Pearl Harbor Inspired Dog Names

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, citizens in the United States no longer felt safe. A massive push was initiated to gather dogs from across the country to train as sentries. The canines would serve to keep the ports and shorelines safe from enemy invasions. By March 1942, the 'Dogs of Defense' government agency had been launched. The organization's sole duty was to gather dogs to train for sentry duty. Once trained, the dogs would be given to the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard. The Marines were assigned the job of handling and selecting the training of their own dogs because they only wanted Dobermans or German Shepherds. At first, the project was just supposed to focus on 200 dogs, but the number quickly grew. Eventually, over 10,400 dogs would be successfully trained. 

Across the United States, a call went out for citizens to donate their dogs to the war effort. The canines could be either male or female, but they must be under the age of five. All dogs had to stand at least 20 inches at the shoulders and clearly show the distinct characteristics of being a guard dog. The dogs did not need to be purebreds to enter the program. 

Edward J. Wren of Pleasantville, New York answered the call to donate a canine. He decided to give his German Shepherd-Collie-Siberian Husky mix named Chips. Chips was rumored to be aggressive and had once attacked the mail delivery man, so Wren felt he would be a perfect canine soldier. 

Chips was promptly shipped out to the War Dog Training Center in Front Royal, Virginia in 1942. He was slated to be trained as a sentry dog. Eventually, after extensive training, Chips would serve with the 3rd Infantry Division in North Africa, Italy, Sicily, Germany, and France. His handler during his military service was Pvt. John P. Rowell. 

In Sicily, Chips and his handler found themselves pinned down by enemy fire. Chips broke free of his controller and leaped into the pillbox of the machine gun to attack the gunners. The fearless dog drove the four enemy soldiers from the pillbox, and they were taken hostage by the U.S. troops. However, in the fight Chips sustained powder burns and a scalp wound. Despite his injuries, later that day, the fearless dog went on to help apprehend ten Italian prisoners. 

Following the war, Chips was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Cross, and Purple Heart. Unfortunately, the awards were later revoked because at that time animals could not be awarded for their actions. The dog's unit went on to unofficially award the pooch the theater ribbon with an arrowhead for the assault landing. They also gave him a battle star for each of his eight campaigns. 

After the war, Chips was returned to the Wren family where he died seven months later. Disney created a television movie in 1990 that was based on the brave military dog's life. The film was titled 'Chips, the War Dog.' Finally, in 2018, Chips was recognized for his bravery. The dog was posthumously awarded the PDSA Dicken Medal to recognize his service during the war.