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Here is how the well mannered -- and well dressed mascot poses for a picture with one of his favorite pilots. The canine, replete with wings on his shoulders, is the mascot of a U.S. Navy air squadron, now in training at a Florida base. Photograph taken on 18 January 1943.
(U.S. Naval Institute Photo Archive)

Sea Dogs

A collection of sea going dogs photographs.
By Scot Christenson
December 2021
Naval History
Article
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Dogs have long been popular mascots in the U.S. sea services for their seemingly innate ability to build morale. In the early days, dogs often served a more practical function by leading patrols onto foreign shores to search for food and to warn of danger lurking out of eyesight. But mostly, dogs provided welcome relief from the monotony of being at sea for months on end.

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Mike, the mascot of the USS New York, is decorated for the anniversary of the Battle of Santiago, 1899. The New York (renamed the USS Rochester) was scuttled in 1941 to prevent it from being captured when the Philippines fell to Japanese forces. The wreck is now an artificial reef and a popular site for divers.

 

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The mascot of the USS Cleveland joins a theatrical production staged by the ships crew while deployed in Asia, ca 1907.

 

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Mess stewards aboard the USS Seattle pose with their instruments and mascot, ca 1923. Following the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Navy recruited Filipinos to serve almost exclusively as stewards in ship galleys and wardrooms. It was not until the 1970s that Filipinos had the opportunity to enter any rating for which they qualified. The program for recruiting Filipinos ended in 1991 when the lease for U.S. Navy bases in the Philippines expired.

 

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The mascot of the USS Palos does not seem to be trying very hard to inspire the ship's football team, the Palos Hell-Hounds, ca 1924. The Palos spent its entire career protecting U.S. citizens and property against warlords and pirates operating along the Yangtze River, China.
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Marine Pvt. John W. Emmons, and the Sixth Division's mascot dog sleep beside a 105mm howitzer on Okinawa, 1945. The Sixth Division suffered almost 2700 casualties during the battle, with another 1,300 being evacuated because of either exhaustion or fatigue.

 

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A Marine in the 7th War Dog Platoon, 25th Regt., takes a nap while Butch, his war dog, stands guard on Iwo Jima, 1945. Dogs helped alert Marines to hidden Japanese soldiers and snipers playing dead in bunkers.

 

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Marine Barracks mascot Chesty XII, shortly before retiring and being replaced by Chesty XIII in 2008.

Scot Christenson

Scot Christenson is the director of communications for the U.S. Naval Institute. He began his career as a television producer and journalist before going on to develop and manage media strategies for a wide range of organizations, including amusement parks, zoos, think tanks, and lobbying firms. He has written about history and pop culture for several periodicals. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

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