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Bill Wynne has had dogs all his life. Having had six lessons in Obedience training in Cleveland in 1942 his experience when he obtained Smoky a four pound Yorkie in New Guinea in W.W.II was indeed limited. The basic obedience trials with the bright Smoky was accomplished in two days off the leash with the tiny dog, who was no taller than the top of Bill’s GI shoes. She worked to near perfection. Together, the two worked by trial and error. Soon Smoky was playing dead, running between Bill’s legs as he walked along. She learned to walk on a drum and peddle a scooter made of an orange crate, and control cabel pulleys for wheels from a P-38. Using airplane scrap control wires mounted on a wood frame, Smoky was soon walking on a tight wire blindfolded.
The ultimate trick was spelling her name out of letters by actual recognition, no matter how they were placed. The letters were cut from empty, 16″ by 20″ cardboard boxes, used for holding photographic paper. The scooter and letters fit in the cut-down, photo-chemical drum. For carrying in Bill’s barracks bag when they were advancing in the island-hopping toward Japan.
They performed for their buddies and at Army and Navy Hospitals. Many of these tricks are used today in Agility trials. For example in Agility dogs weave through pickets, and run through a flexible tunnel. Sixty Years ago Smoky climbed ladders and went down them or slid down a sliding board. Smoky and Bill were in show business for 10 years after the war doing the tricks Smoky learned overseas, all set to music. Bill worked In Hollywood for a short time after the war, training and handling dogs in major studios.
Bill is retired after 50 years of professional photography. After his experience in the 26th Photo Recon Squadron, he spent 7 years with the National Advisory Committee For Aeronautics (now NASA) flying flight icing research missions and working on other research programs, testing and developing equipment, still used in modern aircraft. Bill worked as a photo journalist and photographer/writer with the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER for 31 years and returned to NASA for four more years before retiring to write his memoir, Yorkie Doodle Dandy.
Kristina McMorris on 09 Sep 2008 at 1:38 am #
Dear Mr. Wynne,
I’ve ordered your fascinating memoir, and am looking forward to reading it! What an inspiration you are.
I, too, used to take Toby, my mother’s Yorkie (a teddy bear Yorkie), on regular visits to a local children’s hospital. He was always great at putting smiles on the patients’ faces! It’s great to finally know who the first official pet therapy dog was.
Did Smoky do any hospital visits in New Guinea in either November or December of 1944? If so, was it primarily in the Hollandia area?
Kind regards,
Kristina
Bill Wynne on 14 Dec 2008 at 8:37 pm #
Hi Kristina,
Smoky began her therapy work at the 233rd Station Hospital in Nadzab New Guinea in July of 1944 when nurses took her on rounds to visit wounded coming in from the BIak Is. invasion. We then were in Hollandia a week or so and then I took her to Austalia where the Red Cross asked me to bring her to the 42nd General and 109th Fleet Hospitals in Brisbane. We didn’t do any hospitals in Hollandia. going straight to Biak Is when returning from Australia. In May of1945 Red Cross nurse Barbara Wood Smith wrote asking me to bring Smoky to Manila while there was fighting still going on around the city. We did the 120 General Hospital there. Bill
Ben on 21 Jan 2009 at 9:38 pm #
Smoky sounds like a most amazing Yorkie. Our Yorkie, Spenser, travels all over America with his mom, and I know that Spenser would be overwhelmed with Smoky’s accomplishments!
You can visit and follow Spenser’s Travels at http://www.spensernation.com.
Dan Armstrong & Little Dude on 01 Oct 2009 at 4:41 pm #
Hi Bill,
Little Dude and I are very proud of you and Smoky, not only for blazing the trail for our therapy work for wounded soldiers, but also for your life-long service to America and your inspiration to all therapy teams. You are our hero, and you’ll always be in our heart.
We not only ordered Yorkie Doodle Dandy, but we’ve ordered multiple copies so we can give one to each wounded veteran that we visit. Thank you!
Love and prayers always,
Dan and Little Dude ^.^
Jaime and Sprout on 11 Nov 2009 at 8:58 am #
Happy Veterans Day!
Bill Wynne on 11 Nov 2009 at 11:07 am #
Thank you all very for your kind words about Smoky and me.
No, the only hospital visits Smoky did in New Guinea was at Nadzab in the 233rd Station Hospital in July of 1944. The big surprise here was, about five years ago I heard on the History Channel that the CO. of the hospital ( who allowed Smoky to go on rounds and to sleep on my bed for five nights) was Major/Dr. Charles W. Mayo of the Mayo Clinic. It was a Mayo Clinic staffed hospital. The group was formed in Rochester Minn. with another hospital in town forming a National Guard Unit in 1940 as war seemed eminent. The two nurses had the idea and asked me if it would be OK if they asked permission of their Commanding Officer to take Smoky on rounds? I said “fine. ” And that is how it began and lastd 12 years the last 10 in civilian life. Yestday Yesterday ,Nov. 10,Cleveland Communoity College W Branch had me join other vets at the Museom /Archive at the College. The site is the former CRILE General Hospital later, Crile VA Hospital And the first Hospital we performed at home. We made bed to bed visists three weeks after we returned in Nov. of ’45 . Smoky had a top of the fold page One story in the Cleveland PRESS and that launched our fame in the U.S. CRile Hospital called and asked us to come. Therapy Dog did not have a title until 1964 and that was at the suggestion of a Dr. Levin, that dogs might be used as therapy to mental Patients. Of coiurse Smoky had served mental Patients through the years. Once in Chicago she slipped through the bars of several who were locked up. Those men really appreciated her visit with them. The nurses were really sweating not knowing what ciould happen. Finally one said,” Ok. Let her down now” The man holding her still smiling set herdown and she slipped back out through the bars. In summerof 1946 We did the Cleveland Psychiatric, 100 patients at a time. Bill
Frank Jones on 10 Dec 2009 at 1:33 am #
Just wanted to say a quick ‘Hello’ Bill.
I emailed you a few years back…..you kindly sent me two copies of your autographed Smoky book…one to auction at Little Shelter, NY animal shelter, and one to replace a copy we had lost in a fire….that was the fire ( that we all survived!) mainly due to one of our two Yorkies, Sammy (Samantha) who alerted us……twice before she had done the same for my father, a Royal Navy WW2 Vet..sadly passed away now…..
Anyhow, good to see you are still going strong…….you are a credit to Veterans, Americans and dog lovers everywhere,
take care Bill, all the best, as always,
Frank, Englishman..and Yorkie owner, NY.
Heidi Snoe on 20 Sep 2010 at 4:40 pm #
Hello,
Looking for contact information to clear using photo’s of Smoky for and installation in California.
Kind Regards,
Heidi
Nancy Pimm on 18 Jan 2011 at 4:11 pm #
Dear Mr. Wynne,
I am writing a children’s non fiction book about war dogs in WWll, Viet Nam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. I would love to include Smoky’s remarkable story. I have read your memoir, but I was wondering if I could have the honor of meeting you in person for an interview. I live in Columbus, Ohio. I look forward to hearing from you, Nancy
Ellen Diner on 14 Mar 2011 at 10:28 pm #
Dear Mr. Wynne,
My husband bought your book for me years ago. I have had yorkies for 30 years so it was so wonderful to read your book and be introduced to Smokey. I will be buying your book again to give to a friend who has a yorkie. Thank you so much for sharing your life with Smokey. I get tears in my eyes when I think about your story.
Ellen and Amigo Mio(who looked lilke Smokey), Toto, Babytango and Besame
Patrick on 04 Aug 2011 at 10:24 am #
Hello Bill,
What a fascinating story, Smoky was truly a wonder. Are they any plans to tell her story in a movie? I’m surprised Disney hasn’t already grabbed this. Take care
Patrick
Brian Brinkman on 25 Aug 2011 at 2:06 pm #
Dear Mr. Wynne,
It so great to see you face and here your voice in these clips. I grew up across the street from you and your son Jay was my first Best Friend. You and your family made a lasting inpact on me and made me feel welcome at a time when I felt alone.
Jay was the first person to take me fishing and I think of him everytime I cast my rod.
Thank you for being such a brilliant light to so many.
Brian Brinkman