WW2 Chapter 90 - Franklin's Dog

  
12/28/45

Dear Dave,

     The Filipino boys have a game which is just like your marble "contests" -- only they use centavo pieces -- a copper coin which is a size between that of a nickel and quarter.

Blackie and Pete

     You must be getting quite gigantic -- "probably" even taller than Pete. I have a dog over here, too -- a red Irish setter. He looks just about like Black, with the exception of being considerably larger. He's the only pure-bred dog I've seen on the island -- and the only large dog of any variety. Naturally because of this he produces considerable comment from everyone that sees him -- especially when he's riding in the cab of my truck -- he sits up so straight and proud, and never misses a thing. At night, he sleeps by my cot -- and in the morning, pushes his nose under my mosquito net. He's so very much like Black in every way that often times when I look down, I almost expect it to be Black. He even presses the side of his head against your hand.


Photo of an Irish Setter

     I'm glad that your Bantams have begun to produce again. And I certainly enjoyed your U.P.N. -- including the comic strip "Kingy". Thanks very much, Snodgrass.

Much love,

Watty

Enclosed Coins

     Enclosed are two coins -- 10 centavos, and 1/10 guilder (Netherlands East Indies) -- worth 5, and 5 and a fraction cents, respectively.


Although Franklin's letters do not provide a lot of information, his dog may have originally been from the Army’s “K-9 Corps.” Under this program, private citizens donated certain pure-bred dogs to the military where they received special training before being sent overseas to join troops in combat. The dogs were found to be particularly effective in the dense jungles of the Pacific and also boosted the morale of the men (and may have also helped Franklin recover from some of his combat experiences).

Due to an Irish Setter’s favorable temperament, loyalty, and ability to swim, Franklin’s dog may have previously been used as either a sentry or a messenger dog. A sentry dog was used at night and on patrol and could reportedly detect an ambush or approaching Japanese soldiers up to 1,000 yards away. A messenger dog was used for sending messages quickly and silently between two handlers. After the war, the dogs were reportedly returned to their civilian owners.