Smoky the Brave

August 1, 2018

War dog chronicler Lewis (The Dog That Could Fly; Judy: A Dog in a Million) recounts the true story of another heroic World War II canine. During the Pacific War in New Guinea, a tiny four-pound Yorkshire terrier was discovered hiding in a foxhole in the jungle by a non-dog-loving soldier. The soldier then sold the little dog for $2 to Corporal Bill Wynne, an air crew member from a photo reconnaissance squadron, who named her Smoky. Although Smoky was never an "official" World War II war dog, she accompanied Wynne in several air/sea and photo reconnaissance missions and helped engineers who were building an airfield by digging soil in a narrow pipe for a telegraph wire. Probably her biggest contribution was cheering up and boosting morale by performing tricks for hospitalized soldiers: the forerunner of a therapy dog. VERDICT While Lewis contributes another well-researched biography to the war dog genre, this book is only needed where interest in World War II history is high.--Eva Lautemann, Stone Mountain, GA

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2018
A small, scared dog was found hiding in a foxhole on the coast of New Guinea and was rescued by one of the men assigned to the 26th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron. Smokums, named for her smoky grey-blue coat, was in bad shape but found a champion in U.S. Army Air Force Private First Class William Bill Wynne. Nursing her back to health, Wynne quickly discovered Smoky was a powerhouse of intelligence and determination, and she brought endless joy to all in her presence. Lewis' (A Dog Called Hope, 2017) thoughtful description of events, large-scale as well as specific to the 26th squadron, delivers a welcome new soldier's perspective on life in the Pacific Theater. The dangers facing the squadron charged with taking, developing, and delivering photographs of enemy targets and troop movements is carefully detailed and may surprise readers. For those deeply intrigued by Smoky and Wynne, Lewis provides additional information in the back matter. This is a great suggestion for readers who enjoy learning more about Asian-Pacific campaigns during WWII as well as dogs and dog training.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)