While we adore our domesticated dogs for the boundless love, hugs, and laughs they bestow upon us, our respect and gratitude for the dogs that serve in the military is based on their ability to perform important jobs.
canines in the military are trained to detect out bombs, find fallen soldiers, act as couriers, and even warn their teams of potential attacks. These canines are considered heroes in their own right.
The bravery and devotion of military dogs has been repeatedly demonstrated over the course of their careers.
4 military canines that you should remember
As a way to honor those who have died in service to our country on Memorial Day, we thought it would be fitting to reflect on some of the most well-known military canines and the brave deeds they performed.
When Stubby first met some troops in Connecticut who were preparing for World combat I, he was a stray dog in Connecticut. Later, he became the most famous combat dog in the United States. He was brought along on their mission to France and ended up saving his division in a number of different ways, such as alerting his unit to the presence of explosives, identifying injured soldiers and staying with them until they were rescued, and even locating and holding a German spy. He was taken along on their mission.
In a ceremony that took place at the White House, the Humane Education Society awarded him with the gold medal, and he also had the opportunity to meet Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren G. Harding.
When you think of a military dog, the Yorkshire Terrier surely isn’t the first breed that comes to mind. However, Smoky was just that. After being discovered by an American soldier in the jungle of New Guinea and sold to Corporal William A. Wynne, this 4-pound pup became a member of the military and served during World War II.
During the subsequent two years of the war, she remained with Corporal Wynne as her companion. During that time, she was given credit for participating in 12 separate combat missions, was given eight battle stars, and assisted engineers in the construction of an airbase by helping to feed cable through 70-foot pipes.
Lucca, a mixed breed of German shepherd and Belgian Malinois, served in the Marine Corps for six years, during which time he was sent three times to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. Lucca has been trained to identify explosives, and she has participated in over 400 missions. During one of these missions, she lost her leg when an explosive device that was close detonated while she was looking for another explosive device.
She was honored with the Dickin Medal by the PDSA, and a fellow Marine who had also been awarded the Purple Heart presented her with an unauthorized plaque
