I have created a YouTube channel to post short videos on famous animals in history. If you would like to see this story and others with images, check out “Felines and Friends”. (https://www.youtube.com/@krthardy)
The most decorated American dog of WWII was a German Shephard-Collie-Malamute mix named Chips. He belonged to the Wren family in Pleasantville, NY. He would accompany their daughter to school and lie under her desk. At recess, he would intervene in any scuffles. When WWII broke out, the Wren family donated him to the war effort. Thousands of pet dogs were donated to the Dogs for Defense program. He was sent to the War Dog Training Center. After graduating, he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division and accompanied them to North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. His handler was Private John Rowell. He was a sentry for the Casablanca Conference and met Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. In the invasion of Italy at Salerno, he and Rowell were pinned down on the beach by an Italian machine gun. Chips broke away from Rowell and ran to the pillbox with bullets whizzing by. He entered the pillbox barking up a storm. The Italians were shocked and stopped firing. Chips bit one of the machine gunners in the neck. The determined dog refused to let go as the Italian stumbled out of the pillbox. By then, Rowell and other Americans arrived and all four Italians were taken prisoner. Later that night, he helped capture 10 other Italians who were sneaking upon the GIs . The courageous canine was awarded the Silver Star for that day and was put up for a Distinguished Service Cross and a Purple Heart because he was wounded that day. The Army authorities decided animals could not get medals and revoked the Silver Star. However, later he was awarded the British Dickin Medal that was created to honor valorous animals. After the war, he was returned to the Wrens. In 1990, Disney made a movie about him – “Chips the War Dog”. Chips was a daring dog who defied danger to deter death-dealers.
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