SMOKY – Cleveland, Ohio-Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2005 – Flags were flying, snapping in the wind. The mournful sound of bagpipes filled the air. Honor guards bore arms, marched, saluted and stood at attention. Speeches were made. The crowd stood still, hats in hand and hands on chests as Taps was played. Twenty-one rounds were fired in the time-honored salute.

The scene was replayed again and again all day long, all across America and wherever American troops are stationed, but this tribute was different from all the rest. The “veterans” being honored this day in Cleveland Metroparks, Rocky River Reservation, were not only human but also canine. A crowd of 400 people and at least 50 dogs attended the unveiling and dedication ceremony of theSmoky and Dogs of All Wars memorial. The bronze life-size sculpture of Smoky sitting in a GI helmet, on a blue, two-ton granite base, was dedicated to “Smoky, the Yorkie Doodle Dandy, and Dogs of All Wars.

The most famous dog of WWII, Smoky was a four-pound Yorkshire terrier. Nearby, a colorful information plaque listed other famous war dogs, Stubby, Nemo, Caesar and Chips, as well as Smoky. Smoky, who was found in an abandoned foxhole in the jungles of New Guinea, came to be owned and trained by William A. Wynne, a photo specialist in the Army Air Corps. Wynne trained Smoky to do several hundred tricks, took her to visit wounded and sick troops in hospitals and carried her along on 12 air rescue missions. Smoky joined the ranks of “war dog hero” when she pulled a line through a 70-foot culvert, enabling vital communications lines to be run under newly captured air taxiways, thus saving the many war planes stationed there from exposure to enemy fire and near-certain destruction.

After the war, Smoky continued to entertain troops and civilians alike. Smoky died in 1957 at 14. In 1996, Wynne wrote Yorkie Doodle Dandy, a Memoir, which continues to be a popular seller today. The War Dog memorial fulfills Wynne’s decades-long dream and immortalizes a very special little dog, who was not only a famous “war dog” but also the “first therapy dog of record,” according to researchers at TV’s Animal Planet. The Yorkshire Terrier breed has grown in popularity since Smoky was found in New Guinea. Only 65 Yorkies were registered with the AKC that entire year. Now, approximately 5,000 a month are registered.

Here is The Smoky Memorial in Cleveland Metroparks where she is sharing her medals . Left to Right. UNITED STATES WAR DOGS ASSOCIATION Service Medal 2017, for War or Police Service, AUSTRALIAN Defense Force Trackers and War Dogs Association War Combat medal, 2012. AUSTRALIAN RSPCA Purple Cross, 2014,. very rare Animal Hero medal, for bravery. Smoky born in Australia in 1943 served with the US 5th Army Force 18 months in combat and is honored in both countries. Photo by Robert Wynne

A military admirer at the ceremony

At the ceremony: Nigel Allsopp, President of AWAMO, Military Veteran, Snr. K9 handler, author and historian and awarded the great honor of “Anzac of the Year” in 2017!

Smoky has frequent secret admirers in both Cleveland and Brisbane who celebrate her throughout the year!

Distinguished Governor of Queensland in red with Military personnel and one of the  donkeys who attended among horses and dogs at the ceremony.

The 14th Mudgeeraba Light Horse and Mounted Police.

Smoky in the Helmet is available for purchase