A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-24-03...War Dogs...Forgotton Heros

Dutchess, Gizmo and Billie

[dutchess]

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

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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 09-22-03 Military Monday 09-23-03...Isabel

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[ST.LOUIE1]

"You're kinda corny, Sis. I like it!! "

Just goes to prove our family ties. :)

I think Mom told me you were adopted. : )

[JustAmy]

LOL

Need to duck out for a meeting. I'll be back tonight; will see you either then or tomorrow.

[Mama_Bear]

And he's a frog! With yellow bumps on him. Fuzzy, is JKFrog diseased? : )

Well, if you must know, it's hereditary and something we don't normally talk about. You know, it's not easy being green......and it's especially difficult when you're green with yellow bumps. LOL But, I love him anyway....he's my honeyfrog. :-)

[dutchess]

It must be a straight line of a joke you've fallen for . . . Hmm. "Argentina." Mysterious comment . . . .

My dogs are staring at me as I talking to the monitor...Ar gen tin a.... Ar...gent..in....a

clearly I'm missing something...help!!!! I'll be dreaming "Argentina" ALL night

[chance33_98]

Hey Ladies, Freeperette LadyShallot wanted me to let you know she cannot be there tomorrow. My explorer is in the shop until next week sometime (brakes and other problems) so I am using the mom-mobile for work currently. She did invite you all to the pumpkin show here in our town and hopes you can make it (we live on main street in the heart of the show, so stop in, have a cool drink, and watch the parades from the comfort of the back porch!).

Again, both our apologies for the late notice, I had hoped to have the car back today but it is not gonna happen :(

[ST.LOUIE1]

Ok, Sis....see ya later!

[ST.LOUIE1]

And he's a frog! With yellow bumps on him. Fuzzy, is JKFrog diseased? : )

Well, if you must know, it's hereditary and something we don't normally talk about. You know, it's not easy being green......
and it's especially difficult when you're green with yellow bumps. LOL

ROTFL!! And a ....SNORF!

But, I love him anyway....he's my honeyfrog. :-)

Awwww....that's sweet. : )

Wait a minute! You told me you don't like honey. Square that. : )

[dutchess]

Oh shucks...sorry your going to miss it Chris..but so am I. This definately means a get together after the first of the year.

Would LOVE to do the pumpkin festival...we have some great friends in Circleville who have been trying to get us there for years...Unfortunately that's the weekend (as is this year) that we drive my folks to Florda for the winter. We hear this is one of the best festivals of the state however. ENJOY!

[The Mayor]

You two never let us down if you're 'in town', and this hostess is always glad to see the little red plane and the purple cup! All's well. :)

It is always my pleasure, and Thankyou!!

[lonestar]

"Don't cry for me, Argentina..."

[dutchess]

"Don't cry for me, Argentina..."

Got it...(and one of my favorite songs). Not crying Weinie...hope you come back often! :o)

[FreeTheHostages]

Ah! Got it!!

[WVNan]

Oh poo......I was so looking forward to seeing you dutchess. I have an idea! Why don't you and hubby take some time and come to Pt.Pleasant for Battle Days, Oct.3-5. You would have a great time and learn some fun history. You can stay in my guest suite, complete with queen size bed, private bath and outside entrance. Ask OhioWfan. I will be dressing in my Revolutionary costume and meeting/greeting people. Fri. night there is a lantern tour through the park that is great. Actors play the different historical people and tell their story. I never tire of it. Sat. there is a parade, ox roast, music, crafts, etc. Sunday you could go hear me preach. How can you refuse? LOL

[WVNan]

Oh no! No Hannah? I can't believe how this is falling apart. Your town (where?) sounds like mine. I watch the parades from the front porch. Is it possible for one of the girls to pick LadyS up? Is she on someone's route?

[WVNan]

Circleville? I come right through there. I can pick up LadyS.

[hdrider]

http://dposs.com/k9/history.htm

I spent two tours in Southeast Asia in '68-69 and miss my partners I left behind, EVERYDAY. One of my dogs saved five lives while giving his ultimate sacrifice. Beno was KIA in an ambush in '68 along the VietNam/Laos border.
The above link gives a history of the War Dogs in our Military Service. God bless them all. One day their handlers will cross the Rainbow Bridge and be united once again.

[dutchess]

Thank you for your post and the link. I learned so much researching this and only scratched the surface. There is so much going on with adoptions....memorials...I would love you to freepmail me and we could do another thread about this.

[dutchess]

One day their handlers will cross the Rainbow Bridge and be united once again.

AMEN

[dutchess]

Oh poo......I was so looking forward to seeing you dutchess. I have an idea! Why don't you and hubby take some time and come to Pt.Pleasant for Battle Days, Oct.3-5.

After 28 years of marriage (with no kids) hubby and I are experiencing what you all went through...only with adults...Not only is my (OUR) work life heck...we go up and close the folks place up in Michigan next weekend...then drive them down to Florida the following weekend. ( I think the week we go to Michigan is your festival) It's just nuts. I just wish I could be there tomorrow. How about January?????

[LadyX]

Wonderful thread today, dutchess.
My apology for arriving so late.

It's hard for me to realize many here have no personal knowledge of the tremendous job done by dogs in WWII.
As a child then, it was for me a most impressive thing, and we heard many such stories of the heroics of them and their handlers.

Even children then could understand how unreliable field radio transmissions were in a war situation, as unsophisticaterd as communications equipment was then.

If they operated at all, the range was not far, and apt to be filled with static - and could be overheard by the enemy and their positions revealed.

Trained dogs also were not readily recognized as an 'Enemy' (no uniform..:)) and apt to not register as an unusual sight, scurrying around.