunk on eau de potomac but the withering fire of the silent majority, awakened as the sleeping giant it is [Tora³ 1970] and filled with a terrible rage may yet hold the line against infiltration through the rusty Glidden of the south two thousand.

God has blessed us with men who knew the right thing to do though it be at the cost of their lives.

That will inspire us to reverse the betrayal of politicians who do the wrong thing for the price of a vote.

Very interesting information about how the dogs helped during the war. Thanks.

Another 6 hours on the roof and off to work at my "real" job Bump for the Freeper Foxhole.

Great Thread SAM :-)

Thanks for the K-9 info Phil, good to see ya!!!

Y'all have a great day

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

Thanks for the information on the dogs Phil. Good to see you.

The bravery in combat of the American fighting man is unmatched and ever inspiring.

Always!

Thanks for the additional info on the war dogs.

Charlie Daniels bemoans the politicians-sans-juevos drunk on eau de potomac

Saw an interview with Charlie the other day, gotta love the guy.