K9 Legends
Sgt. Stubby
Bull Terrier mix
World War I (U.S. Army)
Promoted to Sergeant (first dog to receive rank); Medal from Humane Education Society; mascot of Georgetown University.
Alerted troops to gas attacks, located wounded soldiers, captured a German spy; participated in 17 battles
Rin Tin Tin
German Shepherd
World War I (rescued in France)
Hollywood Walk of Fame star (posthumous); inspired U.S. military dog programs.
Rescued as a puppy; became a Hollywood star in 26 films; helped popularize German Shepherds as working dogs.
Chips
German Shepherd/Collie/Husky mix
World War II (U.S. Army)
Silver Star, Purple Heart (later revoked due to policy, but reinstated symbolically); Dickin Medal (posthumous, 2018).
Attacked enemy machine gun nest in Sicily, capturing soldiers; alerted to dangers in multiple campaigns.
Smokey
Yorkshire Terrier
World War II (U.S. Army Air Forces)
"Yank Magazine" Mascot of the SW Pacific; first therapy dog; Dickin Medal (considered for valor).
Found in jungle; morale booster; ran communication wires through pipes, saving construction time and lives.
Judy
English Pointer
World War II (British Royal Navy/POW)
Dickin Medal (animal Victoria Cross).
Protected POWs in camps; survived shipwreck and torture; alerted to dangers.
Sinbad
Mixed breed
World War II (U.S. Coast Guard)
American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal.
Served 11 years on USS Campbell; morale booster; survived combat.
Nemo
German Shepherd
Vietnam War (U.S. Air Force)
First sentry dog officially retired with honors; honored at Lackland AFB.
Detected ambush, saved handler despite being shot; prevented further attacks on base.
Lucca
German Shepherd
Iraq/Afghanistan (U.S. Marines)
Dickin Medal; featured in Rose Parade.
Detected over 400 IEDs; lost leg protecting troops from explosion.
Cairo
Belgian Malinois
War on Terror (U.S. Navy SEALs)
Honored in books and films; symbol of modern military K9s.
Part of Operation Neptune Spear (Osama bin Laden raid); bomb detection and assault.
Apollo
German Shepherd
9/11 (NYPD Search & Rescue)
Dickin Medal (on behalf of all 9/11 dogs).
First K9 on site at World Trade Center; searched rubble for survivors.
Hurricane
Belgian Malinois
2000s-2010s (U.S. Secret Service)
USSS Award for Merit, DHS Award for Valor, PDSA Order of Merit, Animals in War and Peace Distinguished Service Medal (first dog recipient; Guinness World Record).
Stopped White House intruder; protected presidents; elite operations.
Bass
Belgian Malinois
Afghanistan (U.S. Marines)
Dickin Medal (2019).
Valor in special operations; bomb detection.