It was clear during World War I, that the United States’ allies and enemies had already recognized the value of training dogs for war, yet the U.S. still was unaware of their significance. While the Army had no plans to train dogs when the U.S. entered World War II, they would be thankful for having…
World War I brought an explosion of dogs to the battlefield. According to an article by The United Stated War Dog Association, Inc., the Germans had 30,000 dogs and the Italians handled 3,000 for their allies, while the British and the French had at least 20,000 dogs serving for them. The U.S. had used dogs…
With Memorial Day upon us, we take time to remember those who have given their lives serving our country. Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day, a day to honor those who have served in the military, both those living and those who have passed. Read More:
Lyon Township — As she does every Memorial Day, June Etlinger will visit the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly. It’s where her father and grandfather, who both served in the military, are buried. But this year she will make one more stop to pay respect to Sgt. Mina, whom she credits with keeping her son,…
WASHINGTON – Throughout centuries of war, dogs have been by service members’ sides, whether they’re helping save lives in the battlefield or helping them heal. And helping to heal is exactly what man’s best friend is doing in the D.C. area. Since 1999, dogs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center — and now at Walter…
Jon Hemp claims he’s not a “joiner.” The first forty years after his return from Vietnam in August 1969 bore this out. In fact, he’d avoided anything remotely veteran related until his “begrudging participation” in his unit’s first reunion in Washington, D.C., during the 25th anniversary of the dedication of The Wall in 2007. That’s…
YUMA, Ariz. – In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Mark Antony implores a Roman horde to “cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.” But a lot of time has passed since then. And it’s unlikely any Afghanistan insurgents ever read Shakespeare in the first place. But the Taliban are very familiar with the “dogs of…
In the eyes of those who know of her fame, eight-year-old Lucca is not just a dog, but a brave soldier. Lucca, a Belgian Malinois, is a military working dog who has served in three deployments– two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. During her career in the military, she saved hundreds of lives by…
HANOVER, MI — At first glance, Linsay Wykoff’s black labrador is a typical house pet. Siebert, a 10-year-old lab, loves to play fetch and chew on his red Kong toy. If scratched in the right spot on his back, the 70-pound canine will fall to the ground, roll over onto his back, and beg for…
If licks could translate into words, “I love you” is probably what Lucca, the bomb-sniffing dog injured in Afghanistan, told old friend Marine Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Willingham when they reunited Friday. Read More: