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Story
February 26, 1958
The Nome Nugget
Nome, Nome County, Alaska
What is this article about?
Oki, a heroic Alsatian dog, delivered a critical message during the 1945 Okinawa invasion, saving 151 Marines from encirclement. Honored with medals by President Truman, he died at 15 in Costa Mesa, California.
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Oki, Marine Dog Hero of Pacific War, Dead at 15
COSTA MESA, Calif. (UP) Old age has claimed the life of Oki, Alsatian shepherd dog credited with saving the lives of 151 Marines during the invasion of Okinawa.
Oki's master, Bob Harr, was a first lieutenant and one of a party of eight assigned to penetrate Japanese lines and blow up the command post on Okinawa. The Japanese closed in on the patrol and other units nearby and hemmed them in for two days.
Said Harr: "Maj. Hugh Littlefield wrote a note to our command post, saying that if Oki got through give us two star shells, one blue and one white.' We tied the note to the dog's collar and told him to find Bob Reigenheimer, one of his trainers.
"I waited half an hour and had just about given him up for lost when a blue star shell went up over the beach, followed by a white one, and within 10 minutes our artillery fire began pouring in and we were rescued."
Oki went to Washington where President Truman tied the War Dog Medal around his neck. He wore the Bronze Star Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
El Toro Marine Base nearby will send two Marines for the funeral service to blow taps over Oki's grave. Oki was 15 when he died.
COSTA MESA, Calif. (UP) Old age has claimed the life of Oki, Alsatian shepherd dog credited with saving the lives of 151 Marines during the invasion of Okinawa.
Oki's master, Bob Harr, was a first lieutenant and one of a party of eight assigned to penetrate Japanese lines and blow up the command post on Okinawa. The Japanese closed in on the patrol and other units nearby and hemmed them in for two days.
Said Harr: "Maj. Hugh Littlefield wrote a note to our command post, saying that if Oki got through give us two star shells, one blue and one white.' We tied the note to the dog's collar and told him to find Bob Reigenheimer, one of his trainers.
"I waited half an hour and had just about given him up for lost when a blue star shell went up over the beach, followed by a white one, and within 10 minutes our artillery fire began pouring in and we were rescued."
Oki went to Washington where President Truman tied the War Dog Medal around his neck. He wore the Bronze Star Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
El Toro Marine Base nearby will send two Marines for the funeral service to blow taps over Oki's grave. Oki was 15 when he died.
What sub-type of article is it?
Animal Story
Heroic Act
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Survival
What keywords are associated?
Marine Dog Hero
Oki
Okinawa Invasion
Message Delivery
Wwii Medals
Dog Rescue
What entities or persons were involved?
Oki
Bob Harr
Maj. Hugh Littlefield
Bob Reigenheimer
President Truman
Where did it happen?
Okinawa; Costa Mesa, Calif.; El Toro Marine Base
Story Details
Key Persons
Oki
Bob Harr
Maj. Hugh Littlefield
Bob Reigenheimer
President Truman
Location
Okinawa; Costa Mesa, Calif.; El Toro Marine Base
Event Date
During The Invasion Of Okinawa
Story Details
Oki, an Alsatian shepherd dog, saved 151 Marines by delivering a message through Japanese lines during the Okinawa invasion, leading to their rescue. He received multiple medals from President Truman and died at age 15 in Costa Mesa.