These war heroes cooed, barked, meowed, and neighed

 My son, daughter -in-law, grandson, and I enjoyed looking over the thought-provoking 56 or more displays inside the (Everett) Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum (FHCAM). When I arrived at the parachuting dogs display, I knew I had to write about those heroes. 

This free museum, at 3407 109th St, SW, is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving rare U.S., U.K., German, Soviet, and Japanese military aircraft, tanks, and other historical military armory.

As you step inside this nearly 75,000-square-foot structure, you’ll see an exceptionally clean place with highly qualified volunteers ready to answer your questions and eager to give you or your group a guided tour of all their historical artifacts.

As I slowly roved around the displays, the U.S. Army’s parachuting dogs hanging from the high rafters immediately grabbed my attention. The more I read about the history of these “Raining Dogs,” the more intrigued I became.

From further resources, I learned more about those U.S. Army fighting animals from the sky: “The U.S. Army trained dogs for a number of tasks during World War II. From checking for mines to guarding prisoners of war, the dogs performed admirably, but a few special dogs actually earned jump wings.

To solve the problem of providing assistance to downed airmen in isolated locations, the Army, with the help of its Canadian brothers, trained dogs to jump from planes and bring the fliers supplies, aiding them in their treks to safety.”

During the dogs’ training, they first had to be comfortable around loud guns, then were trained to sniff out gunpower, explosives, bodies, or the enemy as round flew over their heads. GIs would take the fully packed animals on a 75-mile hike. These marches took a lot of energy away from the dogs, and they became more relaxed before their next adventure.

The dogs’ next step? They were fitted with parachutes and loaded onto a transport plane. When their transportation reached its desired height, the dogs were, as were many human paratroopers, coaxed by their jump master to leap from their carriage.  

The British Army acquired and trained many different species of animals in order to send messages back and forth, to search for MIAs, carry ammunition and sniff out dangerous armory. They were also compassionate companions, mascots, and gave much-needed battlefield support.

At the time the British were defending their homeland, many stories of animal heroism became common, serving to motivate Maira Dickin to found the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) to formally recognize animals for their past and present valor. She proposed an official military medal be awarded to them.

Due to Dickin’s dogged persistence, in December 1943 the military hierarchy developed their bronze PDSA Dickin Medal (akin to the Victoria Cross), and within a laurel wreath, they added: “For Gallantry” and “We Also Served” all within a laurel wreath.

This medallion, along with the striped green (water) dark brown (earth) and sky blue (sky) ribbon, is now recognized as the highest award for those animals worldwide who showed “gallantry or devotion to duty in war or conflicts.”

Based on my findings to date, this medal has been awarded to 74 animals who served during WWI and between 1943 and now. Those few decorated beneficiaries include 32 pigeons, 18 dogs, three horses, and yes, one ship’s cat. The most recent recipient is the U.S. Marine Special Operations Bass, who was deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia.

Darn right, way too often we go to another county, state or nation to visit museums, but why not start your historical educational journey right here in your backyard?