Ocean’s Eleven Inspired Dog Names

Chips may be an awesome currency to use when gambling, but in this case, Chips is an amazing dog with a brave spirit and incredible courage. He was the most decorated canine that served in World War II and was a Husky/Collie/German Shepherd mix. As a sentry in the U.S. Army Third Infantry Division, Chips was the first canine to be sent overseas in World War II, and when he got to Sicily in July of 1943, he went with his division from Italy to Africa, France, and many other parts of Europe. 

However, Chips did not start out to be a military pooch. In fact, he was a pet of a normal, everyday citizen named Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York until 1942 when he was donated by the patriotic Wren to train as a sentry. Back in those days, people would donate their pups to the military to help out in the war because they did not have military canine programs and needed help from private citizens like Wren. 

This doggo was special though, and he earned his title as a war hero by showing bravery and intelligence when out in the field with his handler, Private John P. Rowell and the troops. His first brave act was the morning of July 10th in 1943 when his division was in the command of Major General Lucian Truscott. They landed on the shoreline near Licata in southern Sicily during Operation Husky.

When working their way inland, a group of enemy soldiers took aim with a machine gun and fired on Chips and the rest of the troops. While Rowell and the platoon hit the ground, the brave Chips broke away and went after the enemy soldiers, attacking them until they stopped firing. Within a few minutes, one enemy soldier came out with Chips holding him by the throat, and the rest of the soldiers came out with their hands in the air. Apparently, Chips had it all under control. 

The Army gave Chips a Purple Heart and Silver Star for this and his other brave actions he took during the war. However, officials later took the honors away due to what they called “rules contrary to Army policy.” His company later gave Chips a battle star and ribbons to make up for it, and according to the Army records, he was given back his medals sometime afterward. Out of over ten thousand canine sentries during World War II, Chips was the most well-known. After Chips was discharged from the Army in 1945, he was returned to his owner, Wren, and continued to be known as a war hero.