War dogs and WWII

There is that old saying that dogs are man’s oldest and most constant companion. Canis lupus familiaris (dog) has been domesticated for centuries. They are an integral part of the development of human society; as hunters, herders, modes of transportation (sled dogs) and so forth. During wars and combat operations dogs have played prominent roles in rescue and combat units, helping in a variety of ways. Countries that have frequently used dogs in service, such as the United States, have erected monuments in their honor.

In the Libingan ng mga Bayani are buried the Heroes of the Philippines. They are those who either dedicated their lives, provided a service or died on behalf of their country. Numbered among those who are buried are: those who died during the Bataan Death March; recognized guerillas; a number of National Artists and Scientists (such as Nick Joaquin, Teodoro Locsin and Dr. Juan Salcedo); two presidents (Carlos P. Garcia and Diosdado Macapagal); one president’s wife (Mrs. Evangelina Macapagal); noted dignitaries; Medal of Valor awardees; a Boy Scout, and according to some reports, armed forces canine corps. In total there are almost 45,000 people buried at the Libingan, majority are those who died defending the Philippines and during the Japanese Occupation.

We hope that stories of those who died defending the country during World War II become well-known. The sad part is, this year is the 65th anniversary of the retaking of the Philippines from Japan. But, we fear that, like much of our history, the story of the Japanese Occupation is little known. Aside from some private ceremonies little is being done to remember those who fought and died during that time.

One relatively overlooked part of the Pacific theater is the role that dogs played in retaking land the Japanese occupied. We were unaware of the contributions man’s best friend played up until very recently. From Time magazine, December 3, 1945: “Of the 23,000-odd dogs in service, the Army took 19,000. More than half saw active service — 140 as mine-detecting dogs, 151 as messengers, 268 as sleigh dogs, 541 as scouts, and more than 9,000 as sentries. Of the 15 breeds originally enlisted, German shepherds, Belgian sheep dogs, farm collies, Doberman pinschers and schnauzers turned out to be most satisfactory. Best all-around breed was the German shepherd.” Many of the animals, trained as attack dogs and defense, had trouble adjusting to no longer being in active duty. Those that did not adjust were euthanized.

In the Pacific, where thousands of Japanese soldiers went to ground in the jungles, trained dogs played a vital role in rooting them out. William W. Putney, a war dog handler during World War II in Guam, wrote a book, Always Faithful, about the role of dogs in the Pacific Theater. We quote: “…trained as dog handlers, they were expected to scout far forward of our lines, in treacherous jungle terrain, searching for Japanese soldiers hidden in caves or impenetrable thickets…a handler’s most reliable weapons were his dog’s highly developed sense of smell and hearing…” On Guam, as a part of section of the Marine Cemetery, is a small area where war dogs are buried.

 Not all humans are heroes, and not all heroes are humans. When the US military pulled out of Clark they left a K-9 cemetery in place. Dogs have helped save lives in conflict (as scouts and sentries) and in peacetime (police dogs, bomb/drug sniffing dogs). Treating those animals with respect in life and death is a sign of a forward-thinking and kind culture and country.