This post and the pictures are somewhat off topic because they have nothing to do with aviation, but the story is so neat I could not ignore sharing it with everyone.

Back on November 8, 2020, the Omaha World-Herald ran a story about a 103 year old Marine veteran who lived in Omaha and commanded the 6th Marine War Dog Platoon. The 6th Marine War Dog Platoon consisted of 32 German Shepards and Doberman Pinschers and their handlers. Lt. Robert Worth commanded the 6th Marine War Dog Platoon and trained many of the dogs in the platoon. Their first deployment was on Iwo Jima. The dogs were trained to sniff out enemy combatants in caves, and to carry messages through battlegrounds.

The official caption for the above photo reads: “Pfc. Ricky, half collie, half shepard, is shown crawling into the mouth of a cave. He is a member of the 6th War Dog Platoon. Ricky is considered the most obedient dogs in the platoon and will carry out orders regardless of interference of other dogs or personnel, IWO JIMA”.

The official caption for the above photo reads: “Looking out from inside of the cave is a Jap[anese] eye view of Pfc. Karl and his handler, Roy L. Jackson, also a Pfc., of Jack Horn, Ky. Roy was a veternarian in civilian life. Of the thirty-two dogs in his platoon, Roy knows the name, rank and serial number of them by heart. He knows which dogs like him best and those that like him the least. IWO JIMA”.

Lt. Worth and a friend enlisted in the United States Marines shortly after the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. He was assigned 2nd Marine Regiment and participated in the battle for Guadalcanal in the Soloman Islands. In 1943, then Sergeant Worth was selected to become an officer. Upon completion of his training, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in February 1944. He took command of the 6th Marine War Dog Platoon which trained their dogs at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Lt. Worth personally witnessed the flag raising on Mt. Surbachi captured by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal.

Robert Worth passed away on August 14, 2024 at the age of 106 years.

References:

1. Omaha Vet, 103, trained Marine war dogs at Iwo Jima, Steve Liewer; Omaha World-Herald, November 8, 2020.
2. Marine dog handler dies at 106, Steve Liewer; Omaha World-Herald, August 29, 2024.