In honor of the anniversary in the founding of K-9 Corps, author and Editor Scott Bomboy posted a story today about PFC Chips, a German Shepherd Mix, who was awarded a Purple Heart for his services as a WWII K-9 in November 1943. Chips certainly had a heart of Gold during his time seeing action in Europe. His bravery has earned him the honor of being considered the top dog hero of the war. Chips served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany in various roles in a total of eight separate European campaigns. He was a tank guard dog, POW guard, and infantry patrol dog.
Chips was trained as a sentry or guard dog and was credited for helping force the surrender of an enemy crew after he attacked them. Chips was wounded in the incident but survived to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star and the Purple Heart. According to reports these medals were later revoked as there was controversy that awarding them to a canine was against policy. Other notable heroic acts credited to Chips include saving the lives of his American handlers on more than one occasion.
Before being enlisted by his owner, Chips was a Shepherd-Collie-Husky mix from Upstate New York. His owner donated him for the war effort after Chips bit a garbage collector in the neighborhood. After the war Chips was returned to his family and died seven months later at the age of six.
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