Honoring war dogs this Memorial Day
May 30, 2011 • Trends • Rescue
Some gave all. Some never returned. On this Memorial Day and always, we bow our heads and raise our American flag to honor those who fought for our freedoms, defended our honor, and showed bravery in the face of adversity, then and now. We here at FIDO Friendly magazine honor five canine soldiers who in some capacity put a face to the war from a dog’s perspective.
Rin Tin Tin – best known and remembered for movies and television fame, when German Shepherd Rin Tin Tin came to the United States, this breed was not widely known. Rin Tin Tin was actually the puppy of German war dogs and found in 1918 by an American Captain in Lorraine, France. He was found in an abandoned war dog station. Although not directly involved in war himself, Rin Tin Tin went on to movie fame for Warner Brothers.
William the Conquerer, or Willie – the dog of General Patton. Patton was a lover of bull terriers and is it any wonder that he acquired his first during World War I? The dog was appropriately named Tank. During World War II, Patton acquired Willie, a white bull terrier. The two went everywhere together. Patton died in December of 1945 from injuries sustained in a car accident. Willie lived his years out with Patton’s wife and daughters. A twelve-foot high bronze statue of the pair is erected at the Patton Memorial Museum in Chiriaco Summit, California.
Kaiser – the first Marine Scout Dog killed in action in Vietnam (July, 1966). It is believed that about 500 dogs and 250 handlers were killed during the Vietnam War. Marine Lance Corporal Alfredo Salazar was responsible for Kaiser and said, “He came to me and licked my hand. From then on we were a team.” And a team they were. They participated in more than 30 combat patrols and dozens of major operations. In July of 1966, Salazar and Kaiser were leading a patrol through heavy brush. Kaiser was hit almost immediately by heavy fire and hand grenades. Salazar said, “He tried to lick my hand but then he died.” He was carried back to the company area and buried under a shade tree. They named the area Camp Kaiser in his honor.
Fluffy – Iraq Special Forces Working Dog – A unit of twelve men deployed to northern Iraq requested help from Kurdish allies in the form of a dog. What they were given was an abused German Shepherd former Iraqi police dog, weighing only 31 pounds and severely underweight with missing teeth. After about 2 weeks of training (not nearly the amount most dogs receive), Fluffy was put to work. He guarded Special Forces soliders during missions. Sgt. 1st Class Russell Joyce said, “He’s been in harm’s way and shot at more time than anyone on my team.” Fluffy retired and fears arose he may be euthanized because he had to stay behind in Iraq (due to customs and health laws). Joyce urged Senators, the Pentagon and the State Department to gain public support. In the 1993, Fluffy flew from Iraq to Germany and then onto Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina, where he lived out hisyears with Sgt. Joyce.
Stubby – hero dog of World War I – So touching and amazing is the story of Stubby that his military gear on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Stubby’s journey begins with the Great War in Europe. Because times were not good in France, the American Forces were viewed as second class soldiers and not to be trusted. Stubby lifted morale by visiting soldiers and warning them of gas attacks such as waking sleeping sentry. On one occasion, Stubby flushed out a German spy in the Argonne region by clamping down on the seat of his pants until backup could arrived. He was a lifetime American Legion member and marched in each of their parades until his passing. He has perhaps one of the longest and greatest tributes in the form of an obituary, which appeared in a three-column tribute of the New York Times. Read it here.
Learn more about the U.S. War Dog Memorial here.
Furry Angel
by Christopher Dion
She is my guardian angel
Clad in 2 tone fur
Ever there beside me
In the darkness as in the light
Her nose ever seeks out
That which would destroy
She walks head long into danger
All to see me safely home
No gold or glory does she seek
Merely my love and a little praise
No truer angel has man ever known
Than this dog that walks beside me
In this far off foreign land
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