Rare photos show the incredible legacy of America's military dogs

Rags was found on the streets of Paris during World War I and quickly became the mascot of the 1st Infantry Division.

Rags lived through being gassed by German shells and injuries to his paw, ear and eye.

Rags was awarded many medals and honors and, when his time to cross the Rainbow Bridge came, he was buried with military honors. 

Rin Tin Tin, his mother and littermates were rescued in 1918 by American soldier Lee Duncan from a bombed German kennel in France in 1918, according to Brittanica.  

Rin Tin Tin can be see as a young pup with the members of his squadron.

Duncan later returned to the U.S. with Rin Tin Tin, where the German shepherd took Hollywood by storm.

Rin Tin Tin’s IMDB page shows the pooch, also called “Rinty,” starred in 27 productions from 1922 to 1931. 

Rinty passed away just shy of his 14th birthday in 1932. The dog was so beloved that news of his passing interrupted regular programming, NPR reported.

Sergeant Stubby, a brindle put-bull terrier with a stub tail, served in 17 battles in World War I.

Stubby became the unofficial mascot for Connecticut National Guard soldier James Conroy's unit after Conroy snuck the dog aboard the ship to Europe.

Stubby could salute humans and alerted them of impending gas attacks, enemy attacks and even caught a German spy before he could escape, according to the U.S. Department of War.

Stubby was taxidermied after his death and currently resides at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. wearing a blanket adorned with the many medals he earned.

Butch, a Doberman pinshcer, was one of many canine recruits during World War II by "Dogs for Defense." Some of the dogs in this program were purchased by the military for around $50, while others were donated. The military canine programs trained the dogs for scout and patrol work.

The short hair of the Doberman pinschers was believed to be better for the heat of the tropics, and their sharp senses and athleticism made them great for scouting and delivering messages. 

Butch is seen standing guard as his handler, Private First Class Rez P. Hester, takes a nap in the trenches of Iwo Jima in 1945.

The military canine program initially accepted five breeds: German and Belgian shepherds, Doberman pinschers, collies and giant schnauzers. Canine recruits were later limited to German shepherds, who were, "better all around for handling and training purposes."

German shepherd-collie-husky mix Chips was the most decorated working dog of World War II. But, his awards were later redacted, due to complaints they weren’t meant for animals.

While under fire in Sicily, the dog escaped from his handler and ran towards the gunfire. “There was an awful lot of noise and the firing stopped. Then I saw one soldier come out of the door with Chips at his throat. I called him off before he could kill the man,” his handler, Pvt. John R. Rowell, later recalled.

The dog was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division from 1942 until he was honorably discharged in 1945. Chips passed away at home a year later from his war injuries. 

Nemo served in the Vietnam War with his handler, Airman Bob Throneburg. In 1966, Nemo alerted the Airmen of the presences nearby combatants while on patrol. Hostile fire erupted, injuring both Nemo and Throneburg. Nemo guarded Throneburg until medical help arrived, despite his own severe injuries.

Nemo is credited for saving Throneburg’s life. Nemo recovered from his injuries and retried from service, but continued to work as a recruiting dog at Lackland Airfare Base. Nemo crossed the rainbow bridge in 1972. 

His kennel was turned into a memorial to honor the bravery of Military Working Dogs. 

Marine Corps K-9 Lex served in the armed forces from 2002 to 2007. While in Iraq, Lex’s handler, Cpl. Dustin J. Lee, was fatally wounded during a rocket attack. Lex remained with Lee until medical assistance arrived, despite Lex also suffering from shrapnel wounds.

Lex fully recovered and was adopted by Lee’s parents, making him the first military working dog to retired from active duty and be adopted by the family of a fallen Marine. 

Marine war dog Lucca served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. The German shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix was trained to sniff out hidden explosives, working off-leash using voice commands coming from her handler through a radio attached to her vest.

Lucca led 400 patrols and never lost a man on any of her missions. In 2012, she was wounded by an IED, resulting in the loss of her front left leg. She retired from service and was adopted by her first handler, Chris Willingham.

Lucca passed away from natural causes at the age of 14 in 2018. She was honored with a statue in Tuscaloosa, Alabama last year.

"She had a great drive to go out and perform a mission, but I loved it when you were between missions, and she could switch and just be a dog and bring a good piece of home to a bad place when we were between patrols. But she had a just a great spirit about her, a lot of expression in her eyes. It was like you could see exactly what she was going through in those moments," Lucca’s first handler, Ret. USMC Master Sergeant Chris Willingham, said.

Both of her handlers attended the unveiling. You can see pictures from the ceremony here.