military working dog gear Original U.S. WWII Unissued Military Working Dog Inclement Weather Bla – International Military Antiques

military working dog gear Original U.S. WWII Unissued Military Working Dog Inclement Weather Bla – International Military AntiquesOriginal Item: Only One Available. Dogs in warfare have a very long history starting in ancient times. From being trained in combat, to their use as scouts, sentries, messengers, mercy dogs, and trackers, their uses have been varied and some continue to exist in modern military usage. The first official use of dogs for military purposes in the U. S. was during the Seminole Wars. Hounds were used in the American Civil War to protect, send messages, and

Original Item: Only One Available. Dogs in warfare have a very long history starting in ancient times. From being trained in combat, to their use as scouts, sentries, messengers, mercy dogs, and trackers, their uses have been varied and some continue to exist in modern military usage. The first official use of dogs for military purposes in the U.S. was during the Seminole Wars. Hounds were used in the American Civil War to protect, send messages, and guard prisoners. General Grant recounts how packs of Southern bloodhounds were destroyed by Union troops wherever found due to their being trained to hunt runaway slaves before the war. Dogs were also used as mascots in American WWI propaganda and recruiting posters.

During WWII they guarded posts and supplies, carried messages, and rescued downed pilots. Scout dogs led troops through enemy territory, exposing ambushes and saving the lives of platoons of men. In the throes of combat, war dogs proved their intelligence, courage, and steadfast loyalty time and time again.

The United States Marine Corps used dogs, donated by their American owners, in the Pacific theater to help take islands back from Japanese occupying forces. During this period, the Doberman Pinscher became the official dog of the USMC; however, all breeds of dogs were eligible to train to be "war dogs of the Pacific". Of the 549 dogs that returned from the war, only four could not be returned to civilian life. Many of the dogs went home with their handlers from the war.

The vest is a "U" shaped piece of material, lined with wool blanket material, seam down the middle of the back. Front end has "U" shaped opening for the dog's neck to go through, two sets of cloth ties and buckles in the middle to fasten around the dog’s body in the middle. Leather straps and buckles and two snaps to fasten around the neck of the dog. Overall condition is excellent and still retains the original label:

Blankets, Dog
Water Repellent
JULES SEGAL
Cont. W669-qm-28848
Dated May 3, 1943
Stock No. 34-B-14309
Spec. Tent P.Q.D. #354
Size Small
Phila. Q.M. Depot

Comes more than ready for display! Our star employee, Saoirse, had a hard time letting this one go! It also goes without saying that the dog is not included.

Chips (dog)
Chips (1940–1946) was a trained sentry dog for the United States Army, and reputedly the most decorated war dog from World War II. Chips was a German Shepherd-Collie-Malamute mix owned by Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York. He was bred by C.C. Moore, and was the son of Margot Jute, a half collie, half German shepherd, and Husky, a malamute.

C.C. Moore eventually gifted Chips to the Wren family. Chips immediately grew attached to Wren's daughter, Gail, and he was often seen following her to school every day and laying underneath her desk. During playtime with other children, Chips was known to intervene, pulling the girls away if he thought they were in danger.

During the war, private citizens like Wren donated their dogs for duty. Chips shipped out to the War Dog Training Center, Front Royal, Virginia, in 1942 for training as a sentry dog. He was one of four dogs assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. His handler was Pvt. John P. Rowell. Chips served as a sentry dog for the Roosevelt-Churchill conference in 1943. On July 10, 1943, Chips and his handler were pinned down on the beach by an Italian machine-gun team. Chips broke from his handler and jumped into the pillbox, attacking the gunners. The four crewmen were forced to leave the pillbox and surrendered to US troops. "There was an awful lot of noise," Rowell said. "Then I saw one fellow come out the door with Chips at his throat. I called him off before he could kill the man." In the fight, he sustained a scalp wound and powder burns. Later that day, he helped take ten Italians prisoner.

For his actions during the war, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star and Purple Heart; however, these awards were later revoked due to an Army policy preventing official commendation of animals. His unit unofficially awarded him a theater ribbon with an arrowhead for an assault landing, and battle stars for each of his eight campaigns.

Chips was discharged in December 1945 and returned to the Wren family. In 1990, Disney made a TV movie based on his life, entitled Chips, the War Dog.

In 2018, Chips was posthumously awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal for his efforts during the war.

In 2019, Chips was posthumously awarded the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery.