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    Barge Dog: Virginia Coast, 1942!
    Barge Dog: Virginia Coast, 1942!
    Barge Dog: Virginia Coast, 1942!
    Ebook137 pages2 hours

    Barge Dog: Virginia Coast, 1942!

    By Susan Anthony-Tolbert

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    About this ebook

    “Barge Dog: Virginia Coast, 1942” is the story of Snowball, the little white, fluffy pup who served on the barge, Ontario, at the beginning of World War II as the Barge Mascot. He was a ‘coastwise barge dog’ meaning that he lived on barges traveling up and down the Atlantic coast of the United States. Barges towed by tugs carried much needed supplies and materials up and down the Atlantic seaboard. Much loved by his human guardian, Orris P. Riggin, Snowball faced danger and adventure in the early days of U.S. entry into World War II. The attack on the tug, Menominee, and her three barges on the night of March 31, 1942 by a German U-boat about nine miles off the coast of Virginia was one of those dangers. This attack resulted in the loss of the lives of sixteen Merchant Mariners. It also showed the courage and devotion of this little white dog. Declassified government records as well as newspaper accounts will show the reader the veracity of this little known piece of maritime American history.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBookBaby
    Release dateJul 12, 2017
    ISBN9781543907988
    Barge Dog: Virginia Coast, 1942!

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      Book preview

      Barge Dog - Susan Anthony-Tolbert

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      Chapter One: Introduction

      There were many dogs who actively served in World War II whether on the battlefields or on board ships. Wonderful stories of these military canines abound in the literature.

      Historians have also noted that there were very few military camps or installations in this country or abroad without their quota of pet dogs during WW II. These canines participated in maneuvers and cross country hikes with the men. They lined up with the ranks for inspection. These dogs traveled in everything from the general’s private jeep or staff car, to tanks, even to planes. They were every possible breed, shape, size, and color! Individual soldiers often adopted dogs that were left homeless by the war. These became their pets. All these animals were subject to the same risks and perils as their human companions/guardians in a world war. Officers had their pets as well. General Dwight Eisenhower had his black Scottie, Telek.  General George Patton had his bull terrier, Willie. But these canines didn’t care if their guardian was a private in a foxhole or a general at Head Quarters or a ship’s Captain.  Given food, water, love and companionship, they gave back 100 fold and more.

      Others dogs were Mascots for the various U.S. military units whether in the field or aboard ship.  All these animals were also subject to the same risks and perils as their human companions or guardians in a world war.

      Since the story of Barge Dog: Virginia Coast, 1942 involves a mascot, a canine at sea, it should be noted that the U.S. Naval Institute has discussed how dogs have long been popular mascots in all U.S. sea services. Those dogs that served as mascots made the important contribution of raising morale! Certainly, Snowball, the canine hero of this story, and dogs like him didn’t fight like those in the K-9 Corps but they served as a link to home and a peaceful life in the midst of a terrible war. Snowball helped the morale of the barge men as their vessel was pulled through the sub infested waters off the Atlantic coast of the United States.

      Snowball was not alone in his ability and efforts to raise morale and to bring a little touch of home to a ship. A little dog, name Admiral Wags has a somewhat similar story to the hero of this story. Like Snowball, he was a part of World War II. He was the beloved pet/mascot of Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman. In the Coral Sea Battle, Admiral Sherman’s ship, Lexington, was hit. Even the most naïve and neophyte sailor knew the ship was going down. Admiral Sherman went about all his duties to insure that his crew was abandoning ship and that they had every chance of surviving. In the middle of this chaos, he noticed that his precious Wags was missing. The Admiral searched for the spaniel. In trying to co-ordinate an evacuation of the ship, looking for the missing dog was no simple or quick feat. The Admiral searched high and low. He risked his life not only to save his men but in his frantic attempt to find the dog. Finally, he located Wags hiding in his officers’ quarters under a bed. It was no easy task to entice the frightened dog out from his hiding place. The Admiral persisted. Once he had secured his dog, he hurriedly carried him to a sailor. This young man immediately put a life vest on Wags and took him off the ship. Admiral Sherman stayed aboard until the last of his sailors was safely in a life boat. The Lexington did, indeed, sink. Wags and the Admiral were later reunited. Admiral Sherman received a medal from the American Humane Association for s concern over this canine and for his heroism insuring the dog’s safety.  Wags also received a medal for his participation in the Coral Sea Battle. It was given to him by the Tailwaggers Club of America, a WW II organization of dog lovers!

      In the Second World War, dogs provided, just as they have for centuries, relief from the monotony of being at sea for days or weeks. A number of U.S. Coast Guard vessels in World War II had dogs: much loved, well-cared for and trained dogs. The history of this branch of service is filled with the stories of Queenie, Sinbad, Skunk, Sally, Blackout, Barnacle Bull, Nippy, Mike, Dogo, Salty, and Smokey to name only a very few. These animals endured the hardships at sea as well as frightening events of being at sea in a World War. For example, Smokey was the only living creature found on a tanker that burned after a collision with a sister ship in 1944 off the coast of Florida. Eighty eight lives were lost from the collision and ensuing fire that day.  Smokey’s ID card shows not only the love and respect his fellow sailors had for him but there sense of humor even in the midst of a terrible war. 

      However, it should be noted that dogs were not the only animals that served, that became mascots or that were much beloved pets of the various branches of service. Equines, felines and birds also could be found in these capacities. Unlike World War I, equines, however, did not play quite as much a role in World War II. Greater mechanization made their role more auxiliary than in previous wars. This should not be taken to minimize the tremendous work of those equines (horses, mules and donkeys) that did serve. At home, equines (often referred to as Sand Pounders) assisted in the patrol of the beaches of the United States on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts by the U.S. Coast Guard. It would take another book to do justice to all these equine warriors.  As WW II continued and with U.S. entry into that war, almost all of the participants had horse mounted supply units, artillery units and cavalry units. The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps was assigned the task of maintaining more than 56, 000 equines during WW II.  In 1943, there was a peak in the demand for horse as the Coast Guard needed 3,000 for its beach patrols as mentioned above.  Pack mules were used extensively by the U.S. in Tunisia in the winter of 1942-1943 and in the mountainous terrain of Italy throughout the war. Mules were also used in the China-Burma-India Theater of War.  By the end of the war, the concentrated production of various war machinery and mechanized weaponry in the U.S. had equipped it and its Allies with armored vehicles and reconnaissance vehicles. These advantages had mostly eliminated the need for horses and mules.

      (Two Coast Guard members on patrol on a beach off the Atlantic coast. Photo from Coast Guard website.)

      According to the U.S. Navy website, "sailors and cats have a special relationship that dates back thousands of years." On this Navy website there are numerous pictures of cats on ships. It seems that the ancient Egyptians were the first seafarers who realized the tremendous value of having cats aboard ships and their true value as shipmates. In addition to offering sailors much needed companionship on long voyages, cats provided protection by ridding ships of vermin. Without the presence of cats, a crew could have easily found their ship overrun with rats and mice that would eat into the provisions, chew through ropes and spread disease. The more superstitious sailors believed that cats protected them by bringing good luck. It was also common for crews to adopt cats from the foreign lands they visited. These served not only as beloved pets on the voyage but as souvenirs and reminders of their pets at home.

      The U.S. Navy website contains pictures of its sea-going felines dating back into the mid to late 1800s. The USS Pensacola in 1888 had both a cat mascot as well as dogs on board.  The Pensacola was a steamer that participated in Admiral David Farragut’s capture of New Orleans in 1862. The iron clad monitor, USS Nahant, had two cats on board in 1898. This monitor was part of Rear Admiral Samuel Francis du Pont’s fleet (Rear Admiral DuPont was honored by having Washington D.C. name Dupont Circle in his honor) that attacked the Charleston Harbor in 1863.  There were also pictures of cats on U.S. ships in World War I. In the 1920s, the USS Mississippi had a hammock and a bunk for its cats. This same ship was in service during WW II. A cat named, Susan, was in the D-Day invasion as it had made its home in one of the landing crafts. Bligewater was the mascot of the Coast Guard Academy in 1944 and liked nothing better than to sleep in the new wartime grey cadet uniforms.   

      (Photos from the U.S. Naval Institute. Picture shows pilots on the USS Ranger playing with the ship’s feline mascot in July of 1944.)

      Not even a brief introduction to animals in WW II would be complete  without mentioning pigeons. During World War II, the Army Signal Corps had over 54,000 pigeons in military service. There were 3,000 soldiers and 150 officers assigned to the U.S. Military Pigeon Service. Their role was to care for these important avian soldiers. Pigeons were used in all types of combat theaters of war. They were used with ground troops, in bombers, on submarines and in intelligence operations.  These heroic birds had to accomplish their missions under very difficult, if not impossible conditions: night flying, bad weather, enemy gunfire, and other birds that preyed on them. Many American soldiers, sailors and airmen and women owe their lives to these flying warriors.  The picture shows a "pigeon loft used for the training of pigeons in the military.

      Perhaps the most famous of the American War Pigeon was G.I. Joe. (Band number USA 43, SC 6390). He flew 25 miles in 25 minutes to American Headquarters in Italy with a message to request American Airmen to bomb a town where a British Brigade had been cut off.  His flight saved the entire brigade. G.I. Joe was awarded the Dickin Medal of Gallantry by the Lord Mayor of London in a celebration of his valor and for his incredible feat.

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