The story of this memorial began in the spring of 1993 when Dr. William Putney contacted Ray Carlisle of the United Doberman Club to talk about The War Dog Cemetery in Guam. Subsequently, Dr. Putney attended the UDC National that year in California, and through his passionate concern for the Doberman, who had given their lives in service to their country, he inspired the members of the United Doberman Club to join him in realizing his objective.
What transpired next was somewhat of a miracle. The members of UDC and Dr.Putney pulled together and through their efforts and funding (some of which was raised by sales of The War Dog Print), not only arranged for the movement of the cemetery, but also commissioned a statue by Susan Bahary. The resulting bronze statue was erected as a memorial to the Dobermans who gave their lives on Guam and, more importantly, as a tribute to the working heritage of the Doberman Pinscher. A bronze replica of the "Always Faithful" statue as well as a poster of the life-size bronze are available by contacting Ms. Bahary at 415-925-9979 or by fax at 415-925-9553 or visit her website .
The UDC is proud to have spearheaded and commissioned this project and to be credited with this impressive, life-size bronze statue placed at The War Dog Cemetery in Guam. "Always Faithful" stands as a memorial to the greatness of the Doberman and to the dedication of UDC to the true working heritage of the breed. Our thanks to Dr. Putney for the opportunity to assist him. For more information on this memorial, please see the fourth quarter 1994 edition of the UDC Focus.
The statue "Always Faithful" at The War Dog Cemetery on Guam.
When United States Marines landed war dogs on Bougainville in the South Pacific, 01 November, 1943, it marked the first use of trained military dogs in combat by the United States. Dobermans, the official U.S. Marine Corps War Dogs, served throughout the South Pacific, courageously leading patrols in the steaming jungles, giving timely warning of the enemy waiting in ambush or hiding in caves, saving untold lives. They guarded exhausted sleeping troops in foxholes by night, preventing infiltration by the foe.After the war, many of the dogs returned to civilian homes, where, despite their training, not one of them was ever known to have bitten anyone. Attractive targets of an enemy anxious to go undetected, not all the dogs made it home. Some of the dogs made the supreme sacrifice. They lie buried in The War Dog Cemetery on the island of Guam. Their graves are marked with small headstones and a plaque.
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