by kramoltz@hotmail.com | Apr 18, 2023 | Animal Stories (mostly Dogs in the Military)
In Draft Dogs, I wrote about the use of dogs to haul loads for the warring parties in the First World War. In that conflict, the French created a special saddle harness coupled with a light connecting bar to a cart for some of their transportation in that war. But...
by kramoltz@hotmail.com | Nov 7, 2022 | Animal Stories (mostly Dogs in the Military)
In the U.S. during WWII, dogs were donated by the public to the war effort through the Dogs for Defense program. After the war was over, the military returned the lucky dogs who survived the conflict to their homes. England had a similar program and Brutus was a...
by kramoltz@hotmail.com | May 16, 2022 | Animal Stories (mostly Dogs in the Military)
One of the most important roles for dogs in wartime was to enhance moral. Soldiers missed their own pets and were eager for a distraction – specially a furry one. These dogs were not officially sanctioned or trained but were adopted by various units for their...
by kramoltz@hotmail.com | Mar 15, 2022 | Animal Stories (mostly Dogs in the Military)
There were no fewer than 57 dogs named Duke enlisted in the Marine Corps in World War II. One of them was awarded the Dickin Medal for service in Normandy. But the Dog Record Books in the National Archive show that gun shyness was a real problem, washing out roughly a...
by kramoltz@hotmail.com | Nov 15, 2021 | Animal Stories (mostly Dogs in the Military)
One night in the WW1 trenches Stubby was resting with the men in a dugout. Suddenly he lifted his head and his ears pricked alert. He sniffed the air, uttered a low growl, then sprang to his feet and ran out the bunker. A few seconds later there was a sharp cry of...