Dogs and the Military

[doinworkinvans]

This is "blitzie" - she's ready to go!

[seanmc1114]

Eighth Army military policeman reenlists with his dog. I guess the dog outranks the handler.

[notinfringed]

here are a few from my collection. I'm not sure of the location of the first one. The second one is from an 11th Air Force album from the Aleutians.

 

More Aleutian mutts. The third picture is from a 1950s Navy weatherman's album, stationed on Kodiak Island.

 

A few more. I believe these are all either Kodiak or Anchorage.

 

These are from a PX officer's album from Anchorage.

 

From Whitehorse Canada during the building of the Alaska Highway. Not the greatest picture, but there are at least four puppies playing around the tree.

 

Navy pups. I believe from Kodiak island.

 

These are the last two. They are from an 11th Air Force photo album from the Aleutians.

[Squad leader]

Here is a photo of T-patch, the mascot of the 36th Inf. division.

 

Dan.

[world war I nerd]

Not U.S... but it is military. It also has a dog, and it's a cool photo.

[GITom1944]

From https://www.loc.gov/resource/hec.36136/

 

Aloysius Smith Neff Finngan, mascot of the guardhouse being buried with full military honors at Fort Myer, VA. One of his canine friends, Barnacle Bill, appears to be sitting at attention.

 

 

Tom

 

 

[Wharfmaster]

Dog ID tag. Navy Bomb Sqdn. I assume.

 

W

[patches]

 

An unknown Marine in Korea, Ooo Circa winter 1952-53.

[Salvage Sailor]

L Troop 4th Cavalry Baseball Team, 1915, Territory of Hawaii

[Vincennes]

Here is a WW1 postcard with 4 dogs leading the troops at Camp Travis, TX.

 

Paul

[Vincennes]

This weekend I bought a collection of 56 photos and postcards from the estate of a Navy sailor who served in WW2. The material is from right at the end of the war when their ship was sent to Japan to support the evacuation of POW's. I THINK the ship was the USS Mugford.

 

Here are a couple photos from that collection. Notice that in the lower photo the dog is wearing a jacket with shoulder rank insignia and ribbons. He looks like he thinks he is the Captain of the ship.

 

Paul

 

[patches]

NY-George-Hickman2.jpg

 

A photo taken around 1928 in NYC's Fort Jay (Governors Island) of 1st Sgt Geo Hickman 16th Infantry, 1st Division with the regimental mascot Rags. Hickman served for a long time when this picture was taken, to include the Great War. Of note is the wear of the DIs in the original position, above the collar discs, and the wear of the overseas cap, most uncommon at this date, Service Caps and Campaign Hats were the order of the day in them days.

 

Here one more photo Rags and Top Hickman 16th Infantry.

 

Rags I was suprised has his very own WIKI

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rags_%28dog%29

[Allan H.]

This is a photo of "Salvo the Paradog" which was one of the US airborne mascots in World War II. I was shown a copy of this official US Army Air Forces photo which is titled "Salvo the Paradog." It states that the photo was taken "somewhere in England." DOes anyone know which unit Salvo belonged to?

 

Allan

[Allan H.]

Here is a pretty good image of "Trixies" who was evidently another US airborne mascot. This photo was taken at Fort Benning, GA. I found this image at Spiegel Online http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/photo-gallery-the-history-of-parachuting-dogs-fotostrecke-105025-11.html

[Allan H.]

This brave dog might be the original Paradog. This photo, most likely taken in the early 1920's, shows members of the Aviation Section of the Colorado National Guard with a dog named Jeff. According to the Speigel Online website, Jeff died in a parachuting accident. "After making several successful jumps, he was killed in August 1924, when his chute failed to open." http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/photo-gallery-the-history-of-parachuting-dogs-fotostrecke-105025.html

[Allan H.]

Here are a couple of images of a Marine dog in Vietnam. The dog's name, Lobo, is seen jumping into a DZ in Vietnam in 1968. Again, photos from Spiegel Online- http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/photo-gallery-the-history-of-parachuting-dogs-fotostrecke-105025-9.html

 

If anyone else has photos of parachuting dogs, I'd love to see them.

 

Allan

[Wolfhound]

The one I am familiar with is Smokey, a Yorkie, also known as The Yorkie Doodle Dandy. Found in New Guinea, they thought she may have been an IJA/IJN pet, but was not. A soldier bought here for a few bucks by Bill Wynne. She eventually flew some photo recon missions and ran some cable through a narrow pipe in the Phillipines to help restore air field communications. Went on to be a rehab dog after the war and also I think some TV spots.

Pics from Huffington Post website

[Allan H.]

From the UK newspaper "The Telegraph" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/05/recipients-of-the-pdsas-dickin-medal-the-animal-version-of-the-v/

"A military dog who lost a leg when sniffing out a roadside bomb has been awarded the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross after serving in more than 400 missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lucca, a 12-year-old German shepherd, served in the US Marine Corps for six years, protecting the lives of troops by sniffing out munitions. Her efforts were awarded with the PDSA Dickin Medal, the highest award for animals serving in military conflict. Lucca's owner, Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham, travelled to London with his pet to accept the medal."

 

Allan

[Allan H.]

THis is what the Dickin Medal looks like.

 

Allan

[The Meatcan]

Those are some incredible pix of the paradogs! I can't even imagine what must have been going through their canine brains while dangling from those chutes! What a trip!

Terry

[Allan H.]

There were other mascots like "Furlough," who was a dachshund obtained by members of the 551st PIB. Furlough jumped into combat in the pack of his handler. Furlough disappeared during the Battle of the Bulge.

 

Allan

[Allan H.]

Here are two links to other WWII US parachuting dogs articles with some more great photos!

http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/raining-dogs-u-s-army-parachute-animals-in-world-war-ii/

http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/parachuting-dogs/2/

Allan

[gunbarrel]

I can't believe it's going to be 10 years since I started this thread. To all who have contributed, I offer my sincere thanks. Keep it going!

[hardheaded]

.

[patches]

 

Two Coast Guard dogs, one a Duty Dog the other a mascot.