Made up predominantly of Dobermans, the so-called Devil Dogs trained for military service first in Cuba and then at the Marine War Dog Detachment Training School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. At the same time, there were the United States Marine Corps’ “Devil Dog” War Dog Platoons, which served in the Pacific. In WWII, Belgian sheepdogs were again used as message carriers, Red Cross dogs, and defense dogs. He played such a notable role in history that his remains are in the Smithsonian today.
Stubby’s been called the most decorated war dog of WWI and the only dog to be nominated and promoted to sergeant through combat. He’s said to have saved his regiment from mustard gas attacks, located and comforted the wounded, and allegedly caught a German soldier by the seat of his uniform and held him until American GIs arrived. He served for 18 months and participated in 17 battles on the Western Front. Another notable canine during the period was Sergeant Stubby (1916 – 1926), the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment assigned to the 26th (Yankee) Division. In medieval times it wasn’t unusual for dogs to accompany knights on years-long religious crusades.įast-forward to the early 20th century, and a Belgian Malinois named Taki would become the first dog to be used as a messenger in WWI. During Julius Caesar’s invasion of Britain in 55 BCE, he was met with opposition from Celtic warriors accompanied by their own fearsome canines. Among the favorites for sheer strength and size were the Cane Corso and the Molossian, a likely ancestor of the Neapolitan Mastiff. Ancient authors such as Pliny the Elder have written of a number of breeds used by the Roman army during the Empire’s expansion and the various roles the animals played. Horses and dogs, in particular, have marched across continents with their masters and handlers as support and, at times, as fellow warriors. When you sit back and think about it, animals have played a significant role in military campaigns for thousands of years.
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