Table Of ContentALWAYS FAITHFUL: A Memoir of the Marine Dogs of WWII
by Captain William W. Putney D. V. M., USMC (Ret.)
Praise for Always Faithful
“A HEART-RENDING STORY OF COURAGE AND LOYALTY THAT
SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.” —Leon Uris, author of Battle Cry and Exodus
“Always Faithful is a testament to the extraordinary relationship between man
and dog, and the extent of a dog’s devotion to its owner. The heroism of these
war dogs is a perfect example of that devotion, earned by a kind and loving
master, and I would recommend the book to anyone who loves, and admires,
dogs.” —Bash Dibra, author of DogSpeak
“Always Faithful gives an engrossing picture of the heroic men and dogs
involved in the battle to recapture the island of Guam during WWII. You feel as
if you were there watching the dogs being trained and going into combat. After
the war was over, you find yourself cheering for the men who later fought
military bureaucracy and misunderstanding to get these valiant dogs back to the
families who volunteered them for service. It’s a fascinating story.” —Stanley
Coren, author of The Intelligence of Dogs
“A great testament to all of the World War II heroes that fought a long, tedious
battle here on Guam. The sacrifice that our servicemen and service dogs endured
during World War II will always be remembered in the hearts of the people of
Guam. Always Faithful is an excellent tribute to America’s finest.” —Carl T. C.
Gutierrez, Governor of Guam
“I can scarcely remember ever being so taken with a book as I was with Always
Faithful, not only because of the very stirring accounts of these superior dogs,
but because of Captain Putney himself. The civilian population has never been
particularly appreciative of war dogs, preferring to exterminate them rather than
pay to bring them home. They were, after all, just dogs. It is highly fitting that
Captain Putney should remember them here, and remind us of their service. —
Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Dogs
“Always Faithful is an interesting and accurate account of the World War II war
dogs and the brave and unique ability of their handlers. I was a Company
Commander on Guam and can attest personally to their value. I encourage all
Marines and others who wish to learn of the value and ability of the war dogs to
read and enjoy the book.” —General Louis H. Wilson, 26th Commandant of the
United States Marine Corps and recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in
Guam
Twenty-three-year-old Bill Putney enlisted in the Marines in 1943 in search of
military glory. Instead, Putney, a licensed veterinarian, was relegated to the Dog
Corps.
Putney became the Commanding Officer of the 3rd War Dog Platoon, and later
the chief veterinarian and C.o. of the War Dog Training School at Camp
Lejeune, North Carolina. At Lejeune Putney helped train America’s dogs for war
in the Pacific. He later led them into combat in the invasion of Guam in 1944,
the first liberation of American soil in World War II.
Always Faithful is the story of the dogs that fought in Guam and across the
islands of the Pacific, a celebration of the four-legged soldiers that Putney both
commanded and followed. It is a tale of immense courage, but also of incredible
sacrifice.
On Guam, as on islands such as Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the Japanese were
infamously tenacious, refusing to surrender as long as there was a hole left to
crawl into. Rooting out the enemy was an awful, painstaking job. To this task,
Putney’s dogs were well suited. Used for scouting, attack, carrying messages,
detecting mines, and also as guards, the war dogs were so well trained that they
could locate nonmetallic mines that had been buried for months deep
underground; their hearing was so precise they could detect enemy trip wires by
listening to them “sing” in the breeze.
Their record in action was perfect. More than 550 patrols on the island of Guam
were led by dogs; not one patrol was ambushed. But for this success, the dogs,
always out in front, paid a terrible price. Although Putney worked feverishly as
veterinarian and C.o. to keep the dogs alive, many were lost.
After the war, Putney returned home only to discover that the dogs he had served
with were being put to sleep. These dogs were ex-household pets, recruited from
civilians with the promise that they would someday be returned. Outraged,
Putney fought for the dogs’ right to go home. He won, and headed the
overwhelmingly successful program to “detrain” the dogs so they could return to
their families. Alas, quickly learned, the lesson was quickly forgotten. The dogs
of Korea and Vietnam did not come home. Then, in the final days of his
administration, President Clinton signed into law a bill that allows military
handlers to bring home the dogs with which they work. Once again, Putney was
at the front of the charge.
For anyone who has ever read Old Yeller, or the books of Jack London, here is a
real-life story, never before told, that beats any fiction. At once wistful tribute
and stirring adventure, Always Faithful describes what may be the greatest man-
dog effort of all time. It will both astound and move you.
WILLIAM W. PUTNEY, D.v.m., U.s.m.c. (ret.), received a Purple Heart and a
Silver Star for his actions with the war dogs in the invasion of Guam. During his
long subsequent veterinary career, he served as the president of California’s
Veterinary Medical Association and, for twelve years, as the Los Angeles
commissioner of the Department of Animal Regulation. He lives in Woodland
Hills, California.
Praise for William W. Putney’s ALWAYS FAITHFUL
“In a style reminiscent of James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small, Bill
Putney reconstructs his World War II experiences with Marine war dogs, in
camp and in the Pacific, as a platoon leader and veterinarian. The result is a
fascinating and poignant story.” —Brigadier General Edwin Howard Simmons,
USMC (ret.), Director Emeritus, Marine Corps History, and author of Dog
Company Six
“Captain Putney’s heartfelt documentary of our military canines is a tribute to
the animals that have spent their lives protecting American soldiers, and to the
men who depended on them to protect America.” —Congressman Elton
Gallegly (23rd District, CA)
“Dr. William W. Putney brings an unusual degree of realistic empathy to his
account of the training of Marine war dogs and their employment in the
recapture of Guam, 1944. There is no Disneyesque artifice in his account of the
service of his brave dogs and their Marine handlers. Dr. Putney makes an
especially important point that well-trained and adjusted war dogs can return to
civil life just like their human counterparts. His expert arguments on war dog
training are persuasive.” —Allan Millett, author of Semper Fidelis: A History of
the United States Marine Corps
“Always Faithful is a moving story of the men and the dogs of the Marine War
Dog Platoons that contributed so greatly to the successes achieved by the U.s.
Marines in the island-hopping battle campaigns against Japanese forces in the
Pacific Theater during World War II.” —Leonard F. Seda, D. V. M., President,
American Veterinary Medical Association
“Always Faithful is like opening a vault to history’s secrets. The book yields the
tastes, smells, noises, sights, and emotions of the Marine Corps dog handlers
during World War II. Dr. Putney’s is a riveting account that brings together
military and dog history in an unforgettable way and reaffirms the bonds that we
keep with our four-legged friends.” —Michael G. Lemish, author of War Dogs:
A History of Loyalty and Heroism
“A great book telling the untold story of the Marine “Devil Dogs.” It should be
of interest to all readers—and especially animal lovers.” —Captain Arthur J.
Haggerty, former C.o. of the U.s. Army K-9 Corps and author of How to Teach
Your Dog to Talk
“The canines who gave selflessly to protect our boys in the Pacific is one of the
great untold stories of World War II—UNTIL now. A compelling read, Always
Faithful is sure to touch the heart of anyone who has ever loved a dog.” —Mary
Elizabeth Thurston, author of The Lost History of the Canine Race
“Bill Putney’s accounts of war dog training conducted at Camp Lejeune through
the employment of those dogs in the Pacific Island Campaigns depict what can
only be termed a “true success.” The exploits of Putney’s dogs and Marines truly
lived up to our Corps motto: Semper Fidelis— Always Faithful.” —Colonel
Barney Barnum, President of the Medal of Honor Society and recipient of the
Medal of Honor for actions in Vietnam
Published by: THE FREE PRESS A division of Simon and Schuster, Inc. 1230
Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020.
Copyright 2001 by William W. Putney
CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter One CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA
Chapter Two TRAINING
Chapter Three CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA
Chapter Four THE DOG MEN
Chapter Five THE LAST DAYS AT CAMP PENDLETON
Chapter Six LIFE ABOARD SHIP
