A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day....10-06-04....War Dogs (re-run)

dutchess

[dutchess]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_bear, dutchess, Aquamarine,

How precious we "creatures" great and small are. As we salute our military we thought it appropriate to spotlight some of our "behind the scene "heros", the War Dogs who have been serving our country since WWII. God bless our military men, women and canine friends...

"War Dogs...Forgotten Heros" Compiled from the Archives of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum & Quartermaster Historian, Fort Lee, Virginia by K. M Born.

The Army Quartermaster Corps began the U.S. Armed Forces first war dog training during WWII. By 1945 they had trained almost 10,000 war dogs for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

A little known, but interesting chapter in Quartermaster History is the War Dog program. During World War II, not long after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the American Kennel Club and a new group calling itself "Dogs for Defense" mobilized dog owners across the country to donate quality animals to the Quartermaster Corps. Dogs donated by a patriotic public to the Army saved the lives of a number of soldiers in combat.

The first estimates were that only about 200 dogs would be needed, but that soon changed. Dogs for Defense worked with qualified civilian trainers, who volunteered their services without pay, to train dogs for the program. Soon the demand for sentry dogs outstripped the original limited training program. As requirements increased reception and training responsibility was transferred to the Quartermaster Remount Branch, which had years of experience dealing with animals. Dogs for Defense continued its highly successful campaign to solicit donations of dogs. In the fall of 1942 the program expanded to procure and train dogs for the Navy and Coast Guard as well. Later these branches procured and trained their own dogs.

Total training time for a dog was between 8-12 weeks. At the training centers, dogs began a rigid military routine. A "basic training" period was initiated where dogs were trained to carry out certain fundamental commands such as sit, stay, come, etc... They were also accustomed to muzzles, gas masks, riding in military vehicles and to gunfire. After completion of basic training each dog went through specialized training:

Sentry Dogs

Worked on a short leash and were taught to give warning by growling, alerting or barking. They were especially valuable for working in the dark when attack from cover or the rear was most likely. The sentry dog was taught to accompany a military or civilian guard on patrol and gave him warning of the approach or presence of strangers within the area protected.

Scout or Patrol Dogs

In addition to the skills listed for sentry dogs, scout/patrol dogs were trained to work in silence in order to aid in the detection of snipers, ambushes and other enemy forces in a particular locality.

Messenger Dogs

The most desired quality in these dogs was loyalty, since he must be motivated by the desire to work with two handlers. They learned to travel silently and take advantage of natural cover when moving between the two handlers. (A total of 151 messenger dogs were trained.)

Mine Dogs

Called the M-Dog or mine detection dog they were trained to find trip wires, booby traps, metallic and non-metallic mines. (About 140 dogs were trained. Only two units were activated. Both were sent to North Africa where the dogs had problems detecting mines under combat conditions.)

Outstanding War Dogs

Probably the most famous War Dog was Chips. Chips was donated by Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York, was trained at Front Royal , Virginia in 1942, and was among the first dogs to be shipped overseas. He was assigned to the 3d Infantry Division and served with that unit in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. His assignments included sentry duty at the Roosevelt-Churchill conference in Casablanca in January 1943. Although trained as a sentry dog, Chips was reported on one occasion by members of Company I, 30th Infantry Regiment, to have broken away from his handler and attacked a pillbox containing an enemy machine gun crew in Sicily. He seized one man and forced the entire crew to surrender. He was also credited by the units to which he was assigned as having been directly responsible for capture of numerous enemy by alerting to their presence. In recognition of his service Chips was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, both were later revoked. In 1993 Disney produced a TV move about Chips called "Chips the War Dog".

Dick, a scout dog donated by Edward Zan of New York City, was cited for working with a Marine Corps patrol in the Pacific Area. This dog not only discovered a camouflaged Japanese bivouac but unerringly alerted to the only occupied hut of five, permitting a surprise attack which resulted in annihilation of the enemy without a single Marine casualty.

Returning War Dogs to Civilian Life

At the end of the war the Quartermaster Corps put into operation a plan for return of war dogs to their civilian owners. Dogs were sent to a reprocessing section for the purpose of rehabilitation for civilian life. Dogs were trained that every human was friendly and tested for such things as reaction to people riding around them on bicycles or placed in an area with a great amount of noise. Before return, each dog was given a final check by a veterinary officer. Shipment of the dog to the owner was made at government expense. Those dogs which the original owner did not desire were sold to the public by the Treasury Department with the assistance of Dogs for Defense. By early 1947 the return of all borrowed dogs was completed.

Postscript

The oldest memorial to War Dogs in the United States is at the Hartsdale (New York) Pet Cemetery. This memorial was dedicated in 1922 to War Dogs used in World War I. In 1994 a War Dog memorial was dedicated at the U.S. Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery on Guam to honor the dogs that served in the An effort is currently underway to to petition the U.S. Postal Service for a stamp honoring military working dogs.

How to Adopt a Retired Military Dog

The Department of Defense is now making Military Working Dogs that are no longer capable of performing their military duties available for adoption. Public Law 106-446 makes the Department of Defense military working dogs available for adoption to law enforcement agencies, former handlers of these dogs, and other persons capable of caring for these dogs. If you are interested in adopting one of the dogs please call Status Control at 1-800-531-1066.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 10-04-04 Military Monday 10-25-04...LET'S GET READY TO RUUMBLE!

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[dutchess]

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.

[dutchess]

Welcome. It's Pet Day at the Finest. Today is a repeat of a tribute to our very special "War Dogs". God bless our military men and women and canine friends! (and god bless our wonderful vice-president who was AWESOME last night!)

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning, dutchess. This is such wonderful post - a Finest tribute to our canine friends who have served and continue to serve so bravely along side our military men and women on the battlefield.

Thank you for rerunning this one, Sistah. It's one of my favorites.

[Texagirl4W]

Good morning, dutchess, and thanks for a great re-run. Re-runs are as welcomed as first-runs. You are right, our VP was awesome last night. What class he has.

[jwfiv]

Thank you, Dutchess, Giz, Rusty and Fred ... an excellent profile of our canine GIs, our soldiers' best friends.

I think our Vice-President did a pretty good job as a war dog last night ... gentlemanly, kindly and stern all at once.

In fact, our War Dog tore the Peace Puppy to shreds last night, and I'm sure Edwards cried in his limo all the way home afterwards, and feels like he's in the doghouse today ... such a derned fool he is.

It was beeeyoooteeeefull ... )

[dutchess]

God Bless Our Military
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess or Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan...................son mystery-ak......son, husband Gogrammy.............grandson Inspectorette................son Blessed American........nephew Slip18........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy.....2 nephews Pippin..........niece, loved one Pippin...nephew & his fiance weldgophardline...brother-in-law jamaly..................brother-in-law Future Snake Eater.........cousin WaterDragon............grandson WaterDragon..........son-in-law BeforeISleep.................son kimmie7.....................brother Armymarinemom..........3 sons LadyX.....................grandson fawn796...................nephew Dubya.......................nephew StarCMC...................brother ValerieUSA................2 sons Lakeside....................2 sons Spruce...................daughter Philman_36............2 nephews american_ranger.............son Warrior Nurse........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly.......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty cjk.......................... active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL............active duty AF_Blue..................active duty Notwithstanding......active duty thumperusn.............active duty Q6-God..................active duty Q6-God.................twin brother Veloxherc...............actuve duty Don Simmons........active duty

Maigrey.....................cousin WVNan....................friend's son ladtx..........................2 sons Mama_Bear..............2 nephews gator girl..................husband severa.............husband, brother Hostel........................cousin MozartLover............son, nephew LBGA.............................son katykelly......................son cookcounty...................son SpookBrat....nephew, cousin Doug from Upland.....son-in-law Himyar......................son boxerblues............... sons the piper...................son sheeza................husband kemathen7............husband Tiffee4Bob..........boyfriend deadhead..................cousin JimRobinson.......2 nephews TexKat.............son, step-son RoseinRoseBear.cousin's hubby Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel......................niece Donaeus....................nephew dixiesass..................nephew BeAllYouCanBe............son Repubmommy...............brother AgThorn....................2 sons homeschoolmama.........nephew kneezles.......................son Redhead.........stepdaughter Redhead..step-grdaughter's fiance Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...niece Atomic Conspiracy...nephew SunflowerGal..........grandson visualops..................cousin auboy......................cousin Alouette......................son spotbust1.................husband mrstank......................husband MrsMike31................husband

[dutchess]

It was beeeyoooteeeefull ... )

Yes it was....I almost felt sorry for Edwards (not!)

[dutchess]

Hi friends....Sure is slow here today! Wish I could be freeping instead of working....Between the Freeperthon winding down in just over a day and the debate bet FR is hopping! Have a great day!

[dansangel]

((((((dutchess))))))) - great reintroduction to some awfully brave and important 4-legged members of our military. Thank you for the reminder that there are priceless non-human components to our military might.

(((((HUGS)))))) to all at the Finest. I am still feeling very warm and fuzzy after VP Cheney's outstanding presence at the debate last night. He used kerry's marionette as a floor mop and did it with much style and aplomb. Mr. Cheney is a well-spoken, articulate man who uses his facts and knowledge extremely well. We are truly blessed.

FOUR MORE YEARS!

:-)

[Mama_Bear]

Hey, you are back! Are you pretty much settled in? Hope so.

"kerry's marionette"......LOL. I love it! Yes, Cheney did a great job last night, but I swear, it was pure torture listening to Edwards. If I had been Cheney I wouldn't have been unable to resist the urge to reach over and grab him around his little marionette neck and shake him silly. To me, his accent and mannerisms and attitude are like fingernails on a blackboard! Everything about him grates on my nerves.....(and Kerry's a whole other ball of ugly wax).

So glad to see you back among us, ((((((((sistah Dansy)))))))).

[DollyCali]

Thank you Dutchess.

Interesting info on "military" dogs. when I saw this notation in my pings I immediately thought of movie (I always think of a movie, addict that I am) The Patriot.. recall the two dogs that Mel "captured" & kept? comical injection in a pretty serious movie.

(I will get you the Oliver -story in next day or so.)

Spent 3 hours reading the live thread from last nights debate. Cheney was so cool. Passed on ticket for Live party afterward as My several companions did NOT have tickets & they would have a long wait for me & both had to work next AM...

sigh..

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

041005-N-4565G-006 Arabian Gulf (Oct. 5, 2004) - An E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the "Tigertails" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW-125), prepares to launch off the conventionally powered aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). Kennedy and embarked Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) are currently on deployment in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Tommy Gilligan (RELEASED)

040825-N-2653P-040 Atlantic Ocean (Aug. 25, 2004) – Sonar Officer, Lt. j.g. Andrew Waldman, utilizes the infra-red function on the photonics display aboard the attack submarine PCU Virginia (SSN 774). Virginia is the Navy’s only major combatant ready to join the fleet that was designed with the post-Cold War security environment in mind and embodies the war fighting and operational capabilities required to dominate the littorals while maintaining undersea dominance in the open ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 1st Class James Pinsky (RELEASED)

040929-N-0511C-170 Fremantle, Australia (Sept. 29, 2004) - The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) sits anchored off the coast of Fremantle, Australia during a scheduled port visit. Stennis and embarked Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are currently participating in a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman David A. Cochran (RELEASED)

[dansangel]

((((((M_B))))))))!

To me, his accent and mannerisms and attitude are like fingernails on a blackboard! Everything about him grates on my nerves.....(and Kerry's a whole other ball of ugly wax).

LOL! I agree. I was squirming in my seat listening to him last night, but what kept me motivated was waiting for VP Cheney's responses. I drummed my fists on the coffee table and shout "YES!!!" so many times last night I'm surprised we weren't evicted! :-)

So glad to see you back among us, ((((((((sistah Dansy)))))))).

Thank you. 'Tis mighty good to be back. I've missed you all so much.

[Mama_Bear]

I drummed my fists on the coffee table and shout "YES!!!" so many times last night I'm surprised we weren't evicted! :-)

LOL!

[GailA]

GOD bless our four legged friends who serve along with their handlers.

Gave out more B/C yard signs in my little berg today, have 30 left.

[Kitty Mittens]

To me, his accent and mannerisms and attitude are like fingernails on a blackboard! Everything about him grates on my nerves.....

LOL! I agree. I was squirming in my seat listening to him last night.

LOL! I'm with both of you!! Edwards accent bothers me, and I'm a Texan, from the South! Sometimes I wonder if he's 'adding to' that accent a little! Edwards and Kerry both give me the Heebeejeebies!

[Kitty Mittens]

Good thread, Dutchess! Thank you!

[dansangel]

Sometimes I wonder if he's 'adding to' that accent a little!

I have no doubt of that (((((((Kitty Mittens))))))))

We just moved from GA and even the natives there didn't drawl like he does. More of the same - him trying to appeal to "the common people." Yuck! What a condescending girlie-man!

[RottiBiz]

Thoroughly enjoyed re-reading "War Dogs." It's a favorite.

Loved the picture of Giz, Rusty and Fred, too.

You are such a special person -- and you saved Rusty's life.

[Mama_Bear]

We just moved from GA and even the natives there didn't drawl like he does. More of the same - him trying to appeal to "the common people." Yuck! What a condescending girlie-man!

Gosh, I am glad to hear this. After I made that remark about his accent grating on my nerves I thought...GREAT, I've just insulted all of my southern FRiends. LOL.

Glad to know that others, even southerners, find it annoying and over-done. :-)