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“US Marine War Dog Unit

World War II saw a new breed of Marine digging in on the front lines of the Pacific theater. They were the USMC War Dogs, and they were fitting companions for Marines who had already earned the nickname of “Devil Dogs.” The uncommon valor of these canine soldiers and their Marine Handlers saved countless American lives and made a major contribution to the struggle for victory.

Dogs have been widely used on the battlefield for years, even prior to World War II. However, the USMC War Dog program was the first to focus on the use of canines in combat situations. It was a gamble that paid off well. Shortly after 1942 when the program started, Handlers and their dogs found themselves in the midst of combat. They were so effective that by the end of the war, there were six platoons with over one thousand USMC War Dogs.

About seventy-five percent of the War Dogs were Doberman Pinschers. The Corps found the breed to have qualities that made exceptional fighters; they were loyal, intelligent, easily trained and their short hair helped them adapt to the hot, humid terrain of the Pacific theater. And like their human counterparts, the War Dogs underwent rigorous training to acclimate them to combat situations and to perform specific duties. As sniper hunters, their keen senses of smell and hearing allowed them to reveal the hidden assassins quickly and effectively. Up until then, sniper activity was a tremendous problem for the U.S. troops in the Pacific, especially within abandoned villages where snipers were easily concealed and extremely dangerous to find for humans, but easily sniffed out by the U.S. War Dogs. Perfect for detecting mines and booby traps, War Dogs could find mines that were buried six to eight feet deep. As messenger dogs, they were fitted with saddlebags, which carried maps, orders, ammo or medical supplies. As scouts, they took the “point” — their superior senses enabled them to detect enemy activity well ahead of their position, sometimes up to twenty or thiry minutes away.

The heart of their military effectiveness was the unique bond that War Dogs shared with their Handlers. Functioning like a single unit, War Dogs and the Handlers were together every hour of the day. They protected each other. Handlers carried rations for their four-legged friends and were trained in canine first aid. In addition to their combat duties, the dogs gave a snese of security to all the troops, who knew the dogs would alert them to hostile sounds and smells beyond their own perception. Today, a War Dog Memorial on Guam commemorates the tremendous contribution made by War Dogs in the Pacific. Fiercely loyal, highly intelligent, and utterly fearless — the USMC War Dogs were, in every sense, full-blooded Marines.”

http://dobermanheroes.blogspot.com/

“WAR DOGS WITH THE RAIDERS
(1-4 Chapt. 13 p187-199)

Dogs crossed the Alps with Hannibal, they marched with Ceasar’s Legions and even the Crusaders had their Mastiffs!

The first appearance of the Devil Dogs, as the Raiders were wont to call them, was during the Bougainville operation, 1 November 1943. Here the 1st Marine War Dog Platoon was attached to H & S Company, 2nd Marine Raider Regiment (provisional). This platoon was composed of 24 dogs (21 Doberman Pinschers, 1 Belgian and 2 German Shepherds).

The Platoon Commander Lt. Clyde A. Henderson stated: “To facilitate training and control in the field for every 5-6 dogs there was a Marine responsible for their well being.” When you view the fact that each dog had two handlers it is seen that the squad organization consisted of thirteen men-as were the
rifle squads at that time.

http://www.usmarineraiders.org/wardogs.htm