The History of Military Dogs in the US Armed Forces

The use of dogs in warfare is not a new concept, but their role in modern warfare has become increasingly important over the years. Military dogs have been used in a variety of roles, including scouting, tracking, bomb detection, and even as weapons of war. In the United States, military dogs have a long and storied history dating back to the early 20th century.

During World War I, the US military employed dogs primarily as messengers and sentries. These early military dogs were often chosen for their breed and physical characteristics, with German Shepherds and Dobermans being popular choices due to their size and intelligence. One of the most famous dogs from this era was Sergeant Stubby, a Boston Terrier who served in France with the 102nd Infantry Regiment. Stubby was a natural scout and was credited with saving his unit from a surprise gas attack by alerting them to the danger.

During World War II, the role of military dogs expanded greatly. Dogs were used as scouts, trackers, and sentries, but they were also trained for specialized tasks like bomb detection and search and rescue. One of the most famous dogs from this era was Chips, a German Shepherd/Collie/Husky mix who served with the 3rd Infantry Division. Chips was trained as a sentry dog and participated in the invasion of Sicily. During the invasion, Chips attacked a machine gun nest and forced the enemy soldiers to surrender.

In the post-World War II era, the use of military dogs continued to expand. Dogs were trained for new roles like mine detection and tunnel detection, and their value in combat situations became increasingly clear. Today, military dogs are an integral part of the US Armed Forces and are trained to perform a wide variety of tasks. These dogs are highly trained and their abilities are critical to the success of many missions.

Here are three famous military dogs who have made significant contributions to the US Armed Forces:

1. Nemo - A German Shepherd, Nemo served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was trained as a sentry dog and was with his handler, Airman Robert Thorneburg, when their base was attacked. Nemo was shot in the face while protecting Thorneburg, but he continued to attack the enemy and helped to repel the attack. Nemo survived his injuries and was awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery.

2. Cairo - A Belgian Malinois, Cairo was a member of the US Navy SEAL team that carried out the mission to capture or kill Osama bin Laden in 2011. Cairo was trained as a Special Operations dog and was tasked with detecting explosives and enemies. He accompanied the SEALs on the mission to bin Laden's compound in Pakistan and helped secure the area.

3. Lex - A German Shepherd, Lex served as a bomb detection dog with the US Marine Corps. He was deployed to Iraq with his handler, Corporal Dustin Lee, in 2007. Lee was killed in action and Lex was injured, but survived. After Lee's death, Lex was retired from military service and adopted by Lee's family.

Military dogs have a long and storied history in the US Armed Forces. These brave canines have served alongside soldiers in a variety of roles and have made significant contributions to our country's military efforts. We owe a great debt of gratitude to these courageous dogs and their handlers who work tirelessly to protect our country.