5: Smoky Wynne
The First Known Therapy Dog
Born: c.1943, New Guinea
Died: 1957, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
Smoky served the American forces in World War II. She was dubbed America’s “smallest” soldier—standing only seven inches tall and weighing approximately four pounds. Smoky survived eighteen months of combat and never lost her fighting adventurous spirit.
Smoky was discovered by American forces hiding out in a foxhole on the island of New Guinea. The original soldier who found Smoky ended up selling her to Corporal Bill Wynne for two Australian pounds, or around $6.44—upwards of $109 today. Corporal Bill Wynne decided to adopt the small dog, and together they went on many adventures, both during the war and after. Throughout the war, Smoky went everywhere Corporal Wynne did—always riding along in his backpack.
According to Roadside America (article linked below):
“Smoky learned over 200 commands and hand signals. She survived kamikaze attacks, a typhoon on Okinawa, the Luzon invasion in the Philippians (where she saved Wynne's life by warning him of an incoming shell), and a sting from a six-inch jungle centipede. Smoky also flew with Wynne on twelve combat air missions, spending long hours in a soldier's pack dangling near the machine guns.”
Smoky even delivered messages to fellow combatants by crawling through combat zones and tunnels that humans could not reach. After saving a group of GIs from what could have been certain death, she was awarded with the largest steak her platoon could find. Smoky was so adorable she was given the title “Champion Mascot in the Southwest Pacific Area” after Corporal Wynne submitted her photo to Yank Magazine.
During her eighteen months of service, Smoky visited patients in hospitals across the Pacific Theatre, reaching as far as Australia and Korea. Smoky’s ability to cheer up the sick was discovered after Corporal Wynne fell ill with Dengue Fever. Another GI was able to smuggle Smoky in to see her owner, and while she was cheering up Corporal Wynne, she also managed to make the other GIs feel more at ease as well. This is how Smoky became known as the world’s first therapy dog. One of her patients was a man struggling with Shell Shock (now known as Post Traumatic Stress). This particular patient had been completely withdrawn and unable to communicate for months, but the second Smoky was placed in his lap, the man smiled and began to speak again.
After the war, Smoky’s owner smuggled her back into the United States where she quickly became a celebrity. She was dubbed “Yorkie Doodle Dandy” and traveled all over the United States, visiting wounded GIs in hospital to cheer them up. Smoky also began to appear on a local Cleveland children’s television program, and visited nursing homes fairs, and schools as well. She brought cheers and good vibes everywhere she went, until she suddenly passed away in 1957 around the age of fourteen.
Smoky received a Purple Heart (from Australia) which is specifically awarded to animals for their service. In 2022, she was also posthumously awarded the Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medal—the first dog to be so awarded. This award is the highest honor the United States can bestow upon an animal, and is awarded to:
“[R]ecognize the roles and contributions of United States service animals and their valiant human handlers for bravery and acknowledging their valor and meritorious achievements.”
When Smoky died, her owner buried her in a World War II .30 caliber ammo box. For nearly fifty years, Smoky’s grave was unmarked. However, a Vietnam veteran heard her story and decided to raise the funds needed to build a monument for her. Luckily Smoky’s owner Corporal Wynne still lived in the area and could point out where Smoky was buried. Corporal Wynne passed away at the age of ninety-nine in 2021. Sadly, he could not be buried beside his beloved dog because of city regulations.
Today, there are several monuments dedicated to Smoky, including in Ohio, USA and in Brisbane, Australia. Corporal Wynne published a book about Smoky, and there is also a short-film telling her story as well.
Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked
Sources:
https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/23162
https://nationalserviceanimalsmemorial.org/project/smokey-first-therapy-dog-and-veteran-of-wwii/
https://www.military.com/history/worlds-first-therapy-dog-was-world-war-ii-pacific-veteran.html