WarriorsoftheCanineKind
Dogsofwarhavebeenacommonsightonbattlefieldssinceancienttimes.FromthefiercewardogsoftheGreekstotheloyalmessengerdogsofWorldWarI,thesecompanionshaveplayedanintegralroleinhumanwarfare.Here'sacloserlookatthehistorybehindtheseloyalcreaturesandtheircontributionsinconflictspastandpresent.
TheEarlyDaysofWarDogs
TheuseofdogsinwarfaredatesbacktoancientcivilizationssuchastheGreeksandRomans.TheGreekstrainedlargeMolossiandogsforbattle,usingtheirsizeandstrengthtointimidateenemysoldiers.TheRomansemployedversatiledogssuchastheMalteseandRottweilerforcombatandassentinels.DuringtheMiddleAges,theuseofwardogsbecamemorecommonplace,withknightsusingthemforprotectionandtomaimenemyhorses.Inthe16thcentury,theSpanishconquistadorsbroughtlargeandfiercedogs,suchasthemastiffs,totheNewWorldtohelpsubjugatenativetribes.
DogsinModernWarfare
DuringWorldWarI,messengerdogsplayedavitalroleinrelayingmessagesbetweenfrontlinetrenchesandheadquarters.Despitethechaosanddangerofthebattlefield,thesebravedogsnavigatedtheirwaythroughgunfireandexplosionstodelivertheirmessages.Similarly,inWorldWarII,dogsweretrainedtodetectmines,identifyenemysoldiers,andevenparachutewiththeirhandlersbehindenemylines.TheUnitedStatesmilitarystilltrainsdogsforvariousrolesfrombombdetectiontosearch-and-rescuemissions.Thesedogsundergorigoroustraining,whichincludeslearninghowtodetectbombsanddrugs,tracksuspects,andprotecttheirhandlers.
AboveandBeyond:CanineHeroes
Overtheyears,severaldogshavedistinguishedthemselvesasheroesintimesofwar.OnesuchisSmoky,aYorkshireTerrierwhowasfoundbyAmericansoldiersduringWorldWarIIintheNewGuineajungle.Smokywastrainedtobeawardogandparticipatedindozensofcombatmissions,helpingtobuildvitalcommunicationlinesduringatimeofwar.AnotherwardogwhogainedfamewasStubby,apitbullmixwhoparticipatedin17battlesduringWorldWarI.Stubbywasfamousforhisabilitytodetectincomingartilleryandleadhisfellowsoldierstosafety.Today,wecontinuetohonorthecontributionsofmilitarydogsbyawardingthemmedalsandcommemoratingtheirserviceinmemorialsliketheBritishAnimalsinWarMemorialandtheUSWarDogsMemorial.
Dogsofwarhavebeenessentialtothesuccessofmilitaryoperationsthroughouthistory,yettheyremainhumbleandloyalcompanions.Theirbrave,selflessserviceshouldneverbeforgotten,andwemustcontinuetohonortheircontributionstoourworld'sfreedom.Letusrememberthesacrificesofthesecaninewarriors,soldiersthathavebeenwillingtofightanddiebesideus.