[LadyX]

"I been pingin ya frum time ta time, right?"

Wringing from me the fact I am negligent by not seeing all the hails to me, getting buried when I make so many replies here on the Finest - - eyes cast down; scruffing toe in the dirt..

Doesn't mean I kin ever ferget yew, though, Wasperman, and our savin' the forests from - well, um, ladies intent on stopping the loggers - and our Wunnerful Word Jousts..:))

My section of the East Coast is doing just fine, conservative and patriotic to the max! Makes for easy livin' - -

[LadyX]

~ ~ CHIPS ~ ~

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.

[lonestar]

This is cute for those who love critters.

http://www.squirtsplace.com/miscfun/LittleBittyCutePets.swf