Replies

Cool story today, snipppy.

Here's another cool WWII story that ran in the paper. I wish the online version had pictures; the paper version had them. Have you guys done a canine foxhole?

PLAINFIELD -- In 1944, Frank E. Sims, a Plainfield native, was sent to the Philippines to battle the Japanese. As part of the K-9 Division of the Quartermaster Corp. of the Army, Frank was assigned a dog named Queenie, said his brother Bob L. Sims.

"She was trained as a messenger dog," he said. "Frank rarely talked about his exploits but did tell that Queenie and he shared a mess kit at meal time and a fox hole at night."

During one of those nights, he said Frank was awakened by Queenie licking on his face to alert him that danger was at hand. The story is that three Japanese soldiers were sneaking up on his fox hole; Frank survived and the enemy did not.

When Frank was sent home to Plainfield in 1945, he petitioned the Army to let Queenie become his pet. His brother said the request was granted and after the dog was "de-trained," Queenie was shipped to Plainfield to live out her days with her beloved master.

"Eyewitnesses said that she nearly demolished her shipping crate upon seeing Frank approaching," Sims said.

Queenie became somewhat of a celebrity in town, he said, as many articles and pictures about her were published in the Friday Caller.

Frank worked for his brother George's Standard filling station on Main Street and that is where Queenie would hang out, Sims said.

Queenie died in the early 1950s. Frank died in 1994.

Two years ago, Sims began to petition Plainfield Plus to have Frank's name engraved on the war memorial flagpole in Friendship Gardens. His stipulation, however, was that Queenie be included in the stone remembrance. Bob said that some people in the organization objected to having the dog's name placed on a memorial for local men and women who served during wartime. But Sims protested that Queenie was also a member of the army and had as much right to be placed on the monument as Frank did.

"She had a serial number tattooed in her ear," Sims said. "They were as close as a human and a dog could be."

Two years may seem like a long time, but names are added to the monument only once a year. After awhile, the town agreed to include Queenie on the memorial.

Last month, the names were added to the memorial and Sims said every morning he walks by it and remembers.

Names may be added to the memorial at a cost of $75 each, Plainfield Plus President Scott Flood said.

Mornin' Samwise! Thanks for the great story about Queenie. She must have been one hell of a dog. Just more proof why "a dog is man's best friend." :)

Good morning Samwise. That's a great story about "Queenie".

Have you guys done a canine foxhole?

Yes we have but some of the pictures from our old server are gone now.

The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Canine Marine Raiders (1943-45) - Mar. 25th, 2003

I think it's time we did another thread on our Service Dogs, don't you? SAM, you want this one, or shall we toss a coin? I know we both love dogs!!

Two years may seem like a long time, but names are added to the monument only once a year. After awhile, the town agreed to include Queenie on the memorial.

Last month, the names were added to the memorial and Sims said every morning he walks by it and remembers.

Good Morning Samwise, what a heartwarming story for a Friday Morning. Thanks for sharing.