US Army Dog Recognized for Heroic Action During World War II

 

A United States Army dog has been recognized for his actions during the Allied¹ invasion of Sicily in World War II.

A dog named “Chips” was posthumously² awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal earlier this week at a ceremony in London. The medal recognizes the heroic actions of animals serving in military conflict.

The award is presented by a British group: the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals.

A good choice

Chips’ life began as a much loved pet of the Wren³ family in Pleasantville, New York. A neighboring family offered the dog to the Wrens⁴ when he was a puppy.

John Wren, who was a young boy at the time, remembers his parents’ reaction to the small animal.

“The runt of the litter was this German Shepherd-husky mix thing. And they said to my mother, ‘Would you like him?’ And she said, ‘I’d love to have him.’ So, she took him, and she named him Chips. And he responded well, and he was smart and obeyed well. And then the war effort came on, and they asked for canines⁵, or dogs, to go into the K9 Corps⁶. And they thought he was a perfect fit for it. Although they were sorry to have to do it, they knew it was the right thing to do. And they did it…”

Chips easily passed his military entrance tests. He then joined the Third Infantry⁷ Regiment⁸ of the Seventh U.S. Army and was sent to North Africa.

In January 1943, Chips helped to guard the Casablanca Conference in Morocco, where then-U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met to plan the war.

The same year in July, Chips joined "Operation Husky," the Allied invasion force landing on the Italian island of Sicily.

Lieutenant⁹ Colonel Alan Throop spoke¹⁰ at the award ceremony on Monday. He said that during the invasion, enemy forces shot at and attacked Chip’s team. Throop said the dog broke away and forced the surrender of the enemy machine gun team.

Chips’ handler described how the dog entered the machine gun shelter, and came out with his jaws¹² around the neck of a German soldier. Chips’ handler had to tell the dog to stop before the man was killed.

During the incident, Chips suffered burns and injuries, but survived. He also saved the lives of the soldiers in his platoon.

Later, the army awarded Chips the Silver Star and nominated him for the Distinguished¹³ Service Cross. However, the medals were later withdrawn¹⁴ after criticism that they were not meant for animals.

Chips survived the war and returned to the United States.

John Wren, who was four at the time, was there to welcome Chips when he arrived.

A hero, finally honored

More than 70 years later, Chips finally received an award for his actions.

At the ceremony on Monday, Ayron, a U.S. military working dog based in Britain, and Throop accepted the award on Chips’ behalf. The presentation took place at the Churchill War Rooms, named after the former British prime minister. Winston Churchill’s great-grandson, Randolph Churchill, attended the ceremony.

Wren said he is thankful for the Dickin Medal.

“It’s just a nice way of honoring a war hero,” he told VOA.

I’m Phil Dierking.

Words in This Story

distinguished - adj. known by many people because of some quality or achievement?

behalf - n. as a representative of someone?

handler - n. a person who trains or controls an animal?

jaw¹¹ - n. either one of the two bones of the face where teeth grow?

posthumously - adv. happening, done, or published after someone's death?

platoon - n. a group of soldiers that includes two or more squads¹⁵ usually led by one lieutenant?

pet - n. an animal that people keep mainly for pleasure?

runt - n. the smallest animal in a group that is born to one mother at the same time

1 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

2 posthumously   

adv.于死后，于身后；于著作者死后出版地

参考例句：

• He was confirmed posthumously as a member of the Chinese Communist Party. 他被追认为中国共产党党员。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her last book was published posthumously in 1948. 她最后的一本书在她死后于1948 年出版了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 wren   

n.鹪鹩；英国皇家海军女子服务队成员

参考例句：

• A wren is a kind of short-winged songbird.鹪鹩是一种短翼的鸣禽。
• My bird guide confirmed that a Carolina wren had discovered the thickets near my house.我掌握的鸟类知识使我确信，一只卡罗莱纳州鹪鹩已经发现了我家的这个灌木丛。

4 wrens   

n.鹪鹩( wren的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Other songbirds, such as wrens, have hundreds of songs. 有的鸣鸟，例如鹪鹩，会唱几百只歌。 来自辞典例句

5 canines   

n.犬齿( canine的名词复数 )；犬牙；犬科动物

参考例句：

• For example, the teeth are more primitive. There are large canines and unusually shaped incisors. 譬如，牙齿更为原始，有大的犬齿和非常合适的门齿。 来自辞典例句
• Well-to-canines can attend doggy daycare centers while their owners work. 富人家的狗在主人上班的时候可以去狗狗托管中心。 来自互联网

6 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

7 infantry   

n.[总称]步兵(部队)

参考例句：

• The infantry were equipped with flame throwers.步兵都装备有喷火器。
• We have less infantry than the enemy.我们的步兵比敌人少。

8 regiment   

n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制

参考例句：

• As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
• They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。

9 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

10 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

11 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

12 jaws   

n.口部；嘴

参考例句：

• The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。
• The scored jaws of a vise help it bite the work. 台钳上有刻痕的虎钳牙帮助它紧咬住工件。

13 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

14 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

15 squads   

n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍

参考例句：

• Anti-riot squads were called out to deal with the situation. 防暴队奉命出动以对付这一局势。 来自辞典例句
• Three squads constitute a platoon. 三个班组成一个排。 来自辞典例句