5. A Tribute to Smoky, the Heroic WWII Yorkie
Smoky, a tiny Yorkshire terrier, had a big impact on soldiers who served in World War II. Discovered by her owner American solider William Wynn in 1944 in the jungles of Papua, New Guinea, Smoky played an important role on the battlefield and off. One of Smoky’s biggest contributions to the war effort was successfully dragging a telecommunications cable through a 60-foot-long, eight-inch-wide tunnel. Wynn kept Smoky by his side for multiple flying combat missions and took her with him when he got sick and was sent to the hospital. Smoky was allowed to stay at his bedside and even go along with the nurses as they made rounds. Her presence, and the tricks Wynn had taught her to perform, cheered up the other injured soldiers and made her one of the first therapy dogs on record. At the museum, you will find a memorial to Smoky that includes one of her medals from the Australian Defense Force Tracker and War Dog Association and a parachute used in Wynn’s successful stunt to have Smoky named “Best Mascot in the South West Pacific Area.”