War is for the Dogs.

Imagine a time where the entire world was at war with each other. That is what life was like in the late 1930s and 1940s. Germany had invaded Poland and was at war with Great Britain. The fighting in Europe raged on for two years and then hit the United States with the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. America was thrust into the middle of the worldwide conflict. Many young men volunteered to fight for their country and to do their civic duty. Many women went to work in the factories, building ammunition, tanks and weapons. All of this you have probably already heard before but here is something you might not know. During World War II the United States Army had war dogs. These war dogs were trained in combat for their use as scouts, sentries and trackers. The dogs represented the struggle of the entire planet and not just the human population of the war.

The most decorated American War Dog was Chips. He was a German Shepherd-Collie-Siberian Husky mix and had a wonderful nose for action and danger. He was the property of Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York and was donated to the war effort by Wren. Like any American solider, Chips was sent to training, War Dog Training in Front Royal, Virginia. He passed all his tests and exams and was shipped out overseas. He served in the 3rd Infantry Division under Pvt. John P. Rowell, his handler. Through his war journey Chips fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. Chips was extremely brave in his success of warning the troops of impending ambushes and attacks from the Axis armies. He ran with a cable wire attached to his collar, dodging gun fire to establish a communication line the base. Chips ran and jumped into a pillbox that was filled with Italian troops and they were all taken prisoner by Chips and Rowell. Chips ended his service in 1945 and was reunited with Wren back in Pleasantville.

Chips is a national hero. He was awarded the Silver Star for Valor and a Purple Heart for his wounds. These awards would soon be taken from him because it was believed by some that they demeaned all the men who had been awarded them in the past and in the future. After World War II, war dogs were considered military equipment and no longer soldiers. Chips helped to win World War II and I think it is time he gets some recognition.
 
 

 
Matt