OLDNAVYMCPO
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Cat Island, MS is a barrier island off the Gulf Coast. During WWII it was home to a base operated by the U.S. Army Signal Corps for training military service dogs. Known as Cat Island War Dog Reception and Training Center.
William A. Prestre, a Swiss citizen residing in Santa Fe, NM, convinced the Pentagon to lease the island to train 40,000 attack dogs. The government had put out a call for 120,000 dogs.
The plan was for amphibious assaults by an army of vicious attack dogs unto Jap held islands.
The trainers attempted to train the dogs to attack and kill Japanese only. Twenty-five Japanese/American enlisted and three officers were volunteered to act as bait, after millions of dollars spent, the idea was abandoned.
The K-9 Corps did later come into being and war dogs have been a real military asset ever since.
Cat Island got its name because early Spanish explorers thought the inhabitants were cats, they were raccoons.
William A. Prestre, a Swiss citizen residing in Santa Fe, NM, convinced the Pentagon to lease the island to train 40,000 attack dogs. The government had put out a call for 120,000 dogs.
The plan was for amphibious assaults by an army of vicious attack dogs unto Jap held islands.
The trainers attempted to train the dogs to attack and kill Japanese only. Twenty-five Japanese/American enlisted and three officers were volunteered to act as bait, after millions of dollars spent, the idea was abandoned.
The K-9 Corps did later come into being and war dogs have been a real military asset ever since.
Cat Island got its name because early Spanish explorers thought the inhabitants were cats, they were raccoons.
