Yorkie Doodle Dandy

Love this book soooo much, so in honor of my Button’s birthday on August 17, I present a wonderful non fiction book about a truly remarkable Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky


I love yorkies and know first hand how smart they are, I read about Smoky when I got my first Yorkie, Jip, but didn’t know about the book until many years later. It is a wonderful story during a tense time in our countrys history. In February 1944, a Yorkshire Terrier soon to be named Smoky was found by an American soldier in an abandoned foxhole in the New Guinea jungle. She was already a young adult Yorkie (fully grown). The soldiers initially thought the small dog belonged to the Japanese, but after taking her to a nearby prisoner-of-war camp they realized she did not understand commands in Japanese or English. Another GI then sold Smoky to Corporal William A. Wynne of Cleveland, Ohio, for two Australian pounds (equal to $6.44 at that time)—the price paid to the seller so he could return to his poker game. For the next two years, Smoky back-packed through the rest of the war and accompanied Wynne on combat flights in the Pacific. She faced adverse circumstances, living in the New Guinea jungle and Rock Islands, suffering the primitive conditions of tents in equatorial heat and humidity. Throughout her service, Smoky slept in Wynne's tent on a blanket made from a green felt card table cover; she shared Wynne's C-rations and an occasional can of Spam.

Smoky Served in the South Pacific with the 5th Air Force, 26th Photo Recon Squadron flew 12 air/sea rescue and photo reconnaissance missions. Wynne credited Smoky with saving his life by warning him of incoming shells on an LST (transport ship), calling her an "angel from a foxhole." As the ship deck was booming and vibrating from anti-aircraft gunnery, Smoky guided Wynne to duck the fire that hit 8 men standing next to them.

This is a wonderful read for anyone who loves animals! Ok, I'm a bit prejudiced as I type, my dear Button is snoring by my side!

side notes:

On February 21, 1957, "Corporal" Smoky died unexpectedly at the approximate age of 14.


Wynne and his family buried Smoky in a World War II .30 Caliber Ammo Box in the Cleveland Metroparks, Rocky River Reservation in Lakewood, Ohio.

Nearly 50 years later, on Veterans Day, November 11, 2005, a bronze life-size sculpture of Smoky sitting in a GI helmet, atop a two-ton blue granite base, was unveiled there. It is placed above the very spot that Smoky was laid at her final resting place