A flurry of bullets from the machine gun nest meant the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division was pinned down. But Chips didn't hesitate. While the sound of gunfire drowned out the voice of his commanding officer, he broke out from behind cover, bounded across the sandy beach and dived headfirst into the pillbox.

Teeth bared, he pounced at the neck of an enemy combatant, sinking his teeth into tender flesh. The fearsome melee prompted a swift surrender from the four Italian troops in the camouflaged bunker—a mission accomplished.

Chips was a war dog; a military K-9 unit who, during World War II, was deployed across Sicily, Italy, North Africa, Germany and France. His service—particularly that courageous assault landing encounter during the invasion of Sicily—earned him a handful of military awards,

See Full Page