Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Veterans Day has always been a special day for me, and although I personally did not serve in the military, I have been blessed by those who have.
Of course our entire nation has been blessed. The free country that we enjoy the benefits of every day is guaranteed by those who have served and continue to serve in the military, and I am thankful for their sacrifices.
Beyond that, because my grandfather, Al Bolin, served at the end of World War II and was a member of the American Legion in Waco, I was fortunate to receive a $1,000 college scholarship for four years.
It was a great help to me in paying for books and a portion of tuition and fees. My great-grandfather, A.E. Bolin Sr., served during World War I, and had respiratory difficulty throughout his life because of brief exposure to mustard gas.
My greatest appreciation for veterans has come from getting to know many of them. I have been fortunate to write several stories about veterans, from those who served during World War I to a Pearl Harbor survivor, from American prisoners of war held by the Japanese, Germans and Vietnamese, to those who have served in more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I have also had the opportunity to talk to a few veterans with a Gatesville connection, and I am proud of their service in helping keep America free and prosperous.
While most of the time when we think of veterans, we think of people, Lu is here to remind us about some canine cousins who have served our country as well, and with distinction.
It’s your turn, Lu.
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Thanks Daddy, for the chance to share information about dogs who have served in the military. For those who haven’t seen my articles before, my name is Tallulah, a border collie-Jack Russell terrier mix and the proud pet of Gatesville Messenger staffer Jeff Osborne.
He lets me contribute to the newspaper as well.
Did you know that dogs have played a key role in defending our country?
Under the direction of their human commander, William W. Putney, dog platoons served in Guam as part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ fight against the Japanese empire that had attacked America and its allies.
There is even a War Dog National Memorial and Cemetery at the U.S. Naval base in Guam that pays tribute to their efforts. There is a book about these famous dogs called “Always Faithful,” about marine dogs of World War II that talks about some of these canine warriors.
One of them, Kurt, is credited with helping warn American troops before they faced a huge force of Japanese. Kurt was one of those badly wounded by Japanese mortar fire.
That’s just one story. There are many more! Scout dogs helped American troops in Vietnam and a dog named Zip helped a Navy SEAL team during its service in Afghanistan.
When you remember the people who served their country, don’t forget the dogs and other animals (including homing pigeons who carried messages during earlier wars) who helped, too.
