WANTED-- DOG JOKES! War Dogs of the Pacific.

Yesterday's joke first. This is courtesy of my wife's father.

My dog knows how to play poker but he's not very good at it.
Really? Why?
Because every time he gets a good hand he wags his tail.

Today's joke, then I think I need more material-- don't make me haul out the really lame jokes.

A guy walks into a bar with a chihuahua on a leash. He orders a drink.
The bartender says, "Sorry sir, we don't allow dogs in here."

The man says, "This is a seeing-eye dog."

The bartender says, "You have a chihuahua as a seeing-eye dog."
The man says, "They gave me a chihuahua?!"

Now, because of Memorial Day coming up, I want to address dogs in war. Now, this site is meant only to give people a jumping off point to find out more about a subject. I can't-- no, I don't want to pretend to to be an authority on any subject, dogs or otherwise.
The Military Channel had a special entitled War Dogs of the Pacific awhile back. I checked their schedule, and there are no showings of this program scheduled, but the show just gave another aspect of dogs' service to humans.
During WWII, dogs were sent to the Pacific to fight it out in the trenches and the jungles with U.S. soldiers. These dogs acted as look-outs, cleared caves and tunnels, and allowed these soldiers to rest and avoid some of the more dangerous jobs during combat. The dogs took the hardships and the bullets like the rest of the men. These were regular dogs, often volunteered by their owners back in the States for duty. Sometimes the dogs didn't return. They died in combat, along with their trainers, or could not be returned to their owners because their training made them inappropriate as pets. A lucky few came back and were either returned to the original owners or lived out the rest of their days as the companions of their military trainers.
Without exception, these dogs acted with valor and selflessness in a tough situation. They served on all the islands you have heard of, and probably on a few you haven't. They often survived on meagre rations and in unbelievably difficult terrain. Thanks to our soldiers who have, and who continue to sacrifice for us.
I will post more stories of war dogs this week.