OK, lets start off with the fact that Chips is a dog that serves in WWII.

 

Chips the War Dog Hero

Later that year, during the invasion of Sicily, Chips and his handler encountered a nest of machine gunners. Chips broke away from his handler and jumped into the pillbox to attack the concealed gunners. They were forced to leave the nest and surrendered to US troops.

During the skirmish, Chips sustained injuries, including a scalp wound 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 indicating that Chips was solely responsible."

Later that same day, he assisted in the capture of 10 more enemy soldiers.

For his actions during the war, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star for bravery and a Purple Heart for wounds received in action.

On November 19, 1943, Chips was awarded with the medals in a churchyard in Pientravairano, Italy. An excerpt from the citation reads:

For a special brand of courage, arising from love of master and duty. Chips' courageous act, single-handedly eliminating a dangerous machine-gun nest, reflects the highest credit on himself and the military service.

The awards were later taken away due to an Army policy which prevents official commendation of animals. Apparently, he had also broken the rules when he left his handler's side.

But, his unit took matters into their own hands and unofficially awarded him a Theater Ribbon with an Arrowhead for an assault landing, and Battlestars for each of his eight campaigns.

 

I thought that was the end of it, but there are other accounts that state that Chips was allowed to keep his awards after public pressure, but that no further animals were eligible.

 

OK< what is the real story. Did Chips get to keep his awards. If so, where are they now?

More info...

 

The AP reported on January 14, 1944 that Chips had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and that Chips had received the Purple Heart and Silver Star on November 19, 1943. Then on February 16, 1944, the wire service reported that after a protest from Thomas, he received a letter from the military that indicated that Chips was keeping his Silver Star, but no more medals would be awarded to dogs.

 

and

 

It all goes back to Chips. In 1942, the mixed-breed dog was volunteered to the war effort by his owner, Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York, reported Military.com. (After the attack on Pearl Harbor, civilians were permitted to enlist their dogs in the newly formed K-9 Corps.) Chips proved be invaluable as part of General Patton’s Seventh Army. While in Sicily, he protected his handler from an machine-gun attack on the beach, and later that night, while wounded, he alerted of an impending attack by the Italian army. Chips was awarded a Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, and Purple Heart.

Unfortunately, William Thomas, Commander of the Order of the Purple Heart at the time, caught word of Chip’s honors and complained that giving the medals to a dog was an insult to the men who received them. It’s been widely reported that Chips was stripped of his medals—but an article in a 1944 issue of Time magazine claimed, “The Army's Adjutant General, Major General James A. Ulio, ruled, following protests, that Chips could keep his medals but no more medals would be allowed to dogs.”

 

 

An update..I contacted a man that I though might know something about this dog.

 

He is the son of the man that donated Chips to the war effort. He said that Chips was his dog when he was a boy. He invited me to call him and discuss Chips.

 

Stay tuned....

Good stuff! I'm tuned in.

 

 

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Interesting! I have a Bronze Star Medal awarded to a dog in Vietnam. As far as I know, it was used as a display at the dog handler school in Florida where he was trained (and was later shut down).

I spoke with Mr. John Wren this morning. He is the son of the original owner of Chips. Chips was donated to the K-9 corps in WWII after he bit the local garbage man.

 

Mr. Wren confirmed that the decorations awarded to Chips were taken back by the government. I pointed out to him that the last word on that topic was from the Adjutant General of the Army, Major General James Ulio, who stated in 1944 after a public outcry that Chips could keep his medals. Mr. Wren was not aware of this.

 

I suggested the possibility of requesting replacement medals for Chips. I am going to touch base withe the Army and see what their reaction is to this. I am not holding my breath.

You could always talk to animal activist groups and your local news station about this. It's something they would eat up.

 

 

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Old thread, but I recently found these:

 

Chips' SS Award Orders:

 

Chips' SS Revocation Orders:

 

Silver Star or not, he was still a good boy.

Dan