Sybil Inspired Dog Names

 The movie Sybil explores the life of Sybil Dorsett, a meek woman who is experiencing lapses in time and extreme behaviors that she does not remember. In the movie, Sally Field plays the role of Sybil, and with the help of her extremely involved therapist Dr. Cornelia Wilbur, it is discovered that she hides fifteen other personalities within herself, all of whom she is unaware of. While Sally Field was already a well-known celebrity, this film allowed her to showcase her versatility, as she convincingly played sixteen completely different individuals in one body, who often change from one to another in just seconds. 

The personality that kept a record of Ms. Dorsett's memories was a vivacious French girl whose full name was Victoria Antoinette Scharleau, although she went by the name of Vicky. Vickie was also the nickname of a mutt in the US Navy, although the dog’s full name was Victory rather than Victoria. Navy Captain John L McCrea brought his little dog Vickie on board his warship, the USS Iowa, as a morale booster for his crew. The USS Iowa was longer than two football fields and was often referred to as the world’s greatest Naval ship until it was decommissioned in 1990. After swimming the fifty-yard qualifying test with the other sailors, Vickie ended up with the run of the ship and was even given his own little sailor suit in honor of his position as apprentice mascot. He slept at the foot of the Captain’s bed, and when then-President Theodore Roosevelt was given the captain’s room during a summit that he was attending with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, to President Roosevelt’s delight the little pup continued to sleep at the foot of the bed.

The little dog remained on board during a number of missions throughout the conflict with the Japanese, including during the sinking or several Japanese cruisers and the bombardment of Japanese held islands. The crew, including Vickie, were honored with bronze stars and other commendations for their contributions to the war effort, and when Japanese powers submitted to the United States military, it was the USS Iowa that Admiral William Halsey chose as the flagship for the formal surrender. Vickie was present then as well, and he became the first American canine to set foot on Japanese soil. The ship was turned into a museum after it was decommissioned, but Victory’s presence is still honored as children visiting the ship are encouraged to participate in a scavenger hunt, searching for photographs of the loyal little pup.