

In 1966, a German Shepherd dog named Nemo and his handler, Airman Second Class Robert Thorneburg, both survived gunshot wounds while fighting in Vietnam. The statue features the tiny dog sitting inside a combat helmet, smiling her trademark smile. On Veterans Day in 2005, a memorial for Smoky was unveiled in the Rocky Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks in Lakewood, Ohio. Smoky lived in Cleveland with Wynne and his family until her death in 1957 at age 14.
#Real war dogs story tv
After the war, Smoky and Wynne made numerous TV appearances together, performing tricks and telling their amazing story. Smoky is also now recognized as the first therapy dog, as she spent many hours both during the war and back home visiting veterans and entertaining them with the varied collections of tricks that Wynne taught her. Wynne credits his dog with saving his life by guiding him away from incoming fire on a transport ship. Wynne and Smoky stayed together for the next two years of the war, and the little dog survived the heat, limited food rations, typhoons, air raids, combat missions and even a 30ft parachute jump (she had her own special parachute). Found in the New Guinea jungle by an American soldier during WWII, Smoky was later sold to another soldier, Corporal William A. Smoky, a four-pound Yorkshire Terrier, proves that war dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Stubby’s tough facade belied an inner strength and loyalty that are worthy of celebration. Pershing, commander of the American forces in Europe, who saluted the dog’s “heroism of highest caliber” and “bravery under fire.” The famous hero dog led parades, met three Presidents and became the mascot of Georgetown University in Washington, DC. The fearless pup performed a number of vital roles, including alerting troops to incoming gas attacks, catching German spies, locating missing soldiers in between the trenches and boosting morale.Īt the war’s end, the brave dog received a medal from Gen. Robert Conroy and the 102nd Infantry, 26th Yankee Division. He served in 17 battles in France alongside his best friend Private J. He eventually became the most famous canine hero of WWI. Sergeant Stubby, a mixed breed dog with a stubby tail (possibly a Bull Terrier or Boston Terrier mix), started out as a stray who hung around a group of soldiers while they were training in New Haven, CT. When the surviving veterans of the 11th Pennsylvania gathered in 1890 to dedicate a monument in honor of their fallen fellow soldiers, they made sure to include a bronze depiction of Sallie Ann, patiently keeping watch as she had so bravely during the war. Sadly, Sallie Ann was shot and killed at the Battle of Hatcher’s Run in February 1865. They found her several days later, guarding her wounded and dead fellow soldiers. On the first day of the famous Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, Sallie Ann became separated from her regiment. Sallie Ann Jarrett is depicted in a 1890 monument to the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry in Gettysburg, PA Sallie Ann (the dog) was given to the regiment as a puppy by a civilian, and raised by the soldiers, marching alongside them and boosting morale with her cheerful antics. Her name is a combination of the Infantry’s commander Phaon Jarrett and Sallie Ann, a young woman who stopped to chat with the soldiers while they practiced their drills in Philadelphia. Sallie Ann Jarrett, a female Pit Bull Terrier (or possibly a Staffordshire Bull Terrier), served as a mascot of the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry during the American Civil War. 1) Sallie Ann Jarrettĭogs have played an important role in the United States military since the early 1800s. Here are the stories of five of these heroic military working dogs, whose bravery, dedication and strength are an inspiration to us all. With so many heroes to praise, we turn our attention to the subject we know best: dogs. The DogWatch team joins in this salute, and thanks all veterans for their courageous service. Every November 11, our nation honors the brave men and women who went to war to defend our country.
