November 13, 2019
A special event is taking
place tomorrow in Washington D.C. Robin
Hutton, who has written two books on amazing war animals, has organized and
orchestrated a presentation ceremony to recognize GI Joe and Cher Ami for their
wartime service. After Robin finished
her first book (Sgt Reckless: America's War Horse (NY Times bestseller),
she nominated and received the Dickin Medal for Sgt. Reckless in 2016. At that time, she wondered why America did
not have a medal such as the Dickin.
While doing research,
Robin discovered GI Joe and all of the amazing animals that received the
prestigious Dickin Medal during World War II.
She followed with a second book, War Animals: The Unsung Heroes
of World War II. Robin began a campaign to honor the animals in
America.
That campaign has led
to a special ceremony to be held on November 14, 2019, at the Rayburn House
Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. This new award is for
animals that have served with our
military during wartime, or a police dog or first responder/fire dog that has
done an exceptionally brave act on the home front. It's called the Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery and
is commensurate with Great Britain's Dickin Medal that Reckless was awarded in
2016. The medal is being presented at an inaugural ceremony
and reception for 200
people. The medal has potential to possibly become
a Congressional award.
Six posthumous medals
will be given by Members of Congress and our sponsors to animals that served in
World War I (Cher Ami, pigeon); World War II (Chips, Army dog and GI Joe,
pigeon); the Korean War (Sgt Reckless, horse); Vietnam (Stormy, dog), and the
war in Afghanistan/Iraq (Lucca, dog).
In addition, two to
four medals will be given to current military animals, first responders and
their handlers. These animals are still alive and will represent any of the
five military services or police forces/first responders for their bravery and
service in defense of our nation. The first live dog will be Multi-Purpose Canine (MPC) Bass. Bass is a Belgian Malinois who served at
Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command (MARSOC) for the
past six-and-a-half years. It takes an
exceptional animal to become a Multi-Purpose Canine for a Special
Operations Command. All MPCs must be able to detect explosive materials,
perform team protection through controlled aggression, and track the movement
of a person or group with their nose. Bass is no exception. Bass went on 350 patrols in Afghanistan/Iraq
and will be attending with his handler, Staff Sergeant Alex Schnell.
For the ceremony, GI
Joe is coming out of the Army storage and will be present for honor
recognition. The Army is also going to be bringing Cher
Ami's French Croix de Guerre for attendees to enjoy. We will also have other
military working dogs there with their handlers for people to talk to. It
promises to be a very special event. The same jeweler that produces the Dickin Medal is designing and
producing the new medal. The designer is also the monarchy's medal maker.
Three members of
American Racing Pigeon Union will attend:
Robert McKenna, AU Vice President, Bob Carney, and Tommy DeRosa (one of
GI Joe’s original handlers). The
American Racing Pigeon Union has made a small donation to the International War
Animals Museum in honor of the event and members who served. Members of congress will also be in
attendance.
To honor these heroes in
a larger and more permanent way, this medal ceremony will also launch a
new International War Animals Museum, hopefully to be placed in
Washington, DC. The medals will be
displayed in a special exhibit there. (However, Cher Ami's medal will go to the
Smithsonian, and GI Joe's will go to the new Army Museum in Ft Belvoir.) Until the
International War Animals Museum has a final place, the organization will also
be providing traveling exhibits to other museums around the country that want
to feature these incredible heroes. This museum will be a wonderful place for
people, especially children, to come and learn history through the eyes of the
animals for generations to come.
For more information:
Robin Hutton,
President / International
War Animals Museum
P.O. Box 1125
/ Moorpark, CA 93020
(805) 603-2174 (cell)
(805) 603-2174 (cell)
She
wasn't a horse - She was a Marine!
BOOK: Sgt Reckless: America's War
Horse NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
PDSA
Dickin Medal
For Facebook users, view the ceremony here: https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/1372152972933312/
Churchill Loft is the coup where decorated pigeons were housed.
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| GI Joe being held by Specialist Carmen T. DeRosa in front of aviaries of the Churchill Loft in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. |
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| GI Joe Being held by Specialist Carmen T DeRosa at the front entrance of the Churchill Loft in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. |
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| Aerial Picture of Pigeon Center at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. |
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| Specialist Carmen T. DeRosa explaining Carrier Pigeons to representatives of a local radio station at the Pigeon Center at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. |
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| Liberation of Fort Monmouth's Army Pigeons in celebration of the Opening Day of the 1956 Horse Racing Season at the Atlantic City Race Track, Atlantic City, New Jersey. On the left, Retired Major Meyers. In the center, Carmen T. DeRosa. On the right, an unnamed maintenance worker. |
