Comments on: U.S. War Dogs in the Pacific Theater https://americacomesalive.com/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/ Quick Takes and Popular Postings about America's Past Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:21:46 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Kate Kelly https://americacomesalive.com/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-462990 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:21:46 +0000 https://americacomesalive.com/2020/07/21/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-462990 In reply to J. E Moody.

That was a generous thing that your family did. Can you imagine giving up a pet today? It was truly a different era. The government did keep records of all dogs who served. Here is guidance that might help you research this:
The most difficult part is connecting the original civilian name to the military service records, as military records sometimes changed the dog’s name to avoid duplication (though many famous dogs kept their civilian names).

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA): This is the primary repository for military records. You would be looking for records related to:

U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps (War Dog Program): They managed the entire K-9 program.

U.S. Marine Corps Unit Records: Unit histories for the War Dog Platoons might list the names of handlers and the dogs assigned to them.

Search Strategy: Start by searching NARA’s online database using terms like “Dogs for Defense,” “Marine Corps War Dogs,” or the specific island the dog may have fought on (e.g., “Guam 2nd War Dog Platoon”).

Marine Corps History Division: This division is responsible for preserving the history of the USMC and may have dedicated files, photos, and histories related to the War Dog Platoons.

Good luck!

]]> By: J. E Moody https://americacomesalive.com/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-462988 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 06:49:42 +0000 https://americacomesalive.com/2020/07/21/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-462988 My mom just told me that their family in San Francisco sent their Doberman, Comet, to the war.
I would love to know more about him.

]]> By: Kate Kelly https://americacomesalive.com/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-460083 Thu, 29 May 2025 13:24:20 +0000 https://americacomesalive.com/2020/07/21/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-460083 In reply to William Cornett.

I love this story…it was a nice time when dogs were permitted to meet their owners at school. By the time my kids were in school, we couldn’t bring dogs on the school yard because others were afraid. I understand, but it’s sad. Thanks for posting.

]]> By: William Cornett https://americacomesalive.com/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-460064 Wed, 28 May 2025 18:47:02 +0000 https://americacomesalive.com/2020/07/21/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-460064 My first dog was a Doberman, (I don’t know if she was a German Pincher or the original Doberman Pincher), but my dad said she was of the bred known as a Devil Dog.
She would walk to my grade school just to walk me home.
When the mailman came by, she would walk his route with him.
I don’t know where he got her, (my dad was army air corp during WWII and Air Force during the Koran conflict.).
Salty was a great dog and I have had some other great Dobermans.

]]> By: Kate Kelly https://americacomesalive.com/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-458964 Tue, 18 Mar 2025 19:50:28 +0000 https://americacomesalive.com/2020/07/21/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-458964 In reply to Thomas Howard.

Tom, Thank you so much for posting. And yes, the fighting there would have been fierce… I would think the dogs were helpful…all best to you.
Kate

]]> By: Thomas Howard https://americacomesalive.com/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-458960 Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:30:26 +0000 https://americacomesalive.com/2020/07/21/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-458960 My Father was on Bougainville in WW2, as a Marine Raider. Sure he saw these dogs and would have thought highly of them. As when he came back, he would always make sure we had at least one dog! I would always have a dog, mans best friend, too.

]]> By: Kate Kelly https://americacomesalive.com/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-456362 Sat, 24 Aug 2024 18:21:37 +0000 https://americacomesalive.com/2020/07/21/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-456362 In reply to Jason Finley.

I suggest you pose this question with your grandfather’s name and unit on this website: https://historyhub.history.gov/military-records/

It’s a government website and it seems to exist to handle questions like this. Good luck, and if you think of it let me know what you find!

]]> By: Jason Finley https://americacomesalive.com/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-456361 Sat, 24 Aug 2024 17:57:53 +0000 https://americacomesalive.com/2020/07/21/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-456361 My grandfather was a U.S. Marine Sentry Dog Handler in WWII. Unfortunately I do not know the name of his war dog. Does anyone happen to know if you can search the War Dog Diaries at the National Archives by the name of the Marine Sentry Dog Handler? That would tell me the name of his dog, and so much more of course. Thanks!

]]> By: Kate Kelly https://americacomesalive.com/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-455647 Fri, 31 May 2024 13:10:47 +0000 https://americacomesalive.com/2020/07/21/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-455647 In reply to TERESA BURNETT.

Hi Teresa,
I found an article that tells you more about these dogs, and I found a link to the National Archives where dog record books are kept. Unfortunately, they are not yet online, but perhaps you are in the DC area or know someone who is who could take a look for you. https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2011/winter/marine-dogs.html

This is the link to the National Archives: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5989339
If you think of it, let me know what you find. Mounty is the type of dog that I write about and I would love to share the story.

]]> By: TERESA BURNETT https://americacomesalive.com/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-455627 Thu, 30 May 2024 18:06:27 +0000 https://americacomesalive.com/2020/07/21/u-s-war-dogs-in-the-pacific-theater/#comment-455627 Are there records of individual Marine dogs who were wounded but survived in WWII Pacific battles, likely Iwo Jima and Okinawa?
I’m looking for information about a specific Doberman named Mounty who had been wounded in the leg and recovered. My father had been a Marine fighting in the Pacific and brought the dog home at the end of the war. Dad has passed away and never told the story, but I recently found a limited write-up in an old newspaper. The paper mentioned that Mounty had received a Purple Heart.

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