“Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s”. (2Chron. 20:15)
In the tiny Pacific Island of Guam stands a statue. Atop it lies a Doberman Pinscher; ears erect, attentive; haunches not relaxed but poised at the ready. He stares straight ahead, ready to receive the next command of action from some unseen individual. Etched into the stone below are the names of 25 dogs who gave their lives in the battle against the Japanese who captured the small island less than twenty-four hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In Captain William W. Putney’s book, Always Faithful, he recounts his experiences with these brave animals.
On July 21, 1944, American soldiers fought the Japanese in a battle lasting only a few weeks but in that short time span, over 7,000 Marine, Army, and Navy men were killed along with 25 of their faithful canine recruits. These dogs, primarily Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherds, were specially trained to scout ahead of the troops through the tangle of jungle thickets and treacherous terrain for Japanese soldiers hidden in caves and bush. Their keen senses alerted soldiers to land mines, booby traps, and approaching Japanese in the middle of the night. These dogs carried ammunition, messages and medical supplies. The most valuable weapons these Marines brought into battle weren’t their guns and grenades, they were the noses and ears of these military dogs. These dogs led over 550 patrols on Guam and were never once ambushed. They saved hundreds of lives and gave 25 of their own. Surprisingly, the dogs that were used in battle were nicknamed, “Devil Dogs”. The devil has no desire to protect us. He leaves us swaying in the wind, raising the white flag. These dogs were angels, sent by God to protect us and to provide a divine example of trust, obedience, and selflessness.
What was in it for these dogs? For them, there was no freedom to fight for. They had no concept of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. There was no hope of a Purple Heart or a high ranking position. They did it because the soldiers asked them to. The praise of their friend was enough. There is an innate trust that dogs have in us when we provide a healthy, balanced relationship of leadership and respect. When these dogs headed out on a dangerous mission to hunt out the Japanese fighters, there was no fear. They forged ahead among the thorns, reptiles, bugs and unseen enemies because it was what they were trained to do by the men following closely behind. They knew their friend, trainer and fellow soldier was there. Any command issued would be quickly obeyed and through this teamwork, lives were saved.
What an example of trust and faith. Everyday we head out into this world, we have a protector following close behind who we can trust. God has our back. Through his Word, he has given us instruction and training to help us battle our enemies, seen and unseen. Does it mean we’ll never get injured in battle? Of course not, but it does mean that he’ll be there to help us get through it. We’re often overwhelmed by “the great horde”; we get “dismayed” and frightened by the lump the doctor has discovered, the impending layoff, a troubled marriage. Stop. Turn around. Look to your protector, obey His commands; He’s prepared you for this. This battle is not yours to fight. You’re going to need an army. You’re going to need faith. And there’s no better equipped force than God and his angels. He’ll get you through it and in the end when the smoke has cleared, look up and thank Him for his guidance. There’s nothing on earth you can give him in return. Just praise him. The praise of a friend is enough.
